Johannes Buxtorf II
Johann Buxtorf, called the Younger ( * August 13, 1599 in Basel, † August 16 1664 in Basel) was a Swiss Reformed theologian and orientalist.
Life
Buxtorf studied at the University of Basel, where he already earned his master's degree at age 16. Further study trips led him to Heidelberg and the Netherlands ( participation in the Synod of Dort 1619) to England, France and Geneva. Returned to Basel in 1624, he became in 1627 the deacon at St. Peter. In 1630 he succeeded his father Johann Buxtorf the Elder to the chair of Hebrew language in Basel. After he had turned down several callings, one created in 1647 in Basel another theological professorship ( dogmatics ) for him. In 1642 he became the Dr. theol. doctorate.
Buxtorf published several works of his father and wrote many treatises, commentaries and translations. 1629 appeared his Latin translation of the leader of the Perplexed of Maimonides, in 1660 his Latin translation of the Kuzari of Judah ha -Levi. In the Appendix thereto also appeared a translation of the 30th chapter of Shmuel Archevoltis Arugat ha - bosem (Eng. " Gewürzbeet "). This chapter deals with Hebrew steganography and cryptography. He also continued the dispute with his father Louis Cappel on the age of the Hebrew vowel signs.
Buxtorf corresponded with Jewish scholars such as Menasseh ben Israel, David Cohen de Lara, Jacob and Isaac Abendana Abendana. Although Basel was a reformed university, many Lutheran scholars and theologians studied with Buxtorf (including Philipp Jakob Spener, Esdras Edzardus, Johann Benedict Carpzov II, Matthias Wasmuth, Sebastian Schmidt, Eberhard Anckelmann ), because this was considered the best authority on the Hebrew.
His son Jacob Buxtorf was his father's successor at the Hebrew Institute. His manuscripts, mostly translations of rabbinic writings are in the Basel University Library.
His nephew Johann Buxtorf was his successor in the Hebrew professorship.
Writings (selection )
- Lexicon chaldaicum et syriacum, in 1622.
- De Origine et Linguae Hebraicæ Antiquitate, Basel, 1644
- Florilegium Hebraicum continens Elegant Sentencias, Proverbia, Apophthegmata: ex optimism Quibusque maxim vero Priscis Hebraeorum Scriptoribus Collectum et. . . Alphabetice Dispositum. Basel, 1648th
- Tractatus de punctorum, vocalium atque accentuum in VT libris hebraicis origine, et antiquitate auctoritate oppositus arcano punctationis revelato Lud. Cappelli, 1648th
- Anticritica seu Vindiciae veritatis hebraicae: adversus Lud. Cappelli criticam quam vocat Sacram eiusque defensionem, 1653rd
As editor of his father:
- Concordantiae Bibliorum hebraicae. 1632
- Lexicon Chaldaicum Talmudicum et Rabbinicum. Basel 1639 ( reprint Hildesheim 1974).