Abraham ibn ‘Ezra’s Comments on the Flood and the Utility of Astrology

Abstract

This article analyses Abraham ibn Ezra’s explanations on the flood from his two commentaries on Genesis. These explanations are compared with other observations by Ibn Ezra and with the opinions of other medieval authors. Behind his explanations on the flood, we find Ibn Ezra’s opinions on the utility of astrology, on the reception of astrological knowledge by human beings, on the value of prophecy, and on the methods to avoid astral influences.