Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 20:17/אבן עזרא על בראשית כ׳:י״ז
אוילדו. שב אל אשת אבימלך ואמהותיו לא אל אבימלך וכן "וישם דמי מלחמה בשלום" (מ"א ב ה) "בעמוד ענן ידבר אליהם" (תהלים צט ז) "אלה בני עדה" (בראשית לו טז) אשר עבדתי אותך בהן" (שם ל כו) "אבי אברהם ואבי נחור ויעבדו" (יהושע כד ב) הלא תראה שהוא מפורש בפסוק השני "כי עצר עצר ד' בעד כל רחם לבית אבימלך", ולא הזכיר אבימלך, והארכתי כל כך בעבור מפרשים שהי' אומרים שהי' עצור לצאת לחוץ,
1AND THEY BORE CHILDREN. That is, Abimelech’s wife and maidservants. It does not refer to Abimelech.42. As to how and they bore children can apply to Abimemech, see note 48. The following are similar: and shed the blood of war in peace (I Kings 2:5);43 refers only to Abner, not to Amasa, although both are mentioned in the verse. He spoke unto them in the pillar of cloud (Ps. 99:7);44 These are the sons of Adah (Gen. 36:12);45 refers only to Eliphaz and his descendants. It does not refer to Reuel or Amalek. The former was the son of Basemath and the latter the son of Timna. This is so even though both Eliphaz and Reuel are mentioned prior to These are the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife (Weiser). for whom I have served thee (Gen. 30:26),46 and the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor; and they served other gods (Josh. 24:2).47 refers to Tereh and Nahor, not to Abraham, even though all are mentioned in the verse (Weiser). That and they bore children does not apply to Abimelech is obvious from the fact that Abimelech per se is omitted from the verse which follows, For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife (v. 18). I dwell on this point because there are commentators who insist that Abimelech’s bowels were closed up and he could not eliminate.48.”