Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 49:24/אבן עזרא על בראשית מ״ט:כ״ד
אותשב באיתן. במקום איתן קשתו
1BUT HIS BOW ABODE FIRM. His bow abode in a firm place.164 literally means in firm, which is short for be-makom etan (in a firm place) (Weiser).
בויפוזו, ויתחזקו והקרוב אלי "מפזז" (ש"ב, ו, טז), ויש מפרשים אותו מפז ואין טעם לו,
2WERE MADE SUPPLE. Va-yafozzu means, and they strengthened themselves. I believe that va-yafozzu comes from the same root as mefazzez (leaping) (II Sam. 6:16).165 There are those who connect va-yafozzu to the word paz (pure gold).166 (and the arms of his hand were made supple) to mean, and the arms of his hand were gilded, an allusion to the golden ring Pharaoh gave him. Cf. Rashi. However, their interpretation makes no sense.
גוהטעם ששטמוהו בעלי חצים, והתחברו לשפוך מררתו וקשתו היתה חזקה ופחדו ממנו לא יכלו לו, כי הי' ידיו חזקים:
3The meaning of our text (v. 23 and 24) is that the archers hated Joseph and gathered together to spill his gall. However, his adversaries were afraid of him because his bow and hands were strong. They therefore could not overcome him.
דמידי אביר יעקב משם. רמז אביר יעקב שהוא השם מאותו הכח יכול והיה רועה אבן ישראל וכן היה ויכלכל יוסף, וטעם אביר יעקב שהוא ידע אהבתו את יוסף,
4BY THE HANDS OF THE MIGHTY ONE OF JACOB. FROM THENCE. The Mighty One of Jacob alludes to the Lord. From the power that Joseph received from the Mighty One of Jacob he was able to become, and indeed became, “the shepherd of the stone of Israel.”167 refers to the children of Israel (Cherez). And so it was, for we read, And Joseph sustained his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread (Gen. 47:12). Jacob employed the term Mighty One of Jacob for God168 because God knew of his deep love for Joseph.169. means: you became the shepherd of the stone (children) of Israel from the power that came to you from the God who knew of my deep love for you.
הוטעם אבן כעצם הדבר וי"א כי "משם" כמו מאז וכזה לא מצאנוהו בכל המקרא, גם אבן ישראל שמת לבו והיה כאבן ושב לרעות והטעם לחיות באמכל וזאת דרך רחוקה:
5The meaning of stone is the very thing.170 represents essence, the very thing. The reference is to Jacob and his family. Cf. Rashi. Some say171 that mi-sham (from thence) should be interpreted from that time. However, we never find the word sham (there) to have this meaning anywhere in Scripture. This commentator also interprets the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel as meaning: the one whose heart died and was as stone,172 but who revived to feed (ro’eh), i.e., to live by eating. However, this interpretation is farfetched.