Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 1:11/אבן עזרא על שמות א׳:י״א
אמסים רבים, והאחד מס, וכמו פתים (ויקרא ב ו) פת (ברא' יח ה), והם מפעלי הכפל:
1TASKMASTERS. Missim (taskmasters) is a plural. Its singular form is mas. This word is similar in form to pittim (pieces of bread) (Lev. 2:7) and pat (piece of bread) (Gen. 18:5).112 The word comes from a stem whose second and third root letters are identical.113 is mem, samekh, samekh. The root of pat is peh, tav, tav. Both are double roots and are similarly vocalized.
בוטעם ענותו ליבש זרע הזכרים:
2[TO AFFLICT THEM.] To cause the semen of the men to dry up.114
גמסכנות. אוצרות, וכמוהו אל הסוכן (ישעי' כב טו) ותהי למלך סוכנת (מ"א א ד), שומרת האוצר, ולא יודע לכל ושכבה בחיקך:
3STORE-CITIES. Miskenot means store-cities. Ha-sokhen (this steward) in unto this steward (Is. 22:15)115 should be rendered, the one in charge of the treasury (or store), not this steward, as translated by J.P.S. and sokhenet (companion) in and be a companion for the king (I Kings 1:2) are similar.116. Be that as it may, I.E.’s point is that sokhenet refers to a person in charge of the store (treasury). For the meaning of the latter verse is, let her be in charge of the king’s treasury so that no one will know that she lies in thy bosom.
דרַעֲמסס. בפתחות העי"ן ואיננה מקום ישראל:
4RAAMSES. Has a pattach beneath the ayin and does not refer to the place where Israel dwelt.117