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The Bahir: Illumination (Paperback)

~ (Author) "1. Rabbi Nehuniah ben HaKana said: One verse (Job 37:21) states, "And now they do not see light, it is brilliant (Bahir) in the skies..." (more)
Key Phrases: surrounds all worlds, lifted offering, seventy date palms, Zer Anpin, Blessed Holy One, Divine Presence (more...)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
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Product Description

The first book in any language ever to reveal the methodology of the ancient Kabbalists, this is one of the oldest and most important of all ancient Kabbalistic texts. All references, both to manuscripts and printed material are carefully cited, and the complete Hebrew text of The Bahir is included.


Language Notes

Text: English, Hebrew (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Red Wheel / Weiser (April 1, 1980)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0877286183
  • ISBN-13: 978-0877286189
  • Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,463 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #37 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Sacred Writings > Kabbalah
    #95 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Occult > Alchemy

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More About the Author

Aryeh Kaplan
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
1. Rabbi Nehuniah ben HaKana said: One verse (Job 37:21) states, "And now they do not see light, it is brilliant (Bahir) in the skies . . . [round about God in terrible majesty]." Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
surrounds all worlds, lifted offering, seventy date palms, ten sayings, four universes, soul dimension, seven voices, vacated space, vowel points, life your works
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Zer Anpin, Blessed Holy One, Divine Presence, Song of Songs, Rabbi Rahumai, Sefirah of Yesod-Foundation, Sefer Yetzirah, Infinite Being, May God, Garden of Eden, Sefirah of Malkhut-Kingship, Holy Palace, Rabbi Amorai, Etz Chaim, Holy Forms, Tree of Life, Rabbi Akiba, Ten Commandments, Throne of Glory, Adam Kadmon, Rabbi Berachiah, Rabbi Yochanan, Supernal Man, Evil Urge, Holy of Holies
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Customer Reviews

15 Reviews
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4.5 out of 5 stars (15 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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65 of 68 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Early Kabbalistic Literature, March 9, 2002
By A. J. Valasek (Clemmons, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
As far as the study of Kabbalah is concerned, this book is necessary and the only English version I'm aware of. This is certainly not light reading and very esoteric in nature. Without the commentary of Mr. Kaplan, this text would be incomprehensible to all but the very elite of the Kabbalistic scholars, which I'm not. Extreme patience and focus is required when reading and I highly recommend that one read the commentary for each of the 200 points as you go. Of course this makes for lots of page turning, but much easier comprehension. With that said, one can find many gemstones within the pages of this book that are largely allegorical in nature. Although I find the gematria a bit of a stretch at times, I certainly can't definitively discount the exegesis either. The work along the sefirot and the meditative implications I thought were the most useful of the teachings in these pages, but not intended for the beginner. The commentary on the levels of the soul and universes I also thought were particulary interesting and useful for understanding some of the Hebraic connotations of the Bible.
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38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A New Interpretation of The Ancient Kabbalistic Classic, June 5, 2000
By David Kidybinski (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, of blessed memory, has accomplished much in the field of Judaic studies during his lifetime. By far the most amazing are his Kabbalistic works, like this, the Bahir. The Bahir is one of the oldest texts of the Kabbalah. Tradition assigns it to Rabbi Nehuniah Ben Ha-Kana of the first century CE. This fantastic book not only presents an accurate translation of the text, but also an interpretation which relates it to modern Judaism and as a supplement, the original Hebrew text. The Bahir is a revolutionary book; the Zohar and subsequent Kabbalah is literally based on its foundation. It is the oldest known book that actually presents the array of the Sefirot (Divine Emanations) and it deals largely with interpretations of the Bible.
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70 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Very insightful, August 16, 2000
By Roy L. Daman "ColdHaven" (Kings Mountain, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Two things to keep in mind about this book; 1) it is ancient and 2) there were more than one sect of jewish Qabbalists running around at the time. This may not have some of the principle beliefs that most modern Qabbalists have via the Golden Dawn, but it is this growth that lets us learn about ourselves and the universe. Keep in mind that some corresponances may not be the same as the ones you have been studying, thus it is open for experimentation.

About the book itself...It is an astounding work that many early Qabbalists used as a reference before the Zohar became translated (only 35% of it). If you read and thought upon the things said on each page or section for one week, you may understand it, because it goes back and forth. What was not revealed before is later, so thus you must backtrack and make the connection yourself. This is a definite study book. You must STUDY this book to truly glean the maximum amount of knowledge from it.

This is not an easy read and it has no spells or magickal workings in it. It is a discussion between rabbi's about the Bible, Qabbalah, and other modes of Jewish thought and religion. This pertains mostly to the dogmatic Qabbalah that so many of us hear about, but really don't see or study.

It is well worth the money to buy this book if you are at all interested in the Qabbalah, the Bible, or Jewish teachings. It will reveal things for you if you have the patience and the tenacity.

Seek and ye shall find. <- It's not just an empty saying.

One of the best books to study dogmatic Qabbalah, and I would recommend this book to anyone who was a Magickal student, or someone who was merely interested in cultural religion. A MUST READ by all senses of the word. You are missing out on a lot of revealations if you don't buy this.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great commentary
This is a really great comentary/translation and explanation of this very important medieval mistical judiacal/chrisitical document. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Vernon D. Sullivan

4.0 out of 5 stars A Concise Breakdown of Kabbalistic Translation From Hebrew
After researching and studying Kabbalah for over 20 years, I found this book to contain detailed technical translations of Jewish Mysticism so often unavailable to a beginning... Read more
Published on April 1, 2007 by Marjorie M. Chase

3.0 out of 5 stars Cornerstone English Translation of the Earliest Text of the Jewish Mystical Path
My Maggid recommended that I read this book over the Zohar and I jumped into it with a great deal of enthusiasm. Read more
Published on November 5, 2006 by Mark Perlsweig

5.0 out of 5 stars The need for a return to our mystical roots.
Very informative and much needed in todays world, to connect ourselves with our mystical roots. It was refreshing to read what the Hebrew terms really mean and makes scripture... Read more
Published on July 6, 2006 by Mrs. Susan Willett

5.0 out of 5 stars The Light of the Torah
There are several very old Texts in the Kabala, besides the Zohar, the Sefer Yetzirah and a series of Midrashim dealing with Esoteric concepts among others, there is the Sefer... Read more
Published on March 28, 2006 by CCC

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for anyone interested in Kabbalah or Judaism
While I have read part one (the english text), and have almost finished part 2 (the commentary), It is very clear to me that this authentic book is extremly powerful. Read more
Published on September 19, 2005 by Robert A. Marks

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential Text
Before his tragic death, Rabbi Kaplan was a practicing Kabbalist who wrote several ground-breaking books on Kabbalah. Read more
Published on November 4, 2004 by Neal J. Pollock

5.0 out of 5 stars Bahir for Adeptus Major 6=5 and Adeptus Exemptus 7=4
This is the only English version of the Sefer Bahir that is available to Gentiles. The original manuscripts are all in the original Hebrew. Read more
Published on April 18, 2003 by Stephanie Michelle Whittaker

5.0 out of 5 stars I learned and understood for the first time these teachings
Aryeh Kaplan Z''L, is the only kabbalist I've been able to understand. He uses every text in Jewish literature available to explain such mystical teachings. Read more
Published on July 10, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Essen. text. Incl. Hebrew. A caballistic puzzle is left.
This book is an essential for those following the path. I read mine at my Temple Library. A complete Hebrew text of Sefer Bahir is included as an appendix. Read more
Published on January 23, 1999

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