Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 15:9/אבן עזרא על שמות ט״ו:ט׳
אאמר אויב. הוא פרעה:
1THE ENEMY SAID. The reference is to Pharaoh.
בומלת תמלאמו קשה ורבי מרינוס אמר תהיה מלאה נפשי מהם לקחת כל ממונם כדרך בני יצאוני (ירמי' י כ) והטעם דבק עם אחלק שלל, ואחרים אומרים מגזרת אשר מלאו לבו (אסתר ז ה):
2[SHALL BE SATISFIED UPON THEM.] The word timla’emo (shall be satisfied upon them) is difficult.73 in timla’emo means them. Hence our verse literally reads, My soul will fill them (or satisfy them). However, this was not Pharaoh’s intention. Pharaoh’s intention was to be full of their wealth. Hence our text should have read: My soul will be full of them; i.e., I will be full of their wealth. Rabbi Merinus explains that timla’emo nafshi (my lust shall be satisfied upon them) means: my person74 (my lust) may also be translated as, my person or my soul. shall be full of them;75 means them we can interpret it to mean from them or of them. We can thus interpret timla’emo to mean full of them rather than will fill them. i.e., I will take all of their wealth. The term timla’emo is to be understood like the term yetza’uni (gone forth of me)76 means me. Thus yetza’uni literally means: gone forth me. However, this is not the meaning of the word in the context of the verse. Its meaning is, gone forth of me. We thus see that Scripture sometimes employs a direct object suffix with the meaning of an indirect object. The same is true of timla’emo. in My children are gone forth of me (Jer. 10:20). Its meaning77 is connected to I will divide the spoil.78 Others say that timla’emo is used in the same sense as the word me’lo’o (presume)79 doesn’t only mean to fill. It also means to presume. In our verse it is used in the latter sense. in that durst presume in his heart (Esth. 7:5).80 means: will carry out my intentions. Hence timla’emo nafshi means: I will carry out my intentions upon them or, according to J.P.S., my lust shall be satisfied upon them.
גואחר כן אורישם:
3[MY HAND SHALL DESTROY THEM.] After doing the latter81 I shall destroy them.
דתורישמו ידי. תשמידם, וכן ואם לא תורישו (במד' לג נה):
4MY HAND SHALL DESTROY THEM. Torishemo means shall destroy them.82 is yod, resh, shin. This root also has the meaning of to inherit, hence I.E.’s comment. Similarly the word torishu (you will destroy) in But if you will not destroy (Num. 34:55).83