Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Genesis 12:20/אבן עזרא על בראשית י״ב:כ׳

אוישלחו אותו. דרך ליווי בכבוד, וכן ואברהם הולך עמם לשלחם (בראשית יח טז)

1AND THEY BROUGHT HIM ON THE WAY. They honorably escorted him.⁴⁴ (and they brought him on the way) might conceivably be translated as they sent him away; i.e., they expelled him, hence I.E.’s comment. And Abraham went with them⁴⁵ to bring them on the way (Gen. 18:16) is similar.

בוהנכון בעיני להיות פירוש ויצו עליו, בעבור היות על אחרים המצוה שהזהיר וצוה להכריז שלא יגע איש בו ובאשתו:

2[AND PHARAOH GAVE MEN CHARGE CONCERNING HIM.] It appears to me that this clause indicates that Pharaoh issued a command to his people concerning Abraham. He warned and charged that it be announced that no one harm Abraham and his wife.⁴⁶ is not to be connected to and they brought him on the way. Gave men charge, etc., means he issued commands that Abraham not be molested; and they brought him on the way means they escorted him. I.E. interprets this verse thus because he believes that the word tzivvah (commanded, charged) with the preposition al (on) involves a prohibition. Cf. I.E.’s comments on Gen. 2:16 (Filwarg).