Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 25/אבן עזרא על ויקרא כ״ה
אבהר סיני. אין מוקדם ומאוחר בתורה וזו הפרשה קודם ויקרא וכל הפרשיות שהם אחריו כי הדבור בהר סיני ועתה כרת הברית הכתובה בפרשת ואלה המשפטים והזכירה במקום הזה לחבר תנאי הארץ וכאשר אמר על העריות כי בעבור׳ תקיא הארץ אותם כן אמר בפרשת אם בחקתי על שבתות הארץ והזכיר בתחלה פי׳ השבתות:
1IN MOUNT SINAI. There is no chronological order in the Torah.1, Jerusalem, 1978, pp. 18-21. This section2 precedes, And the Lord called (Lev. 1:1) and all the sections that follow it, for the words recorded in our section were told to Moses on Mount Sinai.3 Moses now4 made the covenant recorded in the Torah portion Now these are the ordinances (Ex. 21:1).5 (Lev. 24:3-46) is the same covenant that is recorded in Ex. 24:4-8. See Nachmanides, who explains I.E. in detail. Moses inserted this portion6 at this point to place in proximity the conditions under which the Israelites could dwell in the land.7 He said that the land would spit out the Israelites if they violated the laws of prohibited sexual relations.8 He said a similar thing in the Torah portion If ye walk in My statutes (Lev. 26:3) with regard to the Sabbaths of the land. Moses first mentions the Sabbaths.9
אושבתה הארץ שבת לה׳. מצוה על ישראלי שלא יעזוב גר לזרוע שנת השבת כאשר לא נעזבנו לעשות מלאכה בשבת כי הוא ברשותנו:
1THEN SHALL THE LAND KEEP A SABBATH UNTO THE LORD. There is a commandment upon the Israelite not to allow a stranger to sow in the Sabbatical year.10 This is similar to the commandment that we not allow a stranger to do work on the Sabbath.11 Scripture commands this, for the stranger is in our power.12
בוטעם שבת לה׳. כיום השבת וסוד ימי עולם רמוז במקום הזה:
2A sabbath unto the Lord is similar in meaning to the Sabbath day.13 (Ex. 20:10). The secret of the days of the world is alluded to in this place.14 97a,b.
אאת תבואתה. שב אל הארץ הנזכרת בפסוק הראשון:
1THE PRODUCE THEREOF. Of the land mentioned in the first verse.
אשבת שבתון. פירשתיו:
1A SABBATH OF SOLEMN REST. I previously explained the meaning of shabbat shabbaton (a Sabbath of solemn rest).15
אספיח. ידוע שהוא מגזרת ספחני נא גם נזירך ידוע שהוא מגזרת נזיר:
1THAT WHICH GROWETH OF ITSELF. It is known that the word safi’ach (that which groweth of itself) is connected to the word sefacheni (put me)16 in Put me, I pray thee (I Sam. 3:36).17 (that which groweth of itself) refers to produce which fell to the ground at the time of the harvest and attached itself to the ground (Weiser). It is also known that the word nezirekha (undressed vine) is related to the word nazir (nazirite).18 distances himself from a vineyard, for he is not permitted to eat of its fruit. An undressed vine is referred to by the term nazir because the owner of the vineyard distanced himself from the vine and did not dress it (Weiser).
בשנת שבתון. הטעם כי שנת שבתון היא לארץ והטעם שהארץ אינה ברשותך בשנה הזאת:
2A YEAR OF SOLEMN REST. Its meaning is, because it is a year of solemn rest for the land; that is, the land is not in your possession in this year.
אוהיתה שבת הארץ. הטעם כל מה שהוציאה מעצמה:
1AND THE SABBATH-PRODUCE…SHALL BE FOR YOU. Sabbath-produce refers to all that the land brought out by itself.
בוטעם לכם. לכל העולם:
2The meaning of lakhem (for you) is, for everyone.19 (for you) is plural. Hence I.E.’s comment.
גוטעם לך. שיש רשות לבעל האדמה לאכול הספיחים:
3The meaning of lekha (for thee) is that the owner of the field is permitted to eat of that which grows of itself.20 (for thee) is a singular. Hence I.E.’s comment.
