BEN ZUTA (Ben Zita), ABU AL-SURRĪ

BEN ZUTA (Ben Zita), ABU AL-SURRĪ (tenth century), Karaite exegete. A number of his explanations of the Scripture are sarcastically dismissed by abraham ibn ezra in his commentary on the Pentateuch (e.g., on Ex. 20:23; 21:35; 22:28) and his Sefer ha-Ibbur. In the absence of corroboration from Karaite sources, Ibn Ezra's citations remain a principal source for particulars about Ben Zuta's life. A passage in an anonymous Arabic commentary on Samuel suggests, however, that Ben Zuta lived in Jerusalem and at a somewhat later period than had been conjectured. Judah Ibn Bal'am also mentions Ben Zuta and cites his objection to an interpretation of Anan b. David, the founder of Karaism, to Ezra 18:6. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: M. Friedlaender, Essays on the Writings of Abraham Ibn Ezra, 4 (1877), 70 (Heb. appendix); J. Israelsohn, in: REJ, 23 (1891), 132–3; S. Poznański, in: MGWJ, 41 (1897), 203–12; Mann, Texts, index, S.V. Alī Surri Hakkohen b. Zuta.