Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 23:18/אבן עזרא על דברים כ״ג:י״ח
אונסמכה פרשת קדשה בעבור העבד ומעתיקי הדת אמרו כי הקדש הוא הנשכב והעד מבנ״י. ואמר אליהוא וחיתם בקדשים כי נפשם כנגד חיתם והנה קדשים כנגד' נועד וכתוב וגם קדש היה בארץ בתי הקדשים ושם כתוב אשר הנשים אורגות שם ואני לא אבין טעם קדשה וכאשר נחפשה היטב טעם המלה אז היא ידועה שהיא מזומנת לכל עובר ושב והעד איה הקדשה א״כ יהיה קדש כמעשה המצרים והמבין יבין ובעבור קדשה נסמכה פרשת אתנן זונה:
1[THERE SHALL BE NO HARLOT] The law of the kedeshah (harlot) follows because the previous section deals with a bondman.54 The transmitters of tradition say that the term kadesh (sodomite) refers to the one who is slept with.55 The phrase of the sons of Israel is proof of this.56 Elihu said, [Their soul perisheth in youth] And their life as that of the depraved (kedeshim) (Job 36:14); their soul corresponds to their life and kedeshim corresponds to in youth.57 Scripture also states, And there were also sodomites (kadesh) in the land (I Kings 14:24); the house of the sodomites (kedeshim) II Kings 23:7). Scripture there continues, where the women58 wove coverings (Ibid.). I do not understand the meaning of the word kedeshah. (harlot). When we investigate carefully the meaning of the word we find that it refers to a woman who is known to be prepared to offer herself to all who come and go. Where is the harlot (kedeshah) (Gen. 38:21) is proof of this. If this is so,59 refers to a female engaged in heterosexual intercourse, then so must the term kadesh, for kadesh is the masculine form of the noun. then the term kadesh refers to an Egyptian-like practice.60. See I. E. on Haggai 2:12. The intelligent will understand.61 The law dealing with a harlot’s hire follows because our section deals with a harlot.