Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 32:12/אבן עזרא על בראשית ל״ב:י״ב
אוהכני. משרת עצמו ואחר עמו, כמו "ושני אנשים שרי גדודים הי' בן שאול" (ש"ב ד ב), וכן הוא והכני והכה אם על בנים:
1AND SMITE ME. And smite me applies to two phrases.29 is in the singular and prima facie refers only to Jacob. Thus nothing is stated about what Esau will do to the mother and the children. It is similar to And Saul’s son had two men that were captains of bands (II Sam. 4:2).30 Our verse should be read as follows: and smite me and smite the mother and the children.