Abraham Ibn Ezra on Nativities and Continuous Horoscopy: A Parallel Hebrew-English Critical Edition of the Book of Nativities and the Book of Revoluti - Ingram Academic Sela, Shlom — Astrology

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Abraham Ibn Ezra on Nativities and Continuous Horoscopy: A Parallel Hebrew-English Critical Edition of the Book of Nativities and the Book of Revoluti - Ingram Academic Sela, Shlom

Name: Abraham Ibn Ezra on Nativities and Continuous Horoscopy: A Parallel Hebrew-English Critical Edition of the Book of Nativities and the Book of Revoluti - Ingram Academic Sela, Shlom
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ISBN: 9789004258518

✍️ Sela, Shlomo

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4.6

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A critical Hebrew-English parallel edition of Abraham Ibn Ezra's medieval works on nativities and continuous horoscopy.

Focusing on the practice of medieval Jewish astrology, this volume gathers Abraham Ibn Ezra's writings on natal chart interpretation and anniversary horoscopes. Prepared by researcher Shlomo Sela, the book details historical methods for determining the length and conditions of life. Through parallel translation and technical notes, it illuminates how one of Jewry's major biblical commentators applied astrological science to individual destinies.

Key Themes

Medieval Jewish astrology Nativities and natal charts Continuous horoscopy systems

Literary Context

Rooted in the Middle Ages, this material reflects historical Jewish attitudes toward scientific inquiry and astrology. It highlights the astrological contributions of Abraham Ibn Ezra, a prominent medieval biblical exegete and poet.

Sela, Shlomo

📚 all books by this author (3) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Dorotheus of Sidon · Valens of Antioch · William Lilly

🪐

Astrology

Praise for this book

“In preparing these editions, translations, annotations, and appendices, Sela sheds great light on the intellectual energy expended on astrology by one of Jewry's greatest poets and one of Jewry's most brilliant biblical exegetes, whose commentaries have abiding value...the book is highly recommended for students and scholars...”

— Mayer Gruber

🏛 Brill 📅 2013 📖 588 pages 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9789004258518

Fun Fact

Sela's critical edition is an essential contribution, finally making Ibn Ezra's pivotal astrological treatises accessible to a wider audience. Its parallel text and meticulous commentary are invaluable for scholars of medieval astrology and Jewish studies. While not an introductory text for the casual astrology enthusiast, its depth is unmatched for serious practitioners and historians. It fills a significant void in the English-language bibliography of classical astrology, solidifying Ibn Ezra's rightful place as a master of the art, and offering profound insights into the sophisticated astrological methods of the past.

📝 Description: Abraham Ibn Ezra on Nativities and Continuous Horoscopy: A Parallel Hebrew-English Critical Edition of the Book of Nativities and the Book of Revoluti - Ingram Academic Sela, Shlom

This 588-page Brill hardcover presents medieval Jewish astrologer Abraham Ibn Ezra's core astrological treatises, Sefer ha-Moladot and Sefer ha-Tequfah. Translated and edited by Shlomo Sela, a lecturer in Bar-Ilan University's Department of Jewish Thought, the text explores nativities and continuous horoscopy. The doctrine of nativities uses natal charts to predict the trajectory of a person's life, while continuous horoscopy compares anniversary horoscopes against natal charts to make predictions across the interval between birth and death. Ibn Ezra viewed these twin methods as the essential core and practice of the astrological trade. Organized into five parts with parallel Hebrew and English text, the volume contains Sela's translations, notes, and fifteen detailed appendices. These additions cover topics including early Hebrew horoscopic astrology, the five places of life, the native's religious belief, scales of power, places of death, Ptolemy's ages of man, and the pains of the planets in the zodiacal signs. Appendices also feature English-Hebrew glossaries and manuscript details. Gruber recommends this work for scholars and students interested in medieval Jewish science and biblical exegesis. This academic edition suits professional astrologers, historians, and serious researchers who need critical Hebrew-English parallel texts. General readers looking for a beginner's guide or practical modern manual should look elsewhere.