אולבהמתך. שהיא ברשותך:
1AND FOR THY CATTLE. Which are under your control.
בולחיה. שאיננה ברשותך:
2AND FOR THE BEASTS. Which are not under your control.
אוהעברת שופר תרועה. יש מחלוקת אם נברא העולם בניסן או בתשרי ואין צורך להאריך כי מעתיקי הדת תקנו לנו בתפלות ראש השנה זה היום תחלת מעשיך זכרון ליום ראשון והנה ראינו תקיעת שופר בשנת היובל בתשרי בתחלת השנה ועוד בפרשת הקהל את העם לקרוא בתורה בחג הסוכות וכתוב למען ישמעו ולמען ילמדו ולא יתכן להיות אחר חצי השנה (ועוד וחג האסיף בצאת השנה וכן תקופת השנה) (במ״ט אינו) והעד הנאמן שנת השבת שכתוב לא תזרעו ובמרחשון יחלו בארץ ישראל לזרוע ואם היתה תחלת השנה מניסן הנה לא יקצרו אשר זרעו בשנה הששית ולא יזרעו כי הנה שנת השמטה היא ואחר שלא יקצרו זרע שנה ששית לא יזרעו פעמים והכתוב אמר לא תזרעו בשנה השביעית לבדה ויהודה הפרסי אמר כי ישראל היו מונים בחשבון השמש ואילו היה זה נכון הנה לא פירש משה מהלך שנה תמימה כי חכמי המזלות לא יכלו עד הנה להוציאה לאור כי חכמי הודו מוסיפים על רביע היום חומש שעה ותלמי וחביריו אומרים כי יחסר חלק משלש מאות ביום והוא קרוב ממהלך העבור והבאים אחריו אמרו חלק ממאה ושש ואחרי׳ מאה ועשר ואחרי׳ מאה ושלשים גם מאה ושמונים כי יש מי שהיא שנתו להשלמת המזלות מנקודה נראית ויש מנקודת הגלגל הנטוי לימין ולשמאל ואנחנו צריכים לקבלה ועוד כי פירוש חדש יכחיש הפרסי והצדוקים אומרים שהדת על שנת הלבנה. דע כי אין ללבנה שנה כלל רק בקשו המחשבים מספר חדשים קרובים לשנת החמה ומצאום י״ב כאשר אין לחמה חדש והמחשבים בקשו מספר לחדש שיהיה נחלק קרוב לחדש מימות חדשי הלבנה על כי חדשינו הם ללבנה ושנותינו ישובו בסוף לשנות החמה על כן העתיקו חז״ל כי לעולם היה בית דין עושה שבעה עבורים בכל מחזור הלכה למשה מסיני אף על פי שהיו קובעים בכל חדש על פי ראיית הלבנה וסוד המחזור ידוע מחכמת המזלות:
1THEN SHALT THOU MAKE PROCLAMATION WITH THE BLAST OF THE HORN. There is a difference of opinion as to whether the world was created in Nisan or in Tishri.21 10a, 11a. There is no need to dwell on this, for the transmitters of the law ordained that we are to say in the Rosh Ha-Shanah prayer which they established for us, “This day marks the beginning of Your works, it is a memorial of the first day.”22 We also read in Scripture that the shofar is to be sounded in the Jubilee year in the month of Tishri at the beginning of the year.23 Furthermore,24 places it in parentheses. the Torah, in the portion commanding the people to gather to hear the Torah read states that the Torah is to be read on the festival of Sukkot.25 Scripture writes, that they may hear, and that they may learn (Deut. 31:12).26 means that they may hear, and that they may learn the entire year. See I.E. on Deut. 31:12 (Vol. 5, p. 225). It is not possible for this27 to take place after half a year has passed.28 Furthermore,29 edition of I.E. The Mikra’ot Gedolot places it in brackets. Scripture states, and the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year (Ex. 23:16). Similarly, and the feast of the ingathering at the turn of the year (Ex. 34:22).30 The faithful proof is the Sabbatical year, regarding which it is written, ye shall not sow (v. 11). They start sowing in the month of Marcheshvan in the Land of Israel. If the beginning of the year started in Nisan, then they would not harvest that which they sowed in the sixth year31 and they would not sow,32 for it is the Sabbatical year. Since they will not harvest33 what they planted in the sixth year, they will not sow twice.34 However, Scripture states that they should not sow in the seventh year alone.35 Judah Ha-Parsi36 said that Israel employed a solar calendar.37 Now if this were so [then we do not know the exact time that a year begins] for, note, Moses did not explain the