Iberian Peninsula: See PORTUGAL; SPAIN, CHRISTIAN; SPAIN, MUSLIM; Map 6

Ibn Ezra is the patronymic shared by several scholars of the eleventh and twelfth centuries in Muslim *Spain. The most prominent among them were Moses and Abraham.

IBN EZRA, MOSES [BEN JACOB] (1070–1138) was a poet, philosopher, and author of a singular work on Hebrew prosody. Born in Granada, Moses had three brothers, who were also distinguished scholars, and was a relative of Abraham ibn Ezra, discussed later in this entry. Moses’ book on poetics includes advice on rhetoric and literary creativity, a critique of other Andalusian poets, and autobiographical reflections. His own liturgical *poetry is well represented in the *Sephardic rite, particularly that of the *High Holidays; therefore, he is often called by the nickname ha-Sallah. : composer of selih. ot (penitential prayers). In his philosophical discussions of creation, nature, and the individual as a microcosm, Moses displays the influence of the Islamic “Brethren of Purity” (Ikhwan al-Safa) and quotes liberally from their “Epistles” (rasa'il). Recent research includes M. Z. Cohen, “The Aesthetic Exegesis of Moses ibn Ezra,” Hebrew Bible/Old Testament 1:2 (2000); and R. P. Scheindlin, “Moses ibn Ezra,” in The Literature of Al-Andalus, ed. M. R. Menocal, R. P. Scheindlin, and M. Sells (2000). IBN EZRA, ABRAHAM [BEN MEIR] (1093–1164) was a biblical exegete (see BIBLICAL COMMENTARY: MIDDLE AGES TO 1800), translator, *grammarian, *poet and literary critic, *astronomer, mathematician, and *astrologer.