Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Genesis 48:16/אבן עזרא על בראשית מ״ח:ט״ז

אוטעם המלאך הגואל אותי, תמצא בפ' ואלה שמות:

1[THE ANGEL WHO HATH REDEEMED ME.] The meaning of this will be found in the Torah portion Ve-eleh shemot (Ex. 23:20).

בויקרא בהם שמי. כי הנה כל ישראל יקראו אפרים, גם יוסף, גם אמר הכתוב "רחל מבכה על בניה" (ירמי' לא יד), כי היא היתה עיקר מחשבתו, על כן אמר הכתוב "בני רחל אשת יעקב" (בראשית מו יט), וכאשר ילדה רחל מיד אמר ללבן "שלחני", (בראשית, ל, כה) גם נתן לו הבכורה, כי הוא ראשית מחשבתו, ואחר שלא היה ראובן ראוי לבכורה, היה יוסף שהוא פטר רחם, ולא דן וגד, כי הם בני השפחות, והימין נכבד מהשמאל ויותר תקיף:

2AND LET MY NAME BE NAMED IN THEM. All of Israel will be called Ephraim²³ means that all of Israel will be called Ephraim. Nachmanides objects. He argues that if this were the interpretation they would also be called by the name of Manasseh since the text reads, in them. and Joseph.²⁴ Scripture also states, A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, Because they are not (Jer. 31:15),²⁵ because Jacob considered Rachel to be his true mate.²⁶, the main one of his thoughts. Rachel was the one Jacob originally wanted to marry and the one whom he loved. It was only due to circumstances that he married Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah. Hence Scripture says, The sons of Rachel Jacob’s wife (Gen. 46:19).²⁷ is an appellation not used with reference to any of Jacob’s other wives. Similarly, as soon as Rachel bore a son, Jacob said to Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country (Gen. 30:25). He also gave the birthright to Joseph because he was the first born of his true mate. When Reuben showed himself unfit for the birthright he transferred it to Joseph who was Rachel’s first born, rather than to Dan or Gad because they were sons of the handmaidens.²⁸ [17. HIS RIGHT HAND.] The right hand is more honored and is stronger than the left.²⁹