Public domain audiobook

Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3

English· 14:11:13· 54 chapters

The Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3 (Arabic: دلالة الحائرين Dalālat al-ḥā'irīn דלאלת אלחאירין; Hebrew: מורה נבוכים Moreh Nevuchim) by Rabbi Moses ben Maimon the Sephardi (משה ברבי מימון הספרדי) who is commonly known as Maimonides and also referred to by the acronym Rambam (רמב״ם). The Guide was written in Judeo-Arabic using the Hebrew alphabet in the form of a three-part letter to the Rambam's student, Rabbi Joseph ben Judah of Ceuta. Maimonides says, "To give a full explanation of the mystic passages of the Bible is contrary to the Law and to reason; besides, my knowledge of them is based on reasoning, not on divine inspiration. I have not received my belief in this respect from any teacher, but it has been formed by what I learnt from Scripture and the utterances of our Sages, and by the philosophical principles which I have adopted. ... I ask you to study attentively the chapters which follow on this sublime, important, and grand subject, which is the pin upon which everything hangs, and the pillar upon which everything rests." Translated by Michael Friedländer who was principal of Jews' College. Cover: The Serpent Beguiled Me by cartoonist Robin Bougie. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia and the text)

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Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3

Chapters

Introduction & I. The "Four Faces" are Human Faces with four different peculiarities

II. The Ḥayyot and the Ofannim

III. Further Explanation of the Ḥayyot and the Ofannim derived from Ezek. x.

IV. The rendering of Ofan by Gilgal in the Targum of Jonathan

V. The Vision of Ezekiel is divided into three stages: (1) Ḥayyot (=the Spheres); (2) Ofannim (=Earthly elements); and (3) the man above the Ḥayyot (=Intelligences)

VI. On the Difference between the Vision of Ezekiel and that of Isaiah (vi.)

VII. The Different Ways in which the Prophet perceived the Three Parts of the Mercabah (Chariot)

VIII Man has the Power to Control his Bodily Wants and Earthly Desires

IX. The Material Element in Man Prevents him from Attaining Perfection

X. God is not the Creator of Evil

XI. Man is the Cause of his own Misfortunes

XII. Three Kinds of Evil : (1) That caused by the Nature of Man ; (2) Caused by Man to Man ; (3) Caused by Man to himself

XIII. The Universe has No other Purpose than its own Existence

XIV. It is the Will of the Creator that the Spheres regulate the Affairs of Mankind

XV. Impossible Things are not ascribed to the Creator, but it is difficult to Prove the Impossibility in each Individual Case

XVI. On God's Omniscience

XVII. Five Theories concerning Providence

XVIII. Every Individual Member of Mankind enjoys the Influence of Divine Providence in proportion to his Intellectual Perfection

XIX. It is an ancient Error to Assume that God takes no Notice of Man

XX. God's Knowledge is Different from Man's Knowledge

XXI. The Creator's knowledge of His Production is Perfect

XXII. Object of the Book of Job, and Explanation of the First Two Chapters

XXIII. Job and his Friends Discuss the various Theories concerning Providence

XXIV. On Trials and Temptations

XXV. The Actions of God are Not Purposeless

XXVI. The Divine Precepts Serve a certain Purpose

XXVII. The Object of the Divine Precepts is to Secure the Well-being of Man's Soul and Body

XXVIII. This Object is easily seen in some Precepts, whilst in others it is only known after due Reflection

XXIX. On the Sabeans or Star-worshippers

XXX. It is one of the Objects of the Law of Moses to Oppose Idolatry

XXXI. The Law Promotes the Well-being of Man by teaching Truth, Morality and Social Conduct

XXXII. Why did God give Laws to Oppose Idolatry instead of Uprooting it directly?

XXXIII. Another chief Object of the Law is to Train Man in Mastering his Appetites and Desires

XXXIV. The Law is based on the ordinary condition of man

XXXV. Division of the Precepts into Fourteen Classes

XXXVI. First Class of Precepts, to Know, Love and Fear God

XXXVII. Second Class, Laws concerning Idolatry

XXXVIII. Third Class, Moral Precepts

XXXIX. Fourth Class, Laws relating to Charity

XL. Fifth Class, Compensation for Injury and the Duty of Preventing Sin

XLI. Sixth Class, Punishment of the Sinner

XLII. Seventh Class, Equity and Honesty

XLIII. Eighth Class, Sabbath and Festivals

XLIV. Ninth Class, Prayer, Tefillin, Ẓiẓit and Mezuzah

XLV. Tenth Class, The Temple, its Vessels and its Ministers

XLVI. Eleventh Class, Sacrifices

XLVII. Twelfth Class, Distinction between Clean and Unclean; and on Purification

XLVIII. Thirteenth Class, Dietary Laws

XLIX. Fourteenth Class, Marriage Laws

L. On Scriptural Passages with seemingly Purposeless Contents

LI. How God is worshipped by a Perfect Man

LII. On the Fear of God

LIII. Explanation of Ḥesed (Love), Mishpat (Judgment), and Ẓedaḳah (Righteousness)

LIV. On True Wisdom