Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 32:15/אבן עזרא על דברים ל״ב:ט״ו
אוישמן ישורון. ישראל ויתכן להיות מגזרת ישר והטעם שמן זה שהיה ישר וי״א שהוא מגזרת אשורנו והראשון הוא הישר בעיני והעד שהוא לשון יחיד:
1BUT JESHURUN WAXED FAT. Jeshurun refers to Israel. It is possible that the name Jeshurun is related to the word yashar (upright). Its meaning is, the one who was upright became fat. Some say that the word Jeshurun is related to the word ashurennu168, vav, resh. (I behold him) (Num. 23:9).169 and means those who behold, the reference being to God’s salvation or God’s glory (Weiser). The first interpretation appears “upright” in my eyes. The fact that Jeshurun is in the singular170 (waxed fat), the verb governing Jeshurun is singular. is proof of this.171 (but Yeshurun waxed fat) means, and the one who was upright grew fat, for according to the second interpretation Jeshurun is a variant of yasharu which is a plural.
בויבעט. כמו למה תבעטו לפי טעם המקום:
2AND KICKED. The word va-yivat (and kicked) is similar to tivatu (kick ye) in Wherefore kick ye (I Sam. 2:29). Its meaning is to be ascertained from its context.172 means to kick.
גשמנת. ולא חשבו לאמר לנפשו:
3THOU DIDST WAX FAT. It did not enter their minds to take stock of themselves.173 (Krinsky). The first and last part of our verse is in the third person. The aforementioned is in the second person. Hence I.E.’s comment.
דעבית. כמו קטני עבה:
4THOU DIDST GROW THICK. The word avita (thou didst grow thick) is similar to the word avah (thicker) in My little finger is thicker (I Kings 12:10).
הכשית. י״א שהוא כמו כסה פניו בחלבו כי ימצא מהבנין הקל ואחרים אמרו שהוא כמו תעיתי כשה אובד וזה (ס״א לא) ימצא באחד מהפעלים והנכון בעיני שאין למלה הזאת אח וטעמה כמו בעטת:
5THOU DIDST BECOME GROSS. Some say that kasita174 and is spelled with a sin. (thou didst grow thick) is similar to kissah175 and is spelled with a samekh. (he hath covered) in he hath covered his face with his fatness (Job 15:27),176 means you covered; that is, you covered your face with fat. for the word is found in the kal conjugation.177 comes from the root kaf, samekh, heh, with the sin substituted for a samekh. Others say that kasita is similar to ke-seh (like…a sheep) in I have gone astray like a lost sheep (Ps. 119:176).178 of kasita is a preposition, the word itself comes from the word seh (sheep), and kasita means you became like a sheep. We do not find such a construction in any of the verbs.179 It appears to me the word kasita has no brother.180 is not found in Scripture. Its meaning is, you kicked.
וויטוש. מצות אלהיו:
6AND HE FORSOOK. The commandments of his God.
זוינבל. במחשבה ובפה. והנכון שחלל השם שלא הושיעו הוא סבב על כן כתוב צור ישועתו גם זה הפסוק על פי' הצור תמים פעלו:
7AND CONTEMNED. In mind and verbally. Its correct meaning is that Israel profaned the name of the Lord for not saving him. He caused this to be.181 Scripture therefore continues, the Rock of his salvation, which is to be understood as The Rock, His work is perfect (v. 4).182