KIMCHI, kinVI• A family of llebrew schol ars of the Middle Ages. The most famous mem ber of the family is DAVID (generally quoted by the initials of his name, IlaDaK—i.e. Rabid David Kimehi ). who was horn at Narbonne about 1160, and lived until about 1235. His achievements were chiefly in the field of biblical exegesis and Hebrew grammar. His merit lies not in originality, but in the excellence of his compilations, in eon sequence of which his works exercised a great influence upon his successors. In his grammalieal exposition he follows largely dana•h (q.v.), but he wrote exclusively in Hebrew. llis grammar and lexicon have ap peared in many editions. His commentaries are still widely used among the Jews. They were among the first to be printed in the so-called Rabbinical hallo.. the ITebrew text with selected eommentaries. The most important of them is a commentary on the prophetical hooks. A new edition of his commentary on the Psalms was begun by Schiller-Szinessy, but only the first part appeared (Cambridge, 1882). An edition of Ins commentary on Genesis appeared at Pressburg in 184•. In the great Maimonides controversy (see AlAimoxf DES ) Iiintelii was oil the side of Slainionides. Consult Tauber, Stand
punkt and Lcistung des R. David Kinichi uls Uranunutiker (Breslau, 1867).—Kimehi's father, •osEen (flourished 1130-70), gave the impetus to Jewish culture in Southern France, whither he emigrated from Spain. Ile wrote biblical com mentaries and grammatical treatises. Of his corn mentarie, there have been preserved only those on Proverbs and .Job, which have been pub lished, and a commentary on the Song of Songs, which is unpublished. llis grammatical works have been edited by Bucher and Matthews (Ber lin, older brother, AlosEs (nour ished 1170-90), also engaged in studies similar to those of his father and brother. A compen din In of Hebrew grammar compiled by him en joyed great popularity by reason of its simplicity and brevity, and was published in a number of editions. It first appeared in 1508. The edition of 1546 (Venice) was published by Elias Levita, who added a commentary that has since then generally appeared in the editions of the gram mar. Of his biblical commentaries (marked by brevity and dryness) only those to Job, Proverbs, and Ezra and Nehemiah are known.