length of a complete year and so far the astronomers are unable to bring the length of a solar year to light. For example, the wise men of India add a fifth of an hour to the quarter of the day.38 Ptolemy and his friends say that 1/300 of the day is missing.39 This is close to that of the intercalated calendar. Those who came after him said one part of 106.40 Others said 110.41 Still others said 130.42 There are those who say 180.43 For there are those who calculate the year when the sun concludes a cycle around the constellations from a visible point.44 Others calculate it from a point on the sphere which inclines to the right and the left.45 We need tradition.46 Furthermore, the meaning of the word chodesh (month) contradicts the Persian.47 literally means new moon. I.E. will soon show that a solar calendar has no true months, for the new moons play no role in establishing a solar year. The Sadducees48 say that the Jewish religion is based on a lunar year. Note, there is no year at all to the moon.49 However, as the sun has no months, the calculators50 sought51 a number of months close to that of a solar year.52 They found them to be 12.53 The calculators54 sought a number of days for the month55 that would be close to the number of days into which a lunar month is divided. Our months are therefore lunar months and our years return56 at the end of a solar year.57 Our sages therefore transmitted to us a law given to Moses from Sinai that the Bet Din always made seven leap years in every cycle58 even though they used to establish every month by sighting the moon.59 The secret of the cycle60 is known from the science of the stars.61
בוטעם תעבירו. שיתקעו שופר בכל המזלות:
2The meaning of shall ye make proclamation is that they should sound the shofar in all the roads.62. Some emend to gevulot (borders) (Meijler). Others to chuztot (streets). Some texts read mazalot (constellations). This is obviously wrong.
אוקדשתם את שנת החמשים. בעבודת הארץ וכל יושביה:
1AND YE SHALL HALLOW THE FIFTIETH YEAR. All the inhabitants with regard to working the land.63 in our context means abstaining from working the land.
בדרור. ידועה שהוא כמו חפשי וכדרור לעוף עוף קטן מנגן כשהוא ברשותו ואם הוא ברשות אדם לא יאכל עד שימות:
2LIBERTY. The meaning of the word deror is known. It means liberty. As the flying swallow (deror) (Prov. 26:2) refers to a small bird that produces music when it is free.64 However, if it is taken captive it refuses to eat and starves to death.
גיובל. כמו שלוח וחז״ל אמרו שפירוש יובל כבש והראיה שופרות היובלים ונקראה השנה בשם השופר:
3JUBILEE. The word yovel (Jubilee) means sent.65 The sages, of blessed memory, said that the meaning of yovel is a lamb. Shoferot ha-yovelim (rams’ horns) (Josh. 6:4) is proof of the latter. The year66 is called by the name of the shofar.67
דוטעם תהיה לכם. לישראל לבדם:
4[BE UNTO YOU.] To the Israelites alone.
הושבתם איש אל אחזתו. כאשר יפרש כי בשנת היובל תשוב הארץ הנמכרת לבעליה:
5AND YE SHALL RETURN EVERY MAN UNTO HIS POSSESSION. As Scripture goes on to explain,68 in the year of Jubilee the land that is sold shall return to its owners.69 means that each person shall regain the land that he sold.
וואיש אל משפחתו. העבד הנמכר לישראל:
6AND YE SHALL RETURN EVERY MAN UNTO HIS FAMILY. The servant70 sold to an Israelite.71 means every servant.
איובל היא. אחר שהיא שנת יובל לא תזרעו:
1A JUBILEE SHALL THAT FIFTIETH YEAR BE. Since it is the year of Jubilee you shall not sow.
אקדש תהיה לכם. כי היא מפורש׳ בינות השנים:
1IT SHALL BE HOLY UNTO YOU. For it is distinguished from the other years.
