Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 32:5/אבן עזרא על דברים ל״ב:ה׳
אלא בניו. אלה שאמרו שאינם בניו וכן בנים לא אמון בם. והטעם שלא יודו שהוא בראם ואם יודו בפה לא יודו בלב והעד שלא יראו מהשם. ולמ״ד לו משרת עצמו ואחר עמו והוא למומם והטעם בעבור מומם שהוא דור עקש ופתלתל:
1NO; HIS CHILDREN’S IS THE BLEMISH. Lo banav (no, his children’s) means those who say that they are not his children. Scripture similarly states, Children in whom is no faithfulness (v. 20). Its meaning is that they do not admit that God created them. Although they might profess their belief verbally, they do not believe it in their hearts. The fact that they do not fear God58 is proof of their lack of belief. The lamed of lo (his) serves itself and another word along with it. It is to be prefixed to the word mumam (the blemish).59 is to be read le-mumam. The entire clause is to be interpreted as if written, lo banav le-mumam. The meaning of lemumam is, because of their blemish, their blemish consisting in being A generation crooked and perverse.60
בופתלתל. מתחזק ומתנצח בעקשותו וכן נפתולי אלהים. י״א כי טעם שחת לו כמו שחתו להם והטעם לנפש' ואל תתמה בעבור שהמלה לשון יחיד כי כן משפט הל' הלא תראה זכור ימות עולם בינו שנות דור ודור והנכון בעיני שהוא כן שחת לשם והטעם השחתת דרכי השם הנטועים והחקים שצוה כאילו אמר שחת לו דור עקש שהם לא בניו וזהו מומם והעד כי כן פירושו הבא אחריו והוא הלה' תגמלו זאת וכבר פירשתי טעם הה״א בספר מאזנים:
2AND PERVERSE. The meaning of u-fetaltol (and perverse) is he grows strong and triumphant in his crookedness.61 (a crooked and perverse) as crooked and triumphant. Hence his interpretation. Compare the word naftule (wrestlings)62 (perverse) and naftule (wrestlings) come from the same root, nun, peh, lamed. in with mighty wrestlings (Gen. 30:8). Some say that the meaning of shichet lo (is corruption His) is, they corrupted themselves; that is, they corrupted their souls. Do not wonder that the singular lo is employed,63 for this is the style of the language. Can you not see that Scripture reads, Remember (zekhor)64 is singular. the days of old, Consider (binu)65 is singular. the years of many generations (v. 7). I believe that shichet lo (is corruption His) means they corrupted God;66 is, they corrupted to him. that is, they corrupted the ways of God, which are implanted in man’s mind,67 as well as the statutes which He commanded. Scripture, as it were, says the crooked generation that is not His children corrupted Him.68 This is their blemish. The verse that follows, namely, Do you thus requite the Lord, is proof that this is its interpretation.69 I have explained the meaning of the heh70. The next verse opens with an interrogative heh. Hence I.E.’s comment. in the book entitled Moznayim.