Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 22:1/אבן עזרא על שמות כ״ב:א׳
אאם במחתרת ימצא הגנב. בלילה כי ביום לא יחתור, והכתוב הבא אחריו לעד "אם זרחה השמש":
1IF A THIEF BE FOUND BREAKING IN. At night, as the thief would not break in during the day. If the sun he risen upon him in the verse which follows proves this.
בופי' אין לו דמים. אין על הורגו שפיכות דמים, ויש לתמוה מן המפרשים דמים חיים, אם כן מה הוא איש דמים (ש"ב טז ח) דמיו בו (ויקרא כ, ט):
2[THERE SHALL BE NO BLOODGUILTINESS FOR HIM.] That is, the one who kills the thief is not guilty of bloodshed.1 (literally, blood) means bloodshed. Hence en lo damim (there shall be no bloodguiltiness in him) means he is not guilty of bloodshed. One has to be amazed at those who interpret damim (bloodguiltiness) as life.2 (there shall be no bloodguiltiness in him): “This is not murder. He is considered as dead to begin with.” Also see Rashi on verse 2. “Damim lo (there shall be bloodguiltiness for him): He is considered as a living person, and the owner of the house commits murder if he kills him.” If this is so, what is the meaning of because thou art a man of blood (damim) (II Sam. 16:8) and his blood (damav) shall be upon him (Lev. 20:9).