במן השדה תאכלו. מה שיוציא השדה מעצמו תאכלו כלכם ככתוב בשנת השמטה:
2YE SHALL EAT THE INCREASE THEREOF OUT OF THE FIELD. You shall eat what the land produces of itself. It is the same as is written regarding the Sabbatical year.72
אבשנת היובל הזאת. טעמו בתחלת השנה:
1IN THIS YEAR OF JUBILEE. Its meaning is in the beginning of the year.
אאו קנה. שם הפעל ויחסר מקום קניתם קנה וכן זכור את יום השבת ורבים כמוהם:
1OR BUY. Kanoh (buy) is an infinitive.73 A word is missing.74 is employed as an auxiliary verb. Kanoh is in place of kenitem kano (you will surely buy).75 is short for kenitem kano. Compare, zakhor (remember) in Remember the sabbath day (Ex. 20:8).76 is an infinitive. It is short for zakhor tizkor. There are many such instances.77 The word timkeru (thou sell) is in the plural because it shall be sold in front of witnesses.78 The same is true of al tonu (ye shall not wrong).79 is in the plural. It is so because it applies to the buyer or seller and to the witnesses. One is not permitted to be a witness to a transaction in which the buyer or seller is cheated.
בוטעם תמכרו. לשון רבים על פי עדים. וכן טעם אל תונו. רק כמספר שנים:
2[ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF YEARS.] Only according to the number of years.
אתרבה מקנתו. הפך תמעיט:
1THOU SHALT INCREASE THE PRICE THEREOF. The reverse of thou shalt diminish.
אוטעם אל תונו איש את עמיתו. אזהרה למוכר כי הראשון לקונה:
1[AND YE SHALL NOT80. The Torah reads ve-lo. If not a scribal error, then I.E. quoted from memory and erred. WRONG ONE ANOTHER.] This is to be understood as a warning to the seller,81. for the first injunction82 (v. 14). is directed to the buyer.83 in verse 14 follows or buy of thy neighbor.
בכי אני ה׳ אלהיכם. ואחר שאני אלהיכם אפרע משניהם מאשר יונה עמיתו. ואם תעשו חקותי תתן הארץ פריה וטעם להזכיר זה בעבור מספר תבואות:
2FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD. As I am your God, I will exact punishment from the two of them,84 from the one who wrongs his neighbor. If you observe My statutes the earth will bring forth its produce. Scripture mentions this85. because it earlier spoke of the number of crops86 because it earlier said according unto the number of years of the crops he shall sell. (v. 15). In other words, the thrust of our verse is fear God and do not cheat in calculating the years. (v. 16).
אאמרו הצדוקים כי תבואתנו ראיה כי תחלת השנה מניסן ואין זו ראיה כי יתכן להיות פירוש תבואתנו מה שתוציא הארץ מעצמה ואם אמרו לא תקרא תבואה כי אם ספיח הנה לנגדם מן השדה תאכלו את תבואתה ועוד יודיענו איך יעשו בשנת היובל כי לא יזרעו בששית ובשביעית ובשמינית רק יזרעו בתשיעית ויקצרו בעשירית ולמה לא הזכיר הכתוב זה כי אמר לשלש השנים לבדם והנכון בעיני שפירוש ועשת את התבואה שאתן ברכה בששית שיספיק ויוסיף עוד שנה ובשנת היובל יהיו שלש שנים בלא תוספות:
1[OUR INCREASE.] The Sadducees87 say that our increase88. proves that the year begins in Nisan.89. This is no proof, for it is possible that the meaning of our increase is what the earth produces of itself.90 If they91 say that what the earth produces of itself is not called tevu’ah (increase)92 but safi’ach,93 then ye shall eat the increase thereof (tevu’atah) out of the field (v. 12) contradicts them.94). Furthermore, let them inform us how the Israelites were to act in the Jubilee year, for they would not sow in the sixth, seventh,95 and eighth year.96 They would only sow in the ninth year and harvest in the tenth. Why didn’t Scripture mention this, for Scripture only mentions for the three years (v. 21).97 It appears to me that the meaning of and it shall bring forth produce (v. 21) is, I will place a blessing on the sixth year98 that it will be sufficient for the sixth and an additional year.99 However, in the Jubilee year there will be food for three years and no more.100. I.E. interprets the aforementioned as: then I will command My blessing upon you in the sixth year. Now in all Sabbatical years the land will produce food for the sixth and seventh years. However, the sixth year shall bring forth produce for precisely three years when it precedes the year of Jubilee. I.E. comments thus because our verse seems to imply that God will bless the sixth year only when it precedes the Jubilee.
