Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 2:14/אבן עזרא על בראשית ב׳:י״ד
אופי' קדמת אשור התי"ו קדמת תחת ה"א וההפרש בינו ובין קדם, כי ה"א קדמה תחת אֶל הפתוח בפתח קטן וכן וירד אברם מצרימה (בראשית יב י) כמו אל מצרים, והנה קדמת אשור, אל מזרח אשור, ודע כי מהפסוק הראשון עד לעשות הזכיר הכתוב אלהים, ואח"כ הזכיר השם הנכבד והנורא עמו ומה יקרו דברי קדמונינו ז"ל שאמרו נקרא שם מלא על עולם מלא כי לא היה שם כח מקבל זה השם, ובפרשת ואלה שמות אפרש סוד השם ואם הוא סמוך אם יעזרני ד', ודע כי מקום האדמה שנברא ממנה אדם קרוב אל גן עדן, כי יש אומרים, כי האדמה היא ארץ ישראל והנח שכחו ויהי בנסעם מקדם (בראשית יא ב):
1[TOWARD THE EAST OF ASSHUR.] The tav of kidmat (toward the east of) is in place of a heh.49 is kedemah in the construct. The difference between kedem and kedemah is that the heh suffixed to kedemah is in place of the preposition “to” (el), which is vocalized with a segol.50 means to the east, kedem, east. Similarly in and Abram went down into Egypt (mitzraymah) (Gen. 12:10), mitzraymah means “to Egypt.” Kidmat asshur thus means toward the east of Asshur. Note that from the first verse of the Torah until the word made (Gen. 2:3), Scripture refers to the Deity as Elohim. Afterward, the honored and revered name (the Tetragrammaton) is coupled with it. How precious are the words of the ancients of blessed memory who said that the complete name of God is used over a complete world. Prior to the completion of creation there was no power to receive this name.51 If God grants me life I will explain the secret of the Tetragrammaton when I comment upon the first Torah portion of the book of Exodus. I will then explain its meaning in the absolute and in the construct. Note that the location of the ground from which Adam was created was close to the Garden of Eden.52 I note this because some say that Adam was created out of the ground of the land of Israel.53, 2:14. They have overlooked And it came to pass, as they journeyed east (Gen. 11:2).54. The garden was located in the east (v. 8). The tower of Babel was built after the survivors of the flood journeyed from the east (Gen. 11:2). We know that the ark rested on Mt. Ararat (Gen. 8:4); thus Mt. Ararat lies in the east (See I.E. on Gen. 11:2). Mt. Ararat (in the east) is far from the borders of Israel. Hence the Garden of Eden (in the east), too, must be far from the land of Israel.