Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 18:25/אבן עזרא על בראשית י״ח:כ״ה
אחלילה. דבר שלא יתכן וי"א שהמלה כטעם חלול שאין בו כלום:
1THAT BE FAR. Chalilah (that be far) means it is not possible. Others say that chalilah (that be far) is to be connected to the word chalul, which means empty.52 in context. The second connects it to the word chalul (Weiser).
בוהיה כצדיק כרשע. כאשר יתחברו שני כפי"ן היא דרך קצרה והטעם והיה הצדיק כרשע, והרשע כצדיק וכן "כי כמוך כפרעה" (בראשית מד יח) "כעמי כעמך" (מ"א כב ד) "כחשכה כאורה" (תהלים קלט יב) ואיך יתכן שלא יעשה משפט מי שהוא שופט כל הארץ.
2THAT SO THE RIGHTEOUS SHOULD BE AS THE WICKED. When two cafs are prefixed to two words following each other53 : that so the righteous should be as the wicked. we are dealing with an abridged statement. Hence our verse should be understood as follows: that so the righteous should be as the wicked and the wicked be so as the righteous. Similarly, for thou art even as Pharaoh 54 is to be understood as if written: for thou art even as Pharaoh, and Pharaoh is even as thou. (Gen. 44:18); my people as thy people (I Kings 22:4);55, which should be understood: my people as thy people, thy people as my people. and The darkness is even as the light (Ps. 139:12).56 : And the darkness is even as the light, and the light even as the darkness. The thrust of Abraham’s appeal is: How is it possible for the Judge of all the earth to act unjustly?