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)
Chapters
1 Introduction & I. The "Four Faces" are Human Faces with four different peculiarities 9 min 2 II. The Ḥayyot and the Ofannim 19 min 3 III. Further Explanation of the Ḥayyot and the Ofannim derived from Ezek. x 6 min 4 IV. The rendering of Ofan by Gilgal in the Targum of Jonathan 7 min 5 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) 7 min 6 VI. On the Difference between the Vision of Ezekiel and that of Isaiah (vi.) 4 min 7 VII. The Different Ways in which the Prophet perceived the Three Parts of the Mercabah (Chariot) 12 min 8 VIII Man has the Power to Control his Bodily Wants and Earthly Desires 24 min 9 IX. The Material Element in Man Prevents him from Attaining Perfection 4 min 10 X. God is not the Creator of Evil 10 min 11 XI. Man is the Cause of his own Misfortunes 3 min 12 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 24 min 13 XIII. The Universe has No other Purpose than its own Existence 29 min 14 XIV. It is the Will of the Creator that the Spheres regulate the Affairs of Mankind 9 min 15 XV. Impossible Things are not ascribed to the Creator, but it is difficult to Prove the Impossibility in each Individual Case 5 min 16 XVI. On God's Omniscience 9 min 17 XVII. Five Theories concerning Providence 35 min 18 XVIII. Every Individual Member of Mankind enjoys the Influence of Divine Providence in proportion to his Intellectual Perfection 8 min 19 XIX. It is an ancient Error to Assume that God takes no Notice of Man 12 min 20 XX. God's Knowledge is Different from Man's Knowledge 12 min 21 XXI. The Creator's knowledge of His Production is Perfect 6 min 22 XXII. Object of the Book of Job, and Explanation of the First Two Chapters 19 min 23 XXIII. Job and his Friends Discuss the various Theories concerning Providence 27 min 24 XXIV. On Trials and Temptations 19 min 25 XXV. The Actions of God are Not Purposeless 14 min 26 XXVI. The Divine Precepts Serve a certain Purpose 13 min 27 XXVII. The Object of the Divine Precepts is to Secure the Well-being of Man's Soul and Body 8 min 28 XXVIII. This Object is easily seen in some Precepts, whilst in others it is only known after due Reflection 7 min 29 XXIX. On the Sabeans or Star-worshippers 28 min 30 XXX. It is one of the Objects of the Law of Moses to Oppose Idolatry 6 min 31 XXXI. The Law Promotes the Well-being of Man by teaching Truth, Morality and Social Conduct 5 min 32 XXXII. Why did God give Laws to Oppose Idolatry instead of Uprooting it directly? 29 min 33 XXXIII. Another chief Object of the Law is to Train Man in Mastering his Appetites and Desires 9 min 34 XXXIV. The Law is based on the ordinary condition of man 4 min 35 XXXV. Division of the Precepts into Fourteen Classes 13 min 36 XXXVI. First Class of Precepts, to Know, Love and Fear God 7 min 37 XXXVII. Second Class, Laws concerning Idolatry 38 min 38 XXXVIII. Third Class, Moral Precepts 2 min 39 XXXIX. Fourth Class, Laws relating to Charity 18 min 40 XL. Fifth Class, Compensation for Injury and the Duty of Preventing Sin 12 min 41 XLI. Sixth Class, Punishment of the Sinner 42 min 42 XLII. Seventh Class, Equity and Honesty 9 min 43 XLIII. Eighth Class, Sabbath and Festivals 15 min 44 XLIV. Ninth Class, Prayer, Tefillin, Ẓiẓit and Mezuzah 2 min 45 XLV. Tenth Class, The Temple, its Vessels and its Ministers 22 min 46 XLVI. Eleventh Class, Sacrifices 45 min 47 XLVII. Twelfth Class, Distinction between Clean and Unclean; and on Purification 23 min 48 XLVIII. Thirteenth Class, Dietary Laws 14 min 49 XLIX. Fourteenth Class, Marriage Laws 45 min 50 L. On Scriptural Passages with seemingly Purposeless Contents 20 min 51 LI. How God is worshipped by a Perfect Man 45 min 52 LII. On the Fear of God 8 min 53 LIII. Explanation of Ḥesed (Love), Mishpat (Judgment), and Ẓedaḳah (Righteousness) 7 min 54 LIV. On True Wisdom 25 min
