Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Genesis 6:13/אבן עזרא על בראשית ו׳:י״ג

אויאמר אלהים לנח קץ כל בשר. הוא הגוף

1AND GOD SAID UNTO NOAH: THE END OF ALL FLESH. All bodies.

בוטעם בא, הגיע קץ אידם:

2[IS COME BEFORE ME.] The time of their calamity has arrived.

גאת הארץ. מן הארץ, וכן כצאתי את העיר (שמות, ט כט) או עם כמו "את יעקב איש וביתו" (שם א א) והנכון בעיני שמלת משחיתם מושכת עצמה ואחרת עמה וכן "אלהים צבאות" (תהלים פ, ח) "כסאך אלהים" (שם מה ז) והוא כן, והנני משחיתם ומשחית את הארץ:

3WITH THE EARTH. Et ha’aretz (with the earth) means from the earth. Similarly, As soon as I am gone out of the city (et ha’ir) (Ex. 9:29). It may also be rendered, with the earth, as in with Jacob (et Yaakov) every man came with his household (Ex. 1:1).³⁵ is usually the sign of the accusative. Thus this clause should be rendered: I will destroy them, the earth. This translation is impossible, hence I.E.’s comment. It appears to me that mashchitam (I will destroy them) stands for two words. Similarly, the word God in O God of hosts (Ps. 80:8) and thy throne in thy throne God (Ps. 45:7).³⁶, etc. Ps. 80:8 reads, Elohim Tzeva’ot (literally, God hosts). It should read, Elohe Tzeva’ot (God of hosts). Hence Elohim is to be read as if written twice, Elohim Elohe Tzeva’ot (God, God of hosts). Similarly kisakha Elohim (Ps. 45:7) is ungrammatical. It must be read, kisakhakha kisse Elohim (Thy throne, God’s throne). The meaning of our verse is: And, behold, I will destroy them and destroy the earth.