Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3


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) (14 hr 11 min)

Chapters

Introduction & I. The "Four Faces" are Human Faces with four different peculiar… 8:49
II. The Ḥayyot and the Ofannim 19:01
III. Further Explanation of the Ḥayyot and the Ofannim derived from Ezek. x. 5:47
IV. The rendering of Ofan by Gilgal in the Targum of Jonathan 7:01
V. The Vision of Ezekiel is divided into three stages: (1) Ḥayyot (=the Spheres… 6:45
VI. On the Difference between the Vision of Ezekiel and that of Isaiah (vi.) 4:00
VII. The Different Ways in which the Prophet perceived the Three Parts of the M… 11:48
VIII Man has the Power to Control his Bodily Wants and Earthly Desires 23:41
IX. The Material Element in Man Prevents him from Attaining Perfection 4:30
X. God is not the Creator of Evil 9:52
XI. Man is the Cause of his own Misfortunes 3:02
XII. Three Kinds of Evil : (1) That caused by the Nature of Man ; (2) Caused by… 23:38
XIII. The Universe has No other Purpose than its own Existence 28:35
XIV. It is the Will of the Creator that the Spheres regulate the Affairs of Man… 9:04
XV. Impossible Things are not ascribed to the Creator, but it is difficult to P… 5:18
XVI. On God's Omniscience 9:02
XVII. Five Theories concerning Providence 35:16
XVIII. Every Individual Member of Mankind enjoys the Influence of Divine Provid… 8:10
XIX. It is an ancient Error to Assume that God takes no Notice of Man 12:13
XX. God's Knowledge is Different from Man's Knowledge 11:53
XXI. The Creator's knowledge of His Production is Perfect 5:38
XXII. Object of the Book of Job, and Explanation of the First Two Chapters 18:56
XXIII. Job and his Friends Discuss the various Theories concerning Providence 26:31
XXIV. On Trials and Temptations 18:55
XXV. The Actions of God are Not Purposeless 14:25
XXVI. The Divine Precepts Serve a certain Purpose 13:16
XXVII. The Object of the Divine Precepts is to Secure the Well-being of Man's S… 7:34
XXVIII. This Object is easily seen in some Precepts, whilst in others it is onl… 6:46
XXIX. On the Sabeans or Star-worshippers 28:08
XXX. It is one of the Objects of the Law of Moses to Oppose Idolatry 5:51
XXXI. The Law Promotes the Well-being of Man by teaching Truth, Morality and So… 4:43
XXXII. Why did God give Laws to Oppose Idolatry instead of Uprooting it directl… 29:01
XXXIII. Another chief Object of the Law is to Train Man in Mastering his Appeti… 9:28
XXXIV. The Law is based on the ordinary condition of man 4:28
XXXV. Division of the Precepts into Fourteen Classes 12:40
XXXVI. First Class of Precepts, to Know, Love and Fear God 6:36
XXXVII. Second Class, Laws concerning Idolatry 37:40
XXXVIII. Third Class, Moral Precepts 1:37
XXXIX. Fourth Class, Laws relating to Charity 18:00
XL. Fifth Class, Compensation for Injury and the Duty of Preventing Sin 12:05
XLI. Sixth Class, Punishment of the Sinner 42:05
XLII. Seventh Class, Equity and Honesty 8:39
XLIII. Eighth Class, Sabbath and Festivals 15:28
XLIV. Ninth Class, Prayer, Tefillin, Ẓiẓit and Mezuzah 1:52
XLV. Tenth Class, The Temple, its Vessels and its Ministers 22:07
XLVI. Eleventh Class, Sacrifices 45:05
XLVII. Twelfth Class, Distinction between Clean and Unclean; and on Purification 22:34
XLVIII. Thirteenth Class, Dietary Laws 13:35
XLIX. Fourteenth Class, Marriage Laws 45:13
L. On Scriptural Passages with seemingly Purposeless Contents 19:38
LI. How God is worshipped by a Perfect Man 45:19
LII. On the Fear of God 7:43
LIII. Explanation of Ḥesed (Love), Mishpat (Judgment), and Ẓedaḳah (Righteousne… 6:58
LIV. On True Wisdom 25:14