ELIEZER BEN FARUḤ:

Jewish mathematician, said by certain Mohammedan authors to have first established the Jewish calendar. He is mentioned by Al-Biruni (972-1048) in his "Chronology of Ancient Nations"; and this account is repeated, almost word for word, in Al-Maḳrizi's (1364-1442) topographical history of Egypt. Steinschneider has connected him with a certain Andrazzur ibn Zadi Faruḥ, a famous Jewish astronomer mentioned by Al-Kabiṣi, the tenth-century Moslem astrologer, and by Abraham ibn Ezra in his "Sefer ha-Ṭe'amim." The first name seems to indicate that he was a Persian by birth; and it occurs in such varying forms as "Andruzagar," "Alezdegoz," "Alendruzgar." It has been suggested that there is a confusion here either with Eliezer ben Hyrcanus or Eleazar ben 'Arak. Sachau reads (I Kings iv. 17).

Bibliography:
  • Sachau, The Chronology of Ancient Nations, p. 68 (Arabic text, p. 58);
  • De Sacy, Chrestomathie Arabe, i. 91 (for Al-Maḳrizi);
  • Delitzsch, Anekdota zur Gesch. der Mittelalt. Scholastik, p. 375 (for Ibn Ezra);
  • compare Steinschneider in Berliner's Magazin, iii. 199;
  • Monatsschrift, xxxiii. 479;
  • Ha-Yonah, p. 18;
  • Steinschneider, Hebr. Uebers. pp. 531, 854;
  • idem, Arab. Lit. der Juden, p. 307.
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