Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 16:12/אבן עזרא על בראשית ט״ז:י״ב
אפרא אדם. חפשי בין האדם, כטעם "מי שלח פרא חפשי" (איוב לט ה) והטעם שלא ימשול בו זר ממשפחתו, ויש אומר פרא ואדם כמו שמש ירח עמד זבולה (חבקוק ג יא) בעבור שהוא פרא ידו בכל, ובעבור שהוא אדם ויד כל בו, והנכון בעיני שיהיה בין האדם כפרא שינצח הכל בכחו ואחר כן ויד כל בו וכן מפורש בדניאל, כי הוא החיה הרביעית:
1A WILD ASS OF A MAN. He will be free among men.11, literally, wild ass-man, hence the different interpretations which follow. Compare, Who hath sent out the wild ass free (Job 39:5). The meaning of our clause is that no stranger will rule over him.12 Others say that we should render perah adam (a wild ass of a man) by a wild ass and a man.13 should be placed before adam (man). He will have the qualities of a wild ass and of a man. It is like The sun and moon stand still in their habitation ((Hab. 3:11).14 has to be prefixed to yare’ach (moon). The verse literally reads: the sun moon stand still in their habitation. The meaning of our verse is: because he will be a wild ass his hand shall be against every man, but because he is a man every man’s hand (shall be) against him. In my opinion its interpretation is: he will be as a wild ass among men;15 as wild ass among men, but it explains it differently. i.e., he will overcome men. However, ultimately every man’s hand (shall be) against him. This is clearly stated in the book of Daniel, for the fourth beast described therein refers to the kingdom of Ishmael.16
בועל פני כל אחיו. שהם בני קטורה וכן כתוב על פני כל אחיו נפל (בראשית כה יח) וכן בני מדינים מבני קטורה ונקראו ישמעאלים בתורה ובספר שופטים:
2AND HE SHALL DWELL IN THE FACE OF ALL HIS BRETHREN. The latter being the children of Keturah.17 It is similarly written, over against all his brethren did he settle (Gen. 25:18). Also, the Midianites are of the children of Keturah. However, they are referred to as Ishmaelites in the Pentateuch18 and in the Book of Judges.19