Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 34:6/אבן עזרא על דברים ל״ד:ו׳
אויקבר אותו. הוא קבר עצמו שנכנס במערה בגיא וכן וירעו הרועים אותם ויראו שוטרי בני ישראל אותם ודע כי הר העברים שהוא הר נבו שהוא צלם ככב הוא בעצמו הגיא שהוא ראש הפסג' שהוא מול בית פעור והעד שאמר הכתוב כי נסע ישראל מבמו' אל הגיא אשר בשדה מואב ראש הפסגה וכתיב ויעל משה מערבות מואב אל הר נבו ראש הפסגה ושם מת ושם קבורתו וכתיב ונשב בגיא מול בית פעור והנה אחר שישבו ישראל בגיא אמר הכתוב ויסעו בני ישראל ויחנו בערבות מואב וכתוב אחר ויחנו בהרי העברים לפני נבו ויסעו מהרי העברים ויחנו בערבות מואב והנה דבר ברור כי במקום שמת משה שם קבורתו:
1AND HE WAS BURIED.9 (literally, and he buried him). Moses buried himself.10 (and he buried him) is to be rendered, and he buried himself. I.E.’s point is that the pronoun oto (him) or otam (them) sometimes has the meaning of himself or themselves. He entered a cave in the valley. The same is true of but the shepherds fed them (otam),11 (them) is to be rendered themselves. Our clause thus reads, but the shepherds fed themselves. and fed not My sheep (Ezek. 34:8) and, And the officers of the children of Israel did see them12 (otam)13). (Ex. 5:19). Note,14); the valley (gai) which is over against Beth-peor (Deut. 34:6). I.E. goes on to explain that all of these terms refer to one and the same place. Mount Abarim is also known as Mount Nebo.15 Nebo is in the image of Mercury.16. According to I.E. the idol Nebo stood and was worshipped on Mount Abarim. Hence Mount Abarim was also known as Mount Nebo. Mount Abarim is also known as “the valley which is the top of Pisgah which is over against Beth-peor.”17 The fact that Scripture tells us that Israel journeyed from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, by the top of Pisgah (Num. 21:20) is proof of this.18) is to be identified with the top of Pisgah. Furthermore, Scripture writes, And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah (v. 1).19 Moses died there20 and his grave is there.21 Scripture states,22 So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor (Deut. 3:29). Now, Scripture tells us that after Israel dwelt in the valley…the children of Israel journeyed, and pitched in the plains of Moab (Num. 22:1). Another verse states, And [Israel] pitched in the mountains of Abarim, in front of Nebo. And they journeyed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab (Num. 33:47,48). Look, it is clear that Moses’ burial place was in the place where he died.23 and Sotah 13b.
בעד היום הזה. דברי יהושע. ויתכן שכתב זה באחרית ימיו:
2UNTO THIS DAY. These are the words of Joshua.24 15a: “The Holy One, blessed be He, dictated, and Moses wrote in tears.” He probably wrote this at the end of his days.25 indicates that some time had passed since the death of Moses.