Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 6:7/אבן עזרא על דברים ו׳:ז׳
אושננתם. מגזרת חץ שנון. וידוע איך ישונן החץ הנה נרא' כי עיקר כל האדם עבודת השם ועבודתו להכיר פעליו והמעתיקי' העתיקו שעת ק״ש וכלנו נסמוך עליהם:
1AND THOU SHALT TEACH THEM. Ve-shinantam (and thou shalt teach them) is related to the word shanun (sharp) in and a sharp arrow (Prov. 25:18). The method of sharpening an arrow is well known.29 Observe. Our verse teaches that the main purpose of man is to serve God.30 God’s service consists in recognizing God’s works.31, the reference is to the study of the Torah (see Weiser). However, it should be noted that in I.E., study of God’s works usually refers to the study of the sciences. Thus I.E. writes: “When one masters astronomy and the circuits of the [sun and. moon], he comes to know the works of God the glorious” (The Secret of the Torah, p. 21). Perhaps I.E. is alluding here to his belief that the Torah cannot be fully understood unless it is interpreted in light of the studies of science (see The Secret of the Torah, pp. 33,34). However, the transmitters of tradition taught that [our verse] refers to the time of reading the shema.32 means that we should read the shema at night, and when thou risest up refers to the reading of the shema in the morning. See chapter 1 of Mishnah Berakhot. We all rely on them.
בבשבתך. דבק עם ודברת בם:
2WHEN THOU SITTEST. This is connected to and shalt talk of them.33
גובשכבך. לישן כי אין מצוה על הישן והנה ודברת בם בפה ובלב:
3AND WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN. To sleep, for one is not obligated to observe the commandments when one sleeps.34 can’t be taken to mean when you sleep. Behold, the meaning of our verse is, And thou shalt talk of them verbally and in your heart.