Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 11/אבן עזרא על ויקרא י״א

אוידבר ה׳‎ אל משה ואל אהרן. בעבור שהוא הכהן המורה המבדיל בין הטמא ובין הטהור:
1AND THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES AND TO AARON. For Aaron is the kohen who teaches and who differentiates between the unclean and the clean.1
אמפרסת. שם התואר וכן מקרין מפריס והטעם כל שהוא מתוארת שהיא בעלת פרסה:
1PARTETH. Mafreset (parteth) is an adjective.2 (whatsoever parteth the hoof) as whatsoever has parted hoofs. Similarly makrin mafris3 and mafris are adjectives. (horned and hoofed) (Ps. 69:32).4 It means all animals which are described as having a hoof.
בושוסעת שסע. שם התאר והטעם שפרסותיה שסועות:
2AND IS WHOLLY CLOVEN-FOOTED. Shosa’at (wholly cloven) is an adjective. The meaning of ve-shosa’at shesa perasot (and is wholly cloven-footed) is, whose hoofs are cloven.
גמעלת גרה. מגזרת גרון ומעלת פועל. והזכיר הגמל והשפן והארנבת והחזיר בעבור שיש לכל אחד הסימן האחד ודרך לשון הקדש להזכיר הזכר מכל מין כי הנקבה בכלל הזכר היא והזכיר ארנבת יש אומרים לפי שלא ימצא הזכר מהם ויש אומרים שהזכר ישוב נקבה והפך הדבר והראשון קרוב אלי:
3AND CHEWETH THE CUD. Gerah (cud) is related to the word garon (throat).5. The word ma’alat6 (cheweth) is a verb in the present.7 and shosa’at. Scripture mentions the camel (v. 4), the rockbadger (v. 5), the hare (v. 6), and the swine (v. 7) because each one has one sign.8 It is the style of Scripture to mention the male of each species because the masculine also takes in the feminine.9 Scripture mentions the arnevet (hare).10 is feminine and so does not seem to follow the rule stated by I.E. Some say that it does so because the male is not found among them.11 There are others who say that the male turns into a female and vice versa. However, the first interpretation appeals to me.
אובנבלתם לא תגעו. והכתוב לא הזכיר הנוגע שיטמא עד הערב רק מדברי קבלה ידענו זה. והנה הנוגע בזדון יש עליו מלקות כי הוא עבר על לא תעשה:
1AND THEIR CARCASSES YE SHALL NOT TOUCH. Scripture does not mention that one who touches their carcasses shall be unclean until evening.12 However, we know this from tradition. Now, the one who deliberately touches their carcass incurs the penalty of flogging, for he violated a negative commandment.13 (p. 47) I.E. interprets this verse in accordance with the opinion of the rabbis. He writes: “The one who touches them does not incur the penalty of karet or stripes.”
אואם רדפנו אחרי הכתוב לבדו בלי העתקה הנה לא הותר הדג שהוא באגמים כי הכתוב פרט בימים ובנחלים:
1[9. IN THE SEAS.] If we pursue the literal meaning of the verse without the tradition of the rabbis, then the fish that are found in the lakes (agammim) are prohibited, for Scripture specifies the seas and the rivers.
בסנפיר וקשקשת. כדברי המתרגם ארמית:
2FINS AND SCALES. Snappir ve-kaskeset (fins and scales) is to be rendered as the Aramaic translator does.14 as tzitzin ve-kalfin.
אשרץ המים. הם הקטנים שנבראו מן המים ובמים נפש חיה מזכר ונקבה. ואחר שאמד שקץ הם לכם אמר ושקץ יהיו לכם לפרש מה שהוא שקץ והוא מבשרם לא תאכלו והנה הדג יקרא בשר רק מה שאמרו חז״ל בנדרים הוא על מנהג דברי אלה הדורות והוסיף כל אשר אין לו סנפיר וקשקשת להיות כלל לכל מים כי לא הזכיר בתחלה רק הימים והנחלים:
1OF ALL THAT SWARM IN THE WATERS. They are the small creatures that were created from the water.15 The waters contain living creatures that are both male and female.16. After stating they are a detestable thing unto you Scripture goes on to say, and they shall be a detestable thing unto you (v. 11) in order to explain in what way they shall be detestable namely, ye shall not eat of their flesh (Ibid.). Note, fish are called flesh.17. However, what the sages of blessed memory said with regard to vows18 104a, “One who takes a vow not to eat flesh is permitted to eat fish and locusts.” refers to the custom of their generations.19 Scripture adds, Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales to include all waters, for Scripture earlier mentioned only the seas and the rivers.
