Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Genesis 6:19/אבן עזרא על בראשית ו׳:י״ט

אואחר שאמר שנים ביאר שיהי' זכר ונקבה ואחר שאמר כלל מכל החי מכל בשר, פרט אח"כ מהעוף למינהו, מן הבהמה למינה, ומכל רמש שהוא על האדמה, זה כלל לחיות השדה, וכן קטן וגדול שהוא נולד מזכר ונקבה, ויצאו כל הנולדים בלי התחברות שנים, כן חיות המים שגם הדג יקרא בשר והעד שאמר משה "ואתה אמרת בשר אתן להם, הצאן ובקר וגו', אם את כל דגי הים" (במדבר יא, כא וכב),

1[TWO OF EVERY SORT.] After stating two, Scripture goes on to explain that this refers to male and female.⁷⁰ can be taken to mean any two of every sort, two males or two females. After stating generally, And of every living thing of all flesh, the Bible then explains that this refers to Of the fowl after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind (v. 20). This includes⁷¹ because the particulars include only land animals. all animals of the field and all large and small animals that are born via sexual intercourse. It excludes living things not born⁷², that is, animals that couple. by coupling, and marine animals. Fish are excluded although they are considered “flesh.”⁷³ would apply to them. However, since the Bible goes on to say, of every creeping thing of the ground, fish are excluded. Proof of this can be seen in the words of Moses: and yet Thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. If flocks and herds be slain for them…or if all the fish of the sea be gathered for them, will they suffice them (Num. 11:21,22).

בומלת תביא אל התיבה, מצוה על נח שלא יעזבם רק יביאם עמו להחיות זרע כל מין

2[SHALT THOU BRING INTO THE ARK.] This is a command to Noah not to desert these creatures but to bring them into the ark with him in order to preserve the seed of each species.