Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 16/אבן עזרא על דברים ט״ז

אאת חדש האביב. נקרא כן בעבור שהיה בו אביב בצאתם ממצרים והמכחישים אמרו כי לא נעשה פסח בלא אביב וכבר השיבותי על הבליהם גם אנחנו נודה כי בית דין היה מסתכל לאביב ודע כי אין לחדשים בלשון הקדש שמות כי ניסן סיון גם כסליו גם טבת גם אדד שהם נזכרים במקרא הם לשון כשדים על כן אמר הוא חדש ניסן רק מצאנו זיו ואיתני' ובול וטעם ראשון כאשר ימצא האביב הנו חדש הראשון כי משם יחל לספור החדשי' אם היתה שנה שעברה שנים עשר חדש או שלשה עשר לא נחוש על זה וזה טעם ראשון רק קדמונינו ז״‎ל העתיקו עם האביב דברים אחרים וכל דבריהם אמת:
1THE MONTH OF ABIV. It is called the month of Aviv because when the Israelites went out of the land of Egypt, the first of the barley crop (aviv)1 as the first of the barley crop. Thus according to I.E. the month of Abiv means the month when the first of the barley crop appears in the field. appeared in the fields in that month. Those who deny the Rabbinic tradition say that Passover2 is not to be observed if the first of the barley crop has not appeared.3 did not appear, then the paschal lamb was not offered that year. They do not believe that an additional month was added to the year if the aviv had not yet arrived. (See Meijler). I have previously responded to their nonsense.4 We will also admit that the Beth Din5 took the appearance of the first barley crop into consideration.6. 11a,b. Note that in Hebrew the months have no names.7 Nisan (Esth. 3:7; Neh. 2:1), Sivan (Esth. 8:9), and also Kislev (Neh. 1:1), Tevet (Esth. 2:16), and Adar (Esth. 3:7), which are mentioned in Scripture, are Chaldean terms. Hence Scripture states, which is the month of Nisan (Ibid.).8. Scripture identifies the first month by its Chaldean name because the Jews did not call the month by that name in earlier times. However, we find Ziv (I Kings 6:37),9 Etanim (I Kings 8:2),10 and Bul (I Kings 6:38).11 The meaning of first12. is that when you find the first barley ripe, then the first month has arrived, for one starts counting the months from it We do not care about this,13 whether the year that passed consisted of twelve months or thirteen months.14 This is the meaning of first.15 arrives. However, the ancients of blessed memory transmitted traditions regarding many other things along with the ripe barley grain.16. 11:a,b. All of their words are true.
בלילה. הוציאך מתחת רשות פרעה והקרוב עוד אפרשנו:
2BY NIGHT.17 He took you from the authority of Pharaoh. They left Egypt close to night.18 I will explain it later.19
אצאן. לחיוב הפסח:
1OF THE FLOCK. To fulfill the obligation of the paschal sacrifice.
בובקר. לשלמים והעד ובקר שלשת אלפים אחר שאמר הכל לפסחים על כשבים ובני עזים וכן נתנו לפסחים חמשת אלפים ובקר חמש מאות והנה זכר הפסח קודם הבקר וכן אתה וביתך וי״‎א כי במצרים אמר כבש או עז ועתה בקר אם יוכל והראשון הוא הנכון:
2AND THE HERD. For peace offerings.20 The fact that Scripture says, and three thousand bullocks (II Chron. 35:7), after it says, all of them for the passover-offerings, with regard to the lambs and kids (Ibid.), is proof.21 refers to peace offerings, for Scripture implies that only the lambs and kids were offered as paschal sacrifices. II Chron. 35:7 states: And Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all of them for the passover-offerings, unto all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand. It similarly tells us that they gave (unto the Levite) for the passover-offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen (Ibid., v. 9). Scripture thus mentions the Passover offerings before it mentions the cattle.22 It similarly states, thou and thy household (Deut. 14:26).23. The former applies to the paschal offering and the latter to peace offerings. Some say that Scripture commanded that a lamb or a he-goat were to be offered in Egypt.24 However, Scripture now tells us if one is able to, he may offer cattle. However, the first interpretation is correct.25
אלא תאכל עליו חמץ. שלא ימצא חמץ בעת שחיטת הפסח:
1THOU SHALT EAT NO LEAVENED BREAD. No leaven shall be present when the paschal offering is slaughtered.
