Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 33:27/אבן עזרא על דברים ל״ג:כ״ז

אמעונה אלהי קדם. דע כי מעון כמו סוכה והעד ויהי בשלם סוכו ומעונתו בציון ורבים כן והטע' כי מעונה שלך הוא אלהי קדם כמו עליון שמת מעונך. מעין אתה היית לנו. ולעול' המעון למעלה על החוסה בו והמקום למטה:

1THE ETERNAL GOD IS A DWELLING-PLACE. Note that the word ma’on (dwelling-place) means a covering (i.e., a sukkah).¹⁷¹ is so called because it has a covering over it. In Salem also is set His covering¹⁷² (sukko), And His dwelling-place (me’onato) in Zion¹⁷³ is parallel to me’onato. (Ps. 76:3) is proof of this. There are many such examples.¹⁷⁴ is used in the sense of protection. The meaning of our verse is: The eternal God is your covering.¹⁷⁵ Compare, Even the Most High, thy habitation (me’onekha)¹⁷⁶ (Ps. 91:9) and Thou hast been our dwelling-place (ma’on) (Ps. 90:1). The ma’on (dwelling place) is always above the one who takes refuge in it.¹⁷⁷ means a protective covering. God serves as a protective covering above us. The “place”¹⁷⁸).” is below.¹⁷⁹ refers to “up above” and makom to below. God is referred to as “The Place” because He is present in all places on the earth. See I.E.’s introduction to Esther, “God is not referred to as ‘The Place (makom)’ in any of the books of Scripture. On the contrary, He is referred to as ‘dwelling place (ma’on),’ for the ma’on which is always on high. However, the ancients, of blessed memory, called God ‘The Place’ because all places are full of His glory.”

בומתחת זרועות. שיתמכו אותך:

2AND UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS. Which will support you.

גוטעם עולם. שכן יהיו נצח ולא תחלשנה והמעון שלך לא יסור כי הוא אלהי קדם והטעם קדמון שאין לו ראשית ואחרית. וטעם ראשית ואחרית כנגד הנבראים והגאון אמר כי ומתחת פירוש ומתחת השם ולא פירש כלום:

3Scripture reads everlasting to teach that it shall always be so. The hand will not weaken, and your covering (ma’on) will not be removed, for He is the eternal God. The meaning of kedem (everlasting) is that God has no beginning and no end. Scripture speaks in human terms when it speaks of beginning and end.¹⁸⁰ The Gaon says that and underneath means and underneath God. He did not explain anything.