Kimhi, David (Redak)

(?1160-?1235)

   French grammarian and exegete, son of Joseph Kimhi. He was a teacher in Narbonne, Provence, where he was also active in public life. During the Maimonidean controversy of 1232, he undertook a journey to Toledo to gain the support of Judah ibn Alfakhar for the adherents of Maimonides. His Mikhlol, which assembled the researches of Spanish Jewish grammarians and philologists, consists of a Hebrew grammar and biblical dictionary. He also wrote biblical commentaries, which combine Spanish speculative, philological, and philosophical tradi-tions with the rabbinic midrashic method of exegesis and the interpretations of Rashi.