בלחם עוני. לזכרון:
2BREAD OF AFFLICTION. For a memorial.
גכל ימי חייך. בכל שנה:
3ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE. Every year.
אאשר תזבח בערב. שהוא בשר הפסח:
1WHICH THOU SACRIFICEST…AT EVEN. The reference is to the flesh of the Passover offering.
אבערב כבוא השמש. פירשתיו:
1AT EVEN, AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN. I have explained this previously.26
במועד צאתך ממצרים. שב אל פסח כי מועד חדש האביב יצאו ממצרים ואיננו דבק עם כבוא השמש:
2AT THE SEASON THAT THOU CAMEST FORTH OUT OF EGYPT. The reference is to the Passover offering, as the Israelites left Egypt in the month of Aviv. It27. is not connected to at the going down of the sun.28 refers to thou shalt sacrifice the passover-offering, not to at the going down of the sun, which precedes At the season, etc., for the Israelites did not leave Egypt at the going down of the sun.
אובשלת. פירשתיו באש וכן ויבשלו את הפסח באש והזכיר ובשלת שלא יאכלנו חי:
1AND THOU SHALT ROAST.29 [literally, and you shall cook]. I have previously explained that u-vishalta means you shall roast in fire.30. Hence I.E.’s comment. Compare, And they roasted (va-yevashelu)31 the passover with fire (II Chron. 35:13). Scripture reads u-vishalta to indicate that the Passover offering is not to be eaten raw.32 (cooked) comes from the same root as the word ripe. Thus u-vishalta can be taken to mean prepare (cook or roast) it to the point where it is fit to be eaten.
בופנית בבקר. אמרו המכחישים כי ילך ביום קדש אל ביתו וארצו ואנחנו לא נסמוך על דעתנו במצות כי אם על מעתיקי התורה והנה מצאנו ביום השמיני שלח את העם והוא יום קדש וכתוב אחר וביום עשרים ושלשה לחדש השביעי שלח את העם יש אומרים כי הפירוש לאהליהם כאשר הוא וביום החול לארצם:
2AND THOU SHALT TURN IN THE MORNING. Those who deny the Rabbinic tradition33 say that the verse tells the Israelite to go to his house and land on the holy day.34 We will not rely on our own minds when it comes to the commandments. We will rely only on those who transmitted the Torah.35 refers to the morning of the sixteenth of Nissan. See Hagigah 17a,b. Look, we find Scripture stating, On the eighth day36 he37 sent the people38 away (I Kings 8:66). The latter was a holy day.39 Another verse says, And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month40 he41 sent the people42 away unto their tents (II Chron. 7:1). Some say that the meaning of unto their tents is, to their tents, which were close by.43 They went to their lands44 on the weekday.
גוהלכת לאהליך סבוב לירושלים ומשם ילך אל ארצו בחול:
3AND GO UNTO THY TENTS. Around Jerusalem. The Israelite would then go to his land on the weekday.
