KIMCHI, kim'kî (KIMHI): The name of a Jewish family of scholars of Spanish descent, flourishing in France in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
1. Joseph ben Isaac Kimchi, b. in southern
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3. David Kimchi, usually called Redak, the younger son of Joseph, was born at Narbonne c. 1160; d. there 1235. He often calls his father and his brother his teachers. As a grammarian and exegete David distinguishes himself by his diligent compilation of facts, sober judgment and clear expression. By making an exhaustive use of Abul-Walid, he enjoyed great authority among both Christians and Jews, although he possessed little originality. Reuchlin and Sebastian Münster made large use of his works. These have been very frequently printed, many of his commentaries with Latin translations. E. König's Lehrgebäude der hebräischen Sprache (Leipsic, 1881 sqq.) was compiled "in constant dependence upon Qimchi," and even now scholars may receive many a suggestion from Kimchi's works.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: In general: G. B. de Rossi, Historisches Wörterbuch der jüdischen Schriftsteller, pp. 164-171, Bautzen, 1839; Ersch and Gruber, Encyclopädie, lI. xxxvi. 54-57; J. Winter and A. Wünsche, Die jüdische Litteratur, ii. 191-205, 306-314, Treves, 1894; JE, vii. 494-497.
On 1: E. Bluth, in Magazin für die Wissenschaft des Jedenthums, 1891-92 passim; W, Bacher, in Revue des études juives, vi (1883), 208-221. On 2: W. Bacher, ut sup., xxi (1890), 281-285. On 3: J. Tauber, Standpunkt und Leistung des David Kimchi als Grammatiker, Breslau, 1867; Encyclopædia Britannica, xiv. 77-78.
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