Abstract: This essay examines evidence for the existence of a previously unknown exegetical work on the Prophets by Jonah Ibn Janāḥ, the great eleventh-century Hebrew grammarian. While Ibn Janāḥ is traditionally known for seven grammatical works, this study presents eleven direct testimonies from medieval sources suggesting he authored an additional commentary on the Prophets. These testimonies, found in various manuscripts and book lists from the Cairo Geniza and other collections, are attributed to eight or nine different authors. The essay systematically reviews each testimony, providing context, translation, and analysis. It then synthesizes the information to argue for the existence of a glossary-style commentary on difficult words in the Prophetic books, likely composed by Ibn Janāḥ late in his career. The author discusses the work’s possible nature, comparing it to similar compositions by contemporaries, and addresses potential objections to its attribution to Ibn Janāḥ. This research challenges the long-held view of Ibn Janāḥ’s literary output and opens new avenues for understanding his exegetical work. The essay concludes with a call for further investigation to locate and identify fragments of this composition in existing manuscript collections, particularly in the Cairo Geniza.
Elnatan Chen (Thu,) studied this question.