אומלת ועשת זרה כמו משרת את המלך כי בעבור התחברות שני תוי״ן חסרו האחד להקל על הלשון:
1[AND IT SHALL BRING FORTH.] The word ve-asat (and it shall bring forth) is irregular.101 is short for ve-asetat, which is a variation of ve-asetah. See Krinsky and Filwarg. Compare, ministered (mesharat) unto the king (I Rings 1:15).102. Scripture reads thus because it drops one of the tavs to simplify enunciation when two tavs are joined.
אישן. שב על מן וטעמו כעצם וכן מן הכפרת תעשו את הכרובים:
1THE OLD STORE. The word yashan (the old store) adverts to the word min (of).103 (produce), which precedes it, for tevu’ah is feminine and yashan (old store) is masculine. I.E. says that min ha-tevu’ah yashan (of the produce, the old store) is to be interpreted as if written min yashan ha-tevu’ah (of the very old store of the grain). The meaning of min (of) is, of the very thing. Similarly, with (min) the ark-cover104 (min) the ark-cover shall ye make the cherubim as, of the very ark-cover shall ye make the cherubim shall ye make the cherubim (Ex. 25:19).
אלצמיתות. כמו כריתות והתי״ו שרש מגזרת יצמיתם ה׳ אלהינו:
1IN PERPETUITY. The word tzemitut (perpetuity) is similar105 to keritut (divorcement) (Is. 50:1). The tav106. Its root is tzadi, mem, tav. is a root letter. Tzemitut is related to the word yatzmitem107. (will cut them off) in The Lord will cut them off (Ps. 94:23).108
בכי לי הארץ. זה טעם נכבד וכן אמר משה בתפלתו ה׳ מעון אתה היית לנו אתה כמו מעון עומד ודור הולך ודור בא:
2FOR THE LAND IS MINE. This is an important reason.109 Moses similarly said in his prayer, Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place (ma’on) (Ps. 90:1). [The meaning of the latter is, God, You are like a permanent dwelling-place. However, One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh (Eccles. 1:4).
אארץ אחוזתכם. שירשתם בארץ כנען גם בארץ האמורי:
1THE LAND OF YOUR POSSESSION. Which you inherited in the land of Canaan. Also in the land of the Amorite.110
אימוך. מהפעלים השניים הנראים ונח נעלם ביניהם וטעמו כמו דל ואביון:
1BE WAXEN POOR. Yamukh (be waxen poor) comes from a root which consists of two stem letters that are sounded and one silent letter placed between them.111, a verb whose middle root letter is a vav. Its root is mem, vav, kaf. Its meaning is poor and destitute.112 is to become poor or to become destitute
בהקרוב אליו. ממשפחתו:
2THAT IS NEXT UNTO HIM. From his family.
אוחשב. מהבנין הכבד הדגוש:
1THEN LET HIM COUNT. The word ve-chishav (then let him count) is a pi’el.113.
אויצא. הממכר. והנה שם תחת תאר השם ורבים כמוהו ואחר שהזכיר בית מושב ידענו כי ומכר מאחזתו שדה או כרם:
1IT SHALL GO OUT.114. The latter can be rendered he shall go out, or it shall go out. Hence I.E.’s comment. That which is sold shall go out. Note, a noun115. is used in place of an adjective.116 (that which is sold). Our verse reads ve-hayah mimkaro… which literally means, then his sale (mimkar) shall remain in the hand of him that has bought it. This makes no sense. Hence I.E.’s comment that it should be interpreted as, then that which he hath sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it. There are many such instances.117 Since Scripture states a dwelling-house in a walled city (v. 29),118 (v. 29) cannot be redeemed after a year has passed, then the verses that speak of property always being redeemed and if not redeemed, returning to its owners in the year of Jubilee, must speak of land. we know that and sell some of his possession (v. 25) refers to a field or a vineyard.
