1. The edition of The Wars of the Lord used in this chapter is Milchamot Haschem (Berlin, 1923). All page numbers in citations from the Wars refer to this edition, unless otherwise noted. The treatise was translated into English by Seymour Feldman in 3 volumes (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1984, 1987, 1999). English translations of passages from the Wars that appear in this chapter are my own. I have made extensive use of Feldman’s translation and often refer to the page numbers in his book where his translation of the passages in question appears.
2. For an analysis of Gersonides’ philosophy and hi s literary activity see especially, Charles Touati, La pensée philosophique et théologique de Gersonide (Paris: Les Éditions de Minuit, 1973); Seymour Feldman. The Wars of the Lord, vol. 1, 3–84. An extensive bibliography of writings by and about Gersonides has be en compiled by Menachem Kellner, “Bibliograp hia Gersonideana”, in: Gad Freudenthaled., Studies on Gersonides (Leiden: Brill, 1992): 367–414.
3. For example, there is good reason to ascribe to Maimonides an esoteric view on divine providence that is very similar to Gersonides’ exoteric approach. See my article, “The Suffering of the Righteous in Medieval Jewish Philosophy [Heb.]”, Daat, 19 (1987): 17–29.
4. For studies in Ibn Ezra’s cultural activity and influence see Wilhelm Bacher ed., Abraham Ibn Esra’s Einleitung zu seinem Pentateuch-Commentar [Heb.] (Tel-Aviv: Zion Press, 1970).
5. For an overview of Jewish culture in Provence during this period see Isadore I. Twersky, “Aspects of the Social and Cultural History of Provençal Jewry“, Journal of World History, 11 (1968): 185–207; M-H Vicaire and B. Blumenkranz eds., Juifs et judaisme de Languedoc (Toulouse: Edouard Privat, 1977).