Jacob ben Joseph ha-Rofe, who died on October 2, 1851, was a rabbinic scholar and dayyan in Baghdad. He studied with Rabbis Moses Ḥayyim, Reuben Nawwi, and Nissim Maṣliaḥ, and in 1848 was described by the traveler Benjamin the Second (J. J. Benjamin II) as “Highly respected, by virtue of his fine qualities and broad knowledge.” Little is known of his life. He died of cholera, and left a learned son, Joseph, who died on October 21, 1877.

 Jacob left a number of literary works. Shir Ḥadash (A New Song), an extensive commentary on the Song of Songs, was included in the first volume  of Mishmeret ha-Qo…