Abstract

This chapter begins with a synopsis of Gersonides’ views on providence in his systematic work for the purpose of getting acquainted with the basic philosophical concepts that underlie his commentary on Job. It then proceeds with an analysis of the commentary on Job in accordance with the three interfaces. The discussion of the third interface returns the to treatment of providence in Gersonides’ The Wars of the Lord and gives an evaluation of its relationship to the commentary on Job. It is shown that Gersonides’ reading of Job represents an important transition in the interpretation of this text in medieval Jewish philosophy. With this reading, Aristotelianism still reigns supreme as the thought system for interpreting Job; yet, a conservative step has been taken away from the most radical type of Aristotelian reading found in Ibn Tibbon.