Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 32:30/אבן עזרא על דברים ל״ב:ל׳
אאיכה ירדוף. הטעם לו חכמו ישראל שישכילו איך ירדוף אחד מהצרים אלף מישראל אין זה כי אם בעבור שעזבם צורם ויש אומרים איך היו ישראל בתחלה רודף אחד מהם אלף ועתה נחלשו:
1HOW SHOULD ONE CHASE. If Israel was wise299 they would understand how one of their enemies could pursue a thousand Israelites. This occurred only because their Rock has forsaken them. Others interpret our verse as how did Israel, who are now weak, at first pursue a thousand of their enemies.300
בכי צורם מכרם. כמו נתנם וכן ימכר ה' את סיסרא והטעם כאילו נתנם בשכר מעשיהם והנה היא מכירה ממש:
2EXCEPT THEIR ROCK HAD GIVEN THEM OVER. Mekharam means had given them over.301 The same applies to yimkor (will give over) in for the Lord will give Sisera over (Jud. 4:9). Its meaning is that God, as it were, gave them over as in payment302 for their deeds. It is thus a literal sale.303 in our verse.
גהסגירם. כטע' יסגור על איש או כמו ולנו הסגירו:
3HAD DELIVERED THEM UP. Hisgiram (had delivered them up) is similar to yisgor (shutteth up) in, He shutteth up a man (Job 12:14).304 On the other hand, it might be similar to hasgiro (deliver him up) in and our part shall be to deliver him up (I Sam. 23:20).