אששת ימים. אמרו הקדמונים מהחל חרמש ויתכן להיות ביום השביעי דבק עם ששת ימים והבדילו מפאה אל פאה אחרת להזהיר לא תעשה מלאכה ולא אמר כל מלאכה והטעם כל מלאכת עבודה ובמקום שאמר כל מלאכה שם כתוב אך וכאשר הזכיר הפסח שהוא חייב לבא אל מקום הכבוד הזכיר החג השני גם השלישי ולא הזכיר יום תרועה ויום העשור כי אין הצבור מתחבר במקדש:
1SIX DAYS. The ancients said six days from the lifting of the sickle.45 This took place on the second day of Passover. See Lev. 23:9-12. Scripture prohibits eating of the new crop of grain before a measure (an omer) of new grain is cut and offered on the altar. Now, the Torah commands that matzot be eaten for seven days (v. 3). This contradicts our verse which states that matzot be eaten for six days. The Talmud (Menachot 66a) explains that our verse refers to matzot baked from the new crop, which could not be eaten before the second day of Passover, while the verse that tells the Israelites to eat matzot for seven days speaks of matzot made from grain from the previous year. See Rashi. It is possible that and on the seventh day is connected to six days.46 And on the seventh day was separated from the first half of the verse and placed in the second half of the verse because Scripture wanted to warn against doing work.47 refers to both the first part of the verse and to the second. Our verse is to be understood as follows: Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread; and [so too] on the seventh day; and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly …thou shalt do no work therein. Scripture does not say all manner of work.48 The reason for the latter is that only servile work49 is prohibited. Where Scripture does state all manner of work,50 it reads, “Save” [that which every man must eat].51 When Scripture mentions that one is obligated to offer the Passover sacrifice in the glorious place, it also mentions the second festival (v. 9)52 and the third festival (v. 13).53 It does not mention the day of shofar sounding54 and the tenth day,55 because the congregation does not gather then in the sanctuary.56
אמסת. דגשות הסמ״‎ך להתבלע הנו״‎ן והמלה מגזרת נס כטעם הרמת יד:
1AFTER THE MEASURE. The samekh of missat (after the measure) receives a dagesh to compensate for the missing nun.57 from the root nun, samekh, samekh. Missat is related to the word nes (banner). It means the lifting of the hand.58 (after the measure of the freewill-offering of thy hand) means the lifting of the freewill-offering of thy hand. Scripture uses the term lifting when it deals with an offering to the sanctuary. Compare the word trumah (offering), which literally means a lifting.
בנדבת ידך. לעולה ולשלמי':
2THE FREEWILL-OFFERING OF THY HAND. For burnt offerings and peace offerings.
אוזכרת כי עבד היית. דבק עם עבדך ואמתך:
1AND THOU SHALT REMEMBER THAT THOU WAST A BONDMAN. This is connected to thy man-servant and thy maid-servant (v. 11).59
אבאספך מגרנך ומיקבך. על כן נקרא חג האסיף:
1AFTER THAT THOU HAST GATHERED IN FROM THY THRESHING-FLOOR AND FROM THY WINEPRESS. Hence this festival is called the feast of ingathering (Ex. 34:22).60
אתחג. תזבח הזבח והטעם על הצבור או טעם תחוג ליחיד לעשות עולות ושלמים והעד כי יברכך והטעם תעשה זה בעבור שברך אותך השם והוסיף בכל תבואתך לבאר על ברכת התבואה שהוציאה הארץ:
1SHALT THOU KEEP A FEAST. Tachog (shalt thou keep a feast) means you shall sacrifice the offering.61 not only means a holiday, it also refers to the sacrifice that is offered on the festival. See I.E. on Ex. 5:1 (Vol. 2, p. 115). The reference is to the congregation.62 offerings). On the other hand, it might refer to the individual. The Israelite is told to make burnt and peace offerings. Shall bless thee is proof of this. It means do this63 because God blessed you. Scripture adds all thine increase to explain that the object of bless thee is the produce which the earth will bring forth.
במעשה ידיך. בסחורה ואומנות:
2THE WORK OF THY HANDS. Trade and goods produced by craftsmen.
גוהיית אך שמח. מצוה לשמוח בחג הסוכות וי״‎א כי יברכך לעתיד ותהיה לעולם שמח:
3AND THOU SHALT BE ALTOGETHER JOYFUL. There is a commandment to be joyful on the festival of Sukkot.64 refers to the festival of Sukkot Others say that it means that God will bless you in the future and you will always be happy.65 refers not only to the festival of Sukkot, it refers to the whole year.
דוטעם אך. כי לא תהיה כי אם כן:
4[ALTOGETHER.] The meaning of altogether is, you shall always be happy.
אולא יראה. זהו מסת נדבת ידך:
1AND THEY SHALL NOT APPEAR…EMPTY. This is what Scripture means by after the measure of the freewill-offering of thy hand (v. 10).
