Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Genesis 42:16/אבן עזרא על בראשית מ״ב:ט״ז

אהאסרו. תאסרו, כמו ומות בהר (דבר' לב נ):

1AND YE SHALL BE BOUND. He’aseru²⁰ is an imperative meaning bind yourselves. Now one cannot bind oneself, that is, put oneself in prison (Krinsky). Also, Simeon was bound, he did not bind himself (Filwarg). Hence I.E. points out that even though he’aseru is an imperative, here it has the meaning of an imperfect. should be rendered: ye shall be bound. It is similar to u-mot (and die) in and die in the mount (Deut. 32:50).²¹ is an imperative, but it has the meaning of an imperfect; i.e., it means you will die. See I.E.’s comments on Gen. 1:22.