Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Genesis 49:14/אבן עזרא על בראשית מ״ט:י״ד

אחמר גרם. דמהו לחמור שיש לו עצם כבד, והנה חמור סמוך על כן, רובץ:

1ISSACHAR IS A LARGE-BONED ASS. Jacob compared Issachar to an ass whose bones are heavy.¹⁰⁶ Chamor (ass) is in the construct with garem (bones).¹⁰⁷ thus means an ass (chamor) of heavy bones (garem), rather than a heavy-boned ass. I.E.’s point is that garem is not an adjective modifying chamor (Filwarg, Weiser). Due to the heaviness of his bones, he is wont to couch.¹⁰⁸

בבין המשפתים. בין המערכות, ויתכן היותו מגזרת "ד' תשפות שלום לנו" (ישעי' כו יב):

2BETWEEN THE SHEEPFOLDS. Ben ha-mishpatayim (between the sheepfolds) means between the arranged rows.¹⁰⁹ It is possible that mishpatayim comes from the same root as tishpot (arrange) in Lord, Thou wilt arrange (tishpot) peace for us (Is. 26:12).