אהנשר. ידוע גם זה עוף שיקרא כן בלשון ישמעאל יש כדמות ראיה שהוא כן בעבור היות שתי הלשונות קרובות:
1THE GREAT VULTURE The meaning of nesher (the great vulture) is known. This is also the bird which has the same name in the language of the Ishmaelites.20 in Arabic. Hence we have additional proof of the identity of this bird. There is something of a proof that this is the case, because the two languages are related.
בהעזניה. אף על פי שיש דברי יחיד שאיננה ביישוב טעה הגאון שתרגם אותה אלענקא כי זה השם בלשון ישמעאל על דבר שלא נמצא בעולם ולא היה ולא נברא אלא למשל וכן יודו חכמי לשונם אם כן לא יתכן שיאסר השם הדבר שלא היה:
2AND THE OSPRAY. Even though there is an individual opinion that it (the osprey) is not found in inhabited places, the Gaon erred in rendering it al enka, for this term in the language of the Ishmaelites refers to something that never existed. It refers to something that was not created and never was. It is only employed metaphorically. The Arab grammarians admit this. This being the case, it is not possible that the Torah would prohibit something that never existed.21
אהדאה. שם כלל לשני מינים והם דאה ודיה כמו ואת הצפור לא בתר עם תור וגוזל והנה צדקו המעתיקים שאמרו כי ראה היא דאה וסרה טענת רבי יונה שאמר איך יתכן לאמר השמר לך מהאריה והליש. ויש אומרים שנשר מן אשורנו ופרס מן הלא פרס לרעב. ועזניה מן עוז והנו״ן נוסף והוא הנקרא עקב״א. ודאה מן כאשר ידאה הנשר ואיה שמנהגה לשבת באיים ידועים:
1AND THE KITE. The term da’ah (kite) is a general term which takes in two kinds, namely, the da’ah (kite) and the dayyah (falcon).22. 38 reads: “The term da’ah (kite) is a general term which takes in two kinds, namely, the ra’ah (kite) and the dayyah (falcon).” The latter are mentioned in Deut. 14:13 but omitted in our verse. Thus there is no contradiction between the list of the 20 prohibited birds in our chapter and the 21 in Deut. 14. Also, see I.E. on Deut. 14:11 (Vol. 5, pp. 93,94). Compare, tzippor (birds), the word used for a turtle-dove and a young pigeon in but the birds divided he not (Gen. 15:10). Now the transmitters of tradition who said that the ra’ah23 (glede) is to be identified with the da’ah (kite)24 63:2. are correct.25 (kite) is a general term and takes in the ra’ah The argument of Rabbi Jonah,26, root resh, alef, heh. who asked how is it possible to say be on guard because of the aryeh (lion) and the layyish (lion),27 and the layyish, for both words have one meaning. Rabbi Jonah argues that the ra’ah is not to be identified with the da’ah, for the Torah would not say do not eat the ra’ah and the da’ah if both referred to the same kind (Krinsky). is turned aside.28 is a general term, and layyish is a specific term. Others say that nesher (the great vulture) is connected to the word ashurennu (I see him) (Num. 23:9);29 thus means the bird who sees great distances. peres (bearded vulture) is related to the word pros (deal)30 in Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry (Is. 58:7);31 thus means the bird that breaks. ozniyyah (osprey) is related to the word oz (mighty)32 thus means the mighty bird. and its nun is superfluous.33 in oz. It is the bird which is called akba;34 da’ah (kite) is related to the word yideh (swoopeth) in as the vulture swoopeth down (Deut. 28:49);35 means the swooping bird. ayyah (falcon) is so called because it is accustomed to dwell in certain well-known islands (iyyim);36 means the island-dwelling bird.
אועורב מלשון ערב בעבור שחרותו:
1orev (raven) is related to the word erev (evening). It is so called because of its darkness.
אבת היענה. יש אומרים שהוא מין שלא ימצאו זכרים כמו הארנבת ואין מלת כיענים טענה כי אינם זכרים רק הם נקבות כמו יעלים ורחלים:
1AND THE OSTRICH. Some say that the bat ha-ya’anah (ostrich)37 is feminine. is a kind among whom males are not found.38 It is like the hare. There is no argument from the word ka-ye’enim (like the ostriches)39 is a masculine plural form. The singular of this form is ya’an. We thus see that males are found among the ostriches. (Lam. 4:3), for the reference is to females as in the case of ye’elim (wild goats) (Ps. 104:18)40 is a masculine plural form. However, it is the plural of ye’elah, which is feminine. and rechelim41, which is feminine. We thus see that there are instances in which a feminine singular has a plural masculine form. (ewes) (Gen. 32:15).
בואת התחמס. מגזרת חמס:
2AND THE NIGHT-HAWK. Tachmas (night-hawk) is related to the word chamas (violence) (Gen. 5:11).
גואת השחף. מוליד השחפת:
3THE SEA-MEW. The shachaf (sea-mew) gives birth to consumption (shachefet) (Lev. 26:16).
דוהנץ. יש לו נוצה רבה והקרוב שהוא הידוע הפורש כנפיו תמיד לפאת דרום כי יבקש מקום חם:
4AND THE HAWK. The netz (hawk) has many feathers.42. It most likely refers to the well-known bird which always spreads its wings to the south,43 (netz) soar by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? for it seeks a warm place.
אהכוס. ככוס חרבות ויש אומרים שהוא נכסה מעין אדם על כן ישכון במקום שאין שם יישוב:
1AND THE LITTLE OWL. The word kos (little owl) is similar to the word kos (owl) in as an owl of the waste places (Ps. 102:7). Some say that the bird is hidden (nikhseh) from the eyes of people. It therefore rests in uninhabited places.
בהשלך. יש אומרים עוף מנהג תולדתו להשליך ילדיו:
2AND THE CORMORANT. Some say that the shalakh (cormorant) is so called because its nature is to cast (le-haslikh) its offspring down.
גינשוף. עוף יעופף בנשף כי לא יראה ביום מפני להט אור השמש:
3AND THE GREAT OWL. The yanshuf (great owl) is a bird that flies at night (neshef), for it cannot see during the day because of the brightness of the sun light.
אהתנשמת. כל רואהו ישום גם זה השם נמצא בשרצים:
1AND THE HORNED OWL. Whoever looks at the tinshemet (the horned owl) is astonished (yishom). The term tinshemet is also found among the swarming things (v. 30).44 refers to both a bird and a reptile. This is an anomaly which I.E. points out.
בהקאת. יש אומרים שיש עוף מנהג תולדתו להקיא מאכלו:
2AND THE PELICAN. Some say that the ka’at (pelican) is a bird whose nature is to regurgitate (le-haki) its food.
גהרחם. אמר הגאון שהוא בלשון קדר בחלוף חי״ת בכ״ף כי בכתב׳‎ אות אחד להם והאחרים אמרו שהוא עוף מרחם על בניו:
3AND THE CARRION-VULTURE. The Gaon45 says that the racham (carrion-vulture) is the animal which is similarly called in Arabic,46. with the chet interchanging with a khaf, for they are written with the same letter.47 and khaf are similarly writtten. Others say that racham refers to a bird that has pity (merachem) upon its offspring.
אהחסידה. היא הנראית למועדים ידועים בשנה ויש אומרים שהיא מפזרת חסד בדרך רחוקה:
1AND THE STORK. Some say the chasidah (stork) is the bird which appears at certain well-known times in the year. Others say that it scatters loving kindness (chesed).48? It is so called because it acts kindly towards its fellow creatures with regard to food.” See also Chullin 63a. This is far-fetched.
בהאנפה. שיתנאף מהרה:
2AND THE HERON. The anafah (heron) grows angry (yitannef) quickly.49 63a.
גהדוכיפת. אמרו הצדוקים שהיא התרנגולת ואלה טפשי עולם כי מי הגיד להם:
3AND THE HOOPOE. The Sadducees say that the dukhifat (hoopoe) refers to the chicken. However, they are the world’s greatest fools, for who told them this?
דהעטלף. עוף קטן יעוף בלילה והוא מלה מרובע (ר״ל בת ד׳‎ אותיות):
4AND THE BAT. A small bird that flies at night. The word atalef (bat) is a quadriliteral; that is, it comes from a four-letter root.
הודע כי מלת תשקצו מן העוף. בדקדוק הטעם היא מעט רחוקה ממלת אל תשקצו את נפשותיכם כי הנפשות פעולים ובעוף טעמו שתדעו שהם שקץ ויהיו נחשבים לכם לשקץ וכל שרץ קטן שיעוף פעם ופעם הולך על ארבע שקץ:
5Note that the word teshakketzu in teshakketzu min ha-of (these ye shall have in detestation among the fowls) (v. 13) has a slightly different grammatical meaning from teshakketzu in al teshakketzu et nafshotekhem (ye shall not make yourselves detestable) (v. 43). In the latter instance the word nafshotekhem (yourselves) is the object, while in the case of the fowl (v. 13) its meaning is, you shall know that they are detestable and they shall be considered detestable to you. All winged swarming things that at times fly and at times go upon all fours are detestable.50
אאשר לא כרעים. העיקר להיות לו עם וי״ו:
1WHICH HAVE JOINTED LEGS. The main reading is the one that spells lo with a vav.51. The ketiv spells lo with a vav. With a vav the phrase means “which have jointed legs;” without a vav it reads, “which does not have jointed legs.” According to the rabbis the meaning of the latter is: which does not have jointed legs now but will grow them later. See Sifra on this verse.
בלנתר. אין לו אח והמתרגם אמר לקפצא בהון כמו מקפץ וטעם דולג ואמת תרגם:
2TO LEAP. The word le-natter has no brother.52 The Aramaic translator renders le-natter ba-hen by le-kappatza behen; since the word le-kappatza is similar to mekappetz (leaping) (Cant. 2:8),53 means wherewith to leap. its meaning is leaping. He translated correctly.
אנקר׳‎ ארבה. מלשון ריבוי:
1[THE LOCUST.] The word arbeh (locust) is connected to the word ribbuy (large amount).
בהסלעם. מין יעלה בסלעים:
2AND THE BALD LOCUST. The sale’am (bald locust) refers to a kind of locust which climbs on rocks (sela’im).54 means a rock. Thus sela’im means the “rocker,” i.e., the grasshopper that climbs a rock.
גהחרגול. אם היא מרובעת אין לו אח ואם היא שתי מלות כמלת לפלמוני המדבר תהיה תולדתו הפך תולדת הסלעם:
3AND THE CRICKET. If the word chargol (cricket) is a quadriliteral, then it has no brother.55 If it is a combination of two words56 (trembling). See I. E. on Ps. 18:46 and regel (foot). like the word palmoni (certain one) in unto that certain one who spoke (Dan 8:13), then the nature of the chargal is the reverse of the nature of the sale’am (bald locust).57 climbs rocks while the chargal has “trembling feet” and is not adept at climbing.
דהחגב. ידוע מלשון ישמעאל:
4AND THE GRASSHOPPER. Its meaning is known from the language of the Ishmaelite.58 in Arabic.
אוטעם אשר לו ארבע רגלים. וכבר נכתב ההולך על ארבע. שיתכן שיש שרץ יש לו ד׳‎ רגלים ולא ילך בהן רק יעוף לבדו:
1[BUT ALL WINGED SWARMING THINGS.] Scripture had previously stated, that go upon all fours (v. 20).59 (v. 21). Why then state here, But all winged swarming things which have four feet are…detestable? The Torah now states, But all winged swarming things, which have four feet, because it is possible that there is a swarming creature that has four legs but that does not walk upon them but only flies.60
אולאלה תטמאו. לכל שרץ העוף בעל ד׳‎ רגלים ואת אלה תשקצו מן העוף ודעת אחרים שפי׳‎ אלה לכל הבהמה וכל הולך על כפיו ולפי דעתי שמלת אלה על כל הנזכרים למעלה:
1AND BY THESE YE SHALL BECOME UNCLEAN. By all winged swarming things that have four feet; And these ye shall have in detestation among the fowls.61 Others believe that the word elleh (these) (v. 24) refers to among all the beasts and to And whatsoever goeth upon its paws (v. 27).62 I believe that the word elleh refers to all those mentioned above.63
בתטמאו. מבנין התפעל ודגשות הטי״ת להתבלע התי״ו וכן וישמע את הקול מדבר אליו וכבס המטהר:
2YE SHALL BECOME UNCLEAN. The word tittamma’u (ye shall become unclean) is a hitpa’el. The tet receives a dagesh because the tav64. is swallowed. The same is the case with the word middabber (speaking) in then he heard the Voice speaking unto him (Num. 7:89) and the word mittaher (cleansed) in And he that is to be cleansed shall wash (Lev. 14:8).65 whose tav is compensated for by a dagesh.
גיטמא עד הערב. אחז הכתוב דרך קצרה כי הוא צריך שירחץ במים:
3SHALL BE UNCLEAN UNTIL THE EVEN. Scripture chose the path of brevity, for the unclean must bathe in water.
אוהנושא. חמור מהנוגע על כן יכבס בגדיו אף כי גופו וכן משפט כל בהמה גם פה אחז דרך קצרה וכן הוא ושסע שוסעת וגרה איננו מעלה או גרה מעלה ושסע איננו שוסעת וכבר אמר ובנבלתם לא תגעו טמאים הם לכם:
1AND WHOSOEVER BEARETH. Bearing is more serious than touching. Therefore the bearer must wash his garments. How much more so [must he bathe] his body. The same law applies to all beasts.66 Scripture also follows the path of brevity here.67 The verse is to be understood as follows, or is clovenfooted but cheweth not the cud or cheweth the cud but is not cloven-footed.68. However, this contradicts verses 4-7 which teache that an animal with only one kosher sign is unclean. Hence I.E. points out that the above clause is short for: a beast which cheweth the cud and parteth the hoof but is not cloven-footed, or a beast that cheweth not the cud but which parteth the hoof and is cloven-footed. Scripture has previously stated, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you (v. 8).69
אוטעם כל הנוגע בהם. והם הנבלות הנזכרות למעלה יטמא כמשפט הנזכרים שהוא עד הערב ויש מין ממין הצדוקים שאמרו כי כל הנוגע בהם והם חיים יטמא ואין צורך להשיב על דברי שגעון כי הכתוב לא אסר כי אם בשרם ואמר ובנבלתם לא תגעו:
1[EVERY ONE THAT TOUCHETH THEM.] This means everyone who touches any of the above-mentioned carcasses shall become unclean until the evening, for that is the law regarding the previously mentioned carcasses. There is a type of misbeliever who belongs to the Sadducee heresy who says that every one that toucheth them means whoever touches them while they are alive shall be unclean. There is no need to respond to insane talk, for Scripture only prohibited their flesh.70 (v. 8). Hence the prohibition against touching unclean animals applies only to their carcasses. It states, and their carcasses ye shall not touch (v. 8).
אוכל הולך על כפיו. בתחלה המשפט אחד וכן הנושא את נבלת׳‎ וזה הפסוק יישר פירושי במלת ולאלה תטמאו כי שם כתוב וכל הנושא מנבלתם ושניהם בפרשה אחת:
1AND WHATSOEVER GOETH UPON ITS PAWS. At first71 the law is the same.72 Similarly And he that beareth the carcass of them (v. 28).73 This verse affirms my explanation of the words And by these ye shall be come unclean (v. 24),74 applies to what comes before, not what follows. See I.E. on verse 24. for Scripture there states, And whosoever beareth aught of the carcass of them (v. 25).75 he that beareth the carcass of them. According to I.E., Scripture is not repeating itself, for verse 25 refers to winged creatures while verse 28 refers to animals that walk on all fours. Both of them are in one section.
בוטעם טמאים הם לכם. להכניס כל ישראל אנשים ונשים וטף משפט אחד להם:
2The reason Scripture states, They are unclean unto you, is that it wants to include all of Israel: men, women, and children.76. Hence unclean unto you in our verse is not a mere repetition of the same statement. One law applies to all.
אוזה לכם הטמא. במגע גם אלה השמנה לא נוכל לדעתם באמת גם העופות כי אם מדברי קבלה:
1AND THESE ARE THEY WHICH ARE UNCLEAN UNTO YOU. By touch.77 We also are not able to actually know what these eight creatures78 refer to. This is also true of the fowl.79 We can only know their identity by tradition.
אוטעם אלה הטמאים לכם בכל השרץ. אלה לבדם הם הטמאים שיטמאו במותם:
1[THESE ARE THEY WHICH ARE UNCLEAN.] It means that these alone are the unclean80 which, when dead, defile you.81
בוטעם יטמא עד הערב. אחר שירחץ:
2The meaning of shall be unclean until the even is, after he bathes he shall be unclean until the evening.82
אבמים יובא. הבגד או השק או הכלי שהוא מקבל טומאה וצדיכין אנו למסורת:
1IT MUST BE PUT INTO WATER. The garment or the sack or the vessel which is susceptible of uncleanness. We have a need for tradition regarding these things.83 (vessels) dedicated to this topic.
אאשר יפול מהם אל תוכו. מאחד מהם כמו ויקבר בערי גלעד:
1WHEREIN TO ANY OF THEM FALLETH. Me-hem84 is to be rendered, any one of them. Compare, And was buried in the cities of Gilead85 (Jud. 12:7).86
אוכל משקה. שם ואני הייתי משקה פועל:
1AND ALL DRINK. Mashkeh (drink) is a noun.87 Mashkeh in Now I was giving drink to the king (Neh. 1:11) is a verb in the present tense.88
אוהנה התנור ללחם לאפות והכירים לבשל הבשר יותצו כי טמאים הם וזאת גזרת מלך:
1Now, an oven (v. 35) which is used to bake bread and a range (Ibid.) which is used to cook meat shall be broken into pieces,89 for they are unclean. This is the decree of the king.90 (p. 112), I.E. points out that there are many laws whose meaning only the very intelligent can ascertain. I.E.’s comments here seem to be directed to this group of people.
אבאר. בלשון הקדש לשון נקבה והיא הנובעת וכן כהקיר ברר מימיה ובור כרוי או חפור למטה השמים אם כן תהיה הבאר כמו מעיין ואין צורך להזכיר הנחל ויהיה מקוה מים סמוך אל בור כי יש בור אין בו מים ויש אומרים כי הוא חסר וי״ו כמו ראובן שמעון שמש ירח:
1A CISTERN. The Hebrew word be’er (well) is a feminine. It bubbles forth. Compare, As a well (bir)91 is a variant of be’er. Translated according to I.E. welleth with her waters (Jer. 6:7). However, a bor (cistern) is dug or excavated to store the rain from the sky. If so,92 the well is a fountain.93 There is no need to mention rivers.94 Mikveh mayim (a gathering of water) is connected to bor (cistern),95 (v. 36). for there are borot (cisterns) without water.96 follows bor. Some say that mikveh is missing a vav.97 should be read as if written, u-mikveh mayim. According to this interpretation our verse reads, or a cistern, or a gathering of water. Compare, Reuben, Simeon (Ex, 1:2),98 (Reuben and Simon). and shemesh yare’ach (the sun moon) (Hab. 3:11).99 (the sun and the moon).
בונגע בנבלתם. המים הנוגעים בנבלתם יהיו טמאים:
2BUT HE WHO TOUCHETH THEIR CARCASS. The water that touches their carcasses will be unclean.100
אזרוע. שם התאר כמו פעול או הם ב׳‎ שמות והעד ונתן להם זרעונים:
1SOWING. Zeru’a (sowing) is an adjective.101 (seed). It is similar to a pa’ul.102. On the other hand, there might be two nouns for the word seed.103 and zeru’a. Compare, Rashi: “Zera zeru’a (sowing seed) means any kind of seed. Zeru’a is a noun.” And gave them pulse (zeronim104 is a variation of the plural of zeru’a.) (Dan. 1:16) is proof of this.
אוכי יותן מים. שישקו את השדה ונפל מנבלתם על הזרע ויש אומרים על המים ובא מלת יותן שהוא לשון יחיד עם מים וכן מי נדה לא זורק עליו ומלת יותן כמו יוקח נא מעט מים מהבנין הכבד הנוסף:
1BUT IF WATER BE PUT. If they water their field and aught of their carcasses fall on the seed.105 (thereon) refers to the seed. This opinion interprets our verse as follows: But if water be put upon the seed, and aught of their carcass fall upon the seed, the seed is unclean. Some say on the water.106 (thereon) refers to the water. This opinion interprets our verse as follows: But if water be put upon the seed, and aught of their carcass fall upon the water, the seed is unclean. The word yuttan (be put), which is singular, governs mayim (water).107 We find a similarity in because the water (meh) of sprinkling was not dashed (zorak)108 is singular. It governs meh, which is plural. against him (Num. 19:13). The word yuttan is similar to yukkach (be fetched) in Let now a little water be fetched (Gen. 18:4). It belongs to the heavy conjugation to which a letter is added.109 as “the heavy conjugation to which a letter is added.” However, yuttan and yukkach are hofals. We either have a scribal error or I.E. was not exact in his language.
אאשר היא לכם. מותרת לאכול:
1OF WHICH YE MAY. Asher hi la-khem le-okhlah means of which ye may eat.110 literally means which is to you for food, i.e., which you are about to eat. Hence I.E.’s comment.
ביטמא עד הערב. אחר שירחץ במים:
2SHALL BE UNCLEAN UNTIL THE EVEN. After he bathes in water.111
אוהאוכל חמור כמו הנושא כי שניהם נושאים זה בחוץ וזה בפנים:
1[AND HE THAT EATETH.] The law regarding he that eats112 is stricter.113 It is similar to the law governing he that that carries,114 for both bear.115 One carries outside116 and the other117 inside.118
אוטעם כל השרץ השורץ על הארץ. כל שרץ הארץ ובכלל שמונה שרצים הנזכרים והזכיר שלא יאכלו:
1[AND EVERY SWARMING THING.] This means all swarming things of the earth. The eight swarming creatures119 are included. Scripture mentions that they120 are not to be eaten.121
אגחון. כמו על גחונך תלך:
1THE BELLY. The word gachon (belly) is similar to the word gechonekha (thy belly) in upon thy belly shalt thou go (Gen. 3:14).
בוכל הולך על ארבע. בשרץ שהוא הקטן כאשר פירשתי בשרץ המים:
2AND WHATSOEVER GOETH UPON ALL FOURS. Among the swarming things which are small, as I explained with regard to the swarming things in the water.122
גמרבה רגלים. שם התאר והוא סמוך:
3MANY FEET. The word marbeh (many) is an adjective. It is in the construct.123 (feet).
אאל תשקצו את נפשותיכם. להיות׳‎ מטונפות ומגואלות.
1YE SHALL NOT MAKE YOURSELVES DETESTABLE. By being filthy and dirty.124
בולא תטמאו בהם כי ידוע כי הגוף הנאכל ישוב בשר בגוף האוכל:
2NEITHER SHALL YE MAKE YOURSELVES UNCLEAN. For it is known that that which is eaten turns into the flesh of the one who ingests it.125
גונטמתם בם. חסר אל״ף כמו מראשית בלי אלף השנה ויש אומרים שהם שני שרשים והעד נטמינו בעיניכם וטעמו כאדם שאין לו דעת:
3THAT YE SHOULD BE DEFILED THEREBY. The word ve-nitmetem (that ye should be defiled) is missing an alef.126 is spelled nun, tet, mem, tav, mem. It should be spelled nun, tet, mem, alef, tav, mem, for the root of tame is tet, mem, alef. Compare, reshit127, though it should have been spelled with an alef. (beginning) in from the beginning of the year (Deut. 11:12). Others say that they come from two roots.128, and tet, mem, heh. The word nitmetem in our verse comes from the latter root. Hence there is no alef in it. The word nitminu (unclean) in And reputed unclean in your sight129 (Job 18:3) is proof. It130. means that you do not become dumb-witted.131 means that you do not become dull-witted thereby.
אוהייתם קדושים כי קדוש אני. על כן אמרתי לכם ולא תטמאו והוי״ו כפ״א רפה בלשון ישמעאל וכן ויעזוב את עבדיו ורבים כמוהו:
1YE SHALL THEREFORE BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY. Hence I told you neither shall ye defile yourselves (v. 44). The vav132 (ye shall therefore be). is similar to the unaspirated fah in Arabic.133 is not a continuation of the first half of the verse. It is an independent clause. Similarly the vav in va-ya’azov (left) in left his servants (Ex. 9:21).134 (left) in Ex. 9:21 is to be rendered as left, not and he left. There are many such instances.135 has the meaning of an unaspirated fah in Arabic.
אוטעם כי אני ה׳‎. כי לא העליתי אתכם מארץ מצרים כי אם להיות לכם לאלהים ואם לא תהיו קדושים לא אהיה לכם לאלהים על כן אם רצונכם שאהיה לכם לאלהים תהיו קדושים:
1[FOR I AM THE LORD.] This means I did not take you out of Egypt for any reason but to be your God. If you will not be holy, I will not be a God to you. Hence if you want Me to be your God you must be holy.
אלהבדיל בין הטמא. בעוף ובשרץ המים:
1TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE UNCLEAN. Among the fowl and that which swarms in the water.
בהנאכלת. המותרת לאכילה:
2THAT MAY BE EATEN. That is permitted to be eaten.
גאשר לא תאכל. על פי התורה:
3THAT MAY NOT BE EATEN. According to the words of the Torah.136 is to be rendered, that may not be eaten. Asher lo te’ackhel can be rendered, which is inedible. Hence I.E.’s comment.