אעיר חומה. עיר מוקפת:
1IN A WALLED CITY. A city surrounded by a wall.119 (a dwelling-house in a walled city). Bet moshav ir chomah literally means a dwelling-house in a city wall. Hence I.E.’s comment.
בימים. שנה עד שוב הימים מקור וחום וקיץ וחורף כאשר היו כי סבתם שוב השמש למקומה והנה אנחנו צריכים לקבלה על שנה תמימה אם לחמה אם ללבנה ואם מעוברת:
2A FULL YEAR. The word yamim120 means a year. Yamim means until the days return to their point of departure after completing their cycle of cold and hot, summer and winter, for the return of the sun to its place121 is the cause of this cycle.122 Now, we need tradition as to what determines a full year,123 whether it is a solar year, or a lunar year, or an intercalated year.124 9:3, “Rabbi says: He is allowed a year and its intercalary month (i.e., the extra days by which the solar year exceeds the lunar year).”
אעל שדה הארץ יחשב. כמו ויבואו האנשים על הנשים ופי׳ עם:
1SHALL BE RECKONED WITH THE FIELDS OF THE COUNTRY. Al (with) in our verse is similar to al (and) in And they came, both men and (al) women (Ex. 35:22).125 The meaning of al126 is with.127 usually means on. Hence I.E.’s comment.
בגאולה תהיה לו. לכל בית ובית כמו בנות צעדה עלי שור וכמו על בניה כי איננו:
2THEY MAY BE REDEEMED.128). The reference is to each and every house.129). Compare, Its branches (banot) run (tza’adah130 is plural. Tza’adah is singular. According to I.E. the meaning of Gen. 49:22 is, each one of its branches (banot) run (tza’adah) over the wall. See I.E. on Gen. 49:22 (Vol. 1, p. 442).) over the wall (Gen. 49:22), and for her children, (baneha) Because they are not (enennu) (Jer. 31:15).131 is in the plural. Enennu is singular. I.E. renders Jer. 31:15, For her children (baneha) because each one of them is not (enennu).
אגאלת עולם. נצחי:
1A PERPETUAL RIGHT OF REDEMPTION. Olam (a perpetual right) means forever.
אובעבור שאמר גאלת עולם אמר ואשר יגאל והטעם כמו יקנה ויש אומרים אפילו אם היה הגואל לוי. וי״ו ויצא כפ״א רפה בלשון ישמעאל. בית או עיר המשפט אחד:
1Scripture reads, va-asher yigal (and if a man purchase)132 literally means to redeem. (v. 33), because our verse reads ge’ulat olam.133 and ge’ulat come from the same root. In other words, Scripture employs the word to mean to purchase for poetic reasons. The meaning of yigal is shall purchase. There are those who say va-asher yigal means even if the redeemer is a Levite.134 (and if a man purchase of the Levites) means, and if a man of the Levites purchases. In other words, if a Levite buys a house from another Levite, even in a walled city, that house goes out in the Jubilee. One might think that the law governing a purchase of a house in a Levitical city by one Levite from another is the same as that governing the sale of a house in a walled city by one Israelite from another Israelite, i.e., that the house can only be redeemed during the first year of its purchase. The vav of ve-yatza (then…shall go out) (v. 33) has the same meaning as the unaspirated fa in Arabic.135 is not to be rendered as “and” but as “then” or “the like.” For the meaning of the Arabic fa see Vol. 1, p. xvi; p. 30. A house and a city (v. 33) have one law.136 (the house…in the city), which literally means a house and a city, is to be rendered a house or a city. Both the house or the city sold by a Levite reverts to the Levite seller in the Jubilee year. See Eruvin 59a, which speaks of a city owned by an individual.
אומטה ידו. מגזרת לא ימוט והמ״ם שרש וכמוהו אם אמרתי מטה רגלי:
1AND HIS