באת פני ה'. פירשתיו:
2BEFORE THE LORD. I have already explained this.66 means before the Lord. Et pene Adonai literally means the face of God. Hence I.E.’s comment.
אאע״‎פ שכל מצוה ומצוה עומדת בפני עצמה יש כדמות דרש להדבק הפרשיות. וטעם שופטים. אע״‎פ שאתה חייב ללכת שלשה פעמים למקום הכהנים משרתי המקדש ושם תשאל מהחקים והמשפטים זה לא יספיק לך עד שיהיו לך שופטים בכל שעריך:
1[JUDGES.] Even though each and every commandment stands by itself there is, as it were, a midrashic reason for the connection of the sections.67 The meaning of Judges…is, even though you are obligated to go three times a year to the place of the kohanim who serve in the sanctuary and there inquire regarding the statues and laws, it will not suffice. You must have judges in all of your cities.68
בושוטרים הם המושלי' מגזרת שוטר ומושל וכן משטרו בארץ והטעם כי השופט ישפוט והשוטר יכריח המעוות:
2OFFICERS. Shoterim (officers) means rulers. It is related to shoter (ruler) in Overseer, or ruler (Prov. 6:6) and similarly mishtaro (dominion thereof) in the dominion thereof in the earth (Job 38:33). The shofetim (judges) judge and the shoterim (officers) force the crooked [to obey the law].
גבכל שעריך. וכן מצאנו שעשה יהושפט:
3IN ALL THY GATES. We find that Jehoshaphat69 acted in this manner.70
דלשבטיך. בכל שער שבט ושבט:
4TRIBE BY TRIBE. In all the gates of each and every tribe.
הושפטו את העם. שב אל השופטים:
5AND THEY SHALL JUDGE. The reference is to the judges.
אלא תטה משפט. עם כל אחד מהשופטים ידבר:
1THOU SHALT NOT WREST JUDGMENT. Scripture speaks to each one of the judges.
בתכיר. פירשתיו בפסוק לא תכירו פנים במשפט:
2THOU SHALT NOT RESPECT PERSONS. I have explained the word takkir (thou shalt respect) in my comments on Ye shall not respect (takkiru) persons in judgment (Deut. 1:17).
אצדק צדק. עם בעלי הריב ידבר וטעם שני פעמים לדבר צדק שירויח בו או יפסיד או פעם אחר פעם כל ימי היותך או לחזוק:
1JUSTICE, JUSTICE. Moses speaks to the disputants. Moses repeats the word justice to indicate that one should pursue justice whether one gains or loses. Or the word is repeated to indicate that one should pursue justice as long as one exists;71 or the word is repeated for emphasis.
בלמען תחיה. עם הבאים אל הארץ ידבר:
2THAT THOU MAYEST LIVE. Moses speaks to those who are entering the land.
גוירשתה. עם בניהם ידבר והטעם שתעמוד לך זו הירושה והדבר שיתחיל השופט לדקדק הוא על עבודת גילולים המפורסמ' בתחלה כמו לא תטע לך אשרה כי כן משפט ע״‎ג אחר אחת בתוך:
3AND INHERIT THE LAND. Moses speaks to their children. It means, you72 will keep this inheritance.73 The first thing that the judge has to be concerned with is widespread pagan practices such as the one referred to in Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah (v. 21).74 The Torah states the latter, for such is the practice of pagan worship, as Behind one in the midst (Is. 66:17)75 in the midst of the garden. See I.E. on Is. 66:17. shows.
אולא תקים לך מצבה. לע״‎ג והעד אשר שנא רק מצבה שלא לע״‎ג איננה אסורה והעד הנאמן בפרשת וישלח יעקב:
1NEITHER SHALT THOU SET THEE UP A PILLAR. For an idol, as which the Lord thy God hateth proves.76 However, a pillar which is not set up for idol worship is permitted. The most convincing proof of this is found in the portion which opens with the words And Jacob sent (Gen. 32:4).77