PARABLES AND LAWS: MAIMONIDES ON ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE MITZVOT

In the framework of the questions raised by the allegorical interpretation of the Jewish Scriptures the allegorical explanation of commandments holds a special place. This article focuses upon why Maimonides refrained from allegorical interpretation of the mitzvot in the Guide of the Perplexed, in which parables play a central role in resolving puzzling questions concerning the plain meaning of the text, while offering such interpretations in Mishneh Torah. I will give two answers to this question: (a) Allegorical interpretations of Scriptures in the Guide uproot their plain-irrational meaning in favor of their internal-philosophical meaning – in the Guide the purpose of the plain meaning is only to point “inward”, to the parables’ moral – whereas the allegorical interpretation of mitzvot in the Mishneh Torah merely adds to their external meaning. Therefore, Maimonides refrains in the Guide from interpreting them allegorically. (b) Maimonides’ purpose in the Guide is not only to provide reasons for the mitzvot in general, but mainly to point out the reasons for their details. In his view, allegorical interpretation is inappropriate to providing reasons for the minutiae of the mitzvot. He explains that in most prophetic parables – including the interpretation of mitzvot as parables – the details “have not been inserted with a view to interpretation”, and such intention would be “extravagant fantasies.” The second part of the article explains and illustrates this dramatic statement.