The Psychologically Oriented Commentaries of Keli Yakar and Or Hahayyim in both Narrative and Legal Texts in the Pentateuch

I intend to highlight the phenomenon of the widespread nature of the psychologically oriented commentaries of Or Hahayyim (Hayyim Ibn Attar, 1696-1743, Morocco/ Italy/ Israel) and Keli Yakar ( Rabbi Shelomoh Efraim of Luntschitz, 1550 – 1619, Poland/Prague) throughout the Pentateuch. Elazar Touitou, in his book רבי חיים בן-עטר ופירוש על התורה , dedicates an entire section to what he calls פרשנות פסיכולוגיסטית“psychologistic exegesis.” He does not, however, consider the possibility of psychologically oriented commentaries in legal texts. I wish to expand upon his understanding of the phenomenon and demonstrate that legal texts as well as narrative ones are often commented upon with a psychological orientation in Or Hahayyim’s as well as Keli Yakar’s commentaries. I will provide relevant excerpts from their commentaries to support my contention of the widespread nature of the phenomenon.