Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 16:15/אבן עזרא על דברים ט״ז:ט״ו
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.