📑 What's inside

Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part One: Book of Nativities: Hebrew Text and English Translation
Part Two: Notes to the Book of Nativities
Part Three: Book of Revolution: Hebrew Text and English Translation
Part Four: Notes to the Book of Revolution
Part Five: Appendices
1. Manuscripts
2. Early-Hebrew Work on Horoscopic Astrology, Nativities and Continuous Horoscopy
3. The Native's Religious Belief
4. Rectification of the Nativity
5. The Five Places of Life - the Haylaj and the Kadhkhudh
6. Scales of Power
7. The Age of Weaning
8. Lords of the Triplicities
9. Places of Death
10. Melothesia and The Pains of the Planets in the Zodiacal Signs
11. Ptolemy's Ages of Man
12. Continuous Horoscopy
13. Authorities and Sources (Sefer ha-Moladot)
14. Authorities and Sources (Sefer ha-Tequfah)
English-Hebrew Glossary (Sefer ha-Moladot)
English-Hebrew Glossary (Sefer ha-Tequfah)
Hebrew-English Index to the English-Hebrew Glossaries
Index of Astrological Terms
Bibliography
Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Sela’s edition is a monumental contribution to the field, offering rigorous textual analysis alongside accessible translation. However, it is strictly an academic work; casual readers or those seeking quick horoscopic tips will find its dense structure and scholarly apparatus overwhelming. It does not suit general astrology hobbyists looking for practical, immediate applications without prior theoretical background. The text demands patience and a willingness to engage with complex Hebrew-English parallel formats. While invaluable for researchers, it lacks the narrative flair of popular esoteric books. Readers must be prepared for a steep learning curve regarding medieval astrological terminology and methodology, making it better suited for those already familiar with the broader context of classical astrology.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This volume is an essential resource for serious historians of astrology, scholars of medieval Jewish philosophy, and practitioners seeking the foundational texts that shaped Western astrological theory. By providing the first critical edition and English translation of Ibn Ezra’s *Sefer ha-Moladot* and *Sefer ha-Tequfah*, it offers unparalleled access to his systematic approach to nativities and continuous horoscopy. Readers will gain a deep understanding of how Ibn Ezra viewed these practices not merely as predictive tools, but as the essence of astrological mastery. It is indispensable for those who wish to trace the lineage of astrological thought from its classical roots through medieval interpretation, providing clarity on complex doctrines that have long been inaccessible outside of specialized academic circles.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you are a serious student of historical astrology, Jewish intellectual history, or medieval science, this critical edition is indispensable. Researchers and practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of classical astrological techniques will find it profoundly illuminating.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Sela’s edition is a monumental contribution to the field, offering rigorous textual analysis alongside accessible translation. However, it is strictly an academic work; casual readers or those seeking quick horoscopic tips will find its dense structure and scholarly apparatus overwhelming. It does not suit general astrology hobbyists looking for practical, immediate applications without prior theoretical background. The text demands patience and a willingness to engage with complex Hebrew-English parallel formats. While invaluable for researchers, it lacks the narrative flair of popular esoteric books. Readers must be prepared for a steep learning curve regarding medieval astrological terminology and methodology, making it better suited for those already familiar with the broader context of classical astrology.

❓ Frequently asked questions

This is the first comprehensive critical edition of Ibn Ezra's *Sefer ha-Moladot* and *Sefer ha-Tequfah*, offering a parallel Hebrew-English text with scholarly commentary, making these vital works accessible to modern readers.

While Ibn Ezra wrote extensively on astrology, this volume specifically focuses on his definitive treatises concerning the doctrine of nativities and the advanced techniques of continuous horoscopy, which he considered core to the astrological art.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Natal Chart Predetermination

This work meticulously outlines how the precise moment of birth, captured in the natal chart, serves as the ultimate blueprint for an individual's entire life. Ibn Ezra considers this initial celestial configuration as a profound indicator of destiny, revealing the overarching arc of one's existence from beginning to end.

Dynamic Horoscopic Progression

Beyond the birth chart, the text explores the sophisticated system of continuous horoscopy, particularly through anniversary charts. This method details how yearly planetary returns, when juxtaposed with the original natal chart, provide ongoing, refined predictions and insights into the evolving periods and events throughout a person's life until their demise.

Medieval Jewish Astrology

Through Ibn Ezra's writings, readers gain a unique window into the integration of astrological science within medieval Jewish thought. The book highlights how this esteemed rabbinic authority considered astrological practice, particularly nativities and continuous horoscopy, to be a central and legitimate component of intellectual and spiritual inquiry during his time.

📜 Historical context

Abraham Ibn Ezra (1089-1164) was a polymath who significantly shaped Jewish thought, philosophy, and science. His astrological treatises, grounded in both Arabic and Greek traditions, were highly influential throughout the Middle Ages, establishing a sophisticated framework that integrated celestial mechanics with spiritual and practical applications within a Jewish context.

📚 Glossary

Nativities
Continuous Horoscopy
Natal Chart

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might understanding the 'continuous horoscopy' of your own life alter your perception of past challenges or future aspirations?
Consider the idea of a 'natal decree.' In what ways do you feel your life path has been predetermined, and where have you exercised free will?
If medieval scholars like Ibn Ezra integrated astrology into their spiritual and intellectual framework, how does modern thought reconcile (or diverge from) such ancient wisdom traditions?