The Courage and Brilliance of Don Isaac Abarbanel

In the blazing summer of 1432, the Portuguese army stormed the Moroccan city of Asilah. Their conquest was brutal. Prison guards were executed, Moroccan officials hunted down, and prisoners freed or forgotten. But deep in a foul-smelling prison near the port, 250 men sat packed in unbearable heat, abandoned without water. These weren’t Portuguese prisoners of war. They were Jews, taken by pirates and enslaved.

The soldiers hesitated. Should they torch the building or move on? Then, an elegant rider appeared, descending from his noble horse. The troops bowed in respect. The man peered into the prison and issued sharp orders: bring food, water, and fresh clothing. When a group of armed sailors tried to reclaim the prisoners as property, he asked only one question: “How much?” They named an exorbitant price. He paid on the spot.

That man was Don Isaac Abarbanel.

A Noble Lineage and a Brilliant Mind

Abarbanel (1437–1508) came from an ancient noble family in the Iberian Peninsula that traced its lineage back to King David. His father, Don Judah Abarbanel, served as Portugal’s royal treasurer, a role Isaac would later inherit.

Born in Lisbon, Abarbanel was trained by leading scholars of both Torah and philosophy. He studied under Rabbi Yosef ibn Hayyun and Rabbi Yosef ibn Shem Tov, and by his early twenties, he was already writing ambitious philosophical works, some of which, like his treatise on prophecy, were tragically lost in war. Still, he went on to author many significant Torah commentaries, including his well-known commentaries on the Prophets.

Betrayal in Portugal, Exile in Spain

Despite his success, Abarbanel was not immune to the jealousy of the Portuguese court. In 1483, he was falsely accused of conspiring with foreign Jews. His wealth was confiscated, and he was forced to flee to Toledo, Spain. Ironically, this period of “unemployment” allowed him to complete some of his most important works.

Eventually, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain appointed him as their royal treasurer. He served in that role for eight years, until 1492, when the monarchs, influenced by the Catholic clergy, decreed the expulsion of all Jews from Spain.

Refusing Conversion, Leaving with Dignity

Abarbanel pleaded with the royal couple. He appealed with reason, emotion, and even large sums of money, all to no avail. As he later wrote in his introduction to his commentary on the Book of Kings:

"Though I spoke to the king three times, saying 'Help, O king, why do you treat your servants this way?' he was deaf like a viper… and the queen stood at his right, urging him on.”

Refusing to convert, Abarbanel left Spain with his people. He relocated to Naples, where he became a trusted advisor to King Ferdinand I of Naples. For the next 16 years, he continued writing prolifically. He passed away peacefully in Padua, Italy, where he is buried.

A Legacy of Leadership and Torah

Don Isaac Abarbanel’s legacy spans worlds. He was a diplomat, philosopher, commentator, and savior of countless Jewish lives. His descendants became influential figures in England and among the early Jewish community in Jerusalem.

His writings, especially his commentaries on Torah and the Prophets, remain central to Jewish learning today. And his life story is a powerful reminder: even when cast down by kings, a man of truth can stand tall in exile, serve his people, and illuminate the world.