Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 11:14/אבן עזרא על ויקרא י״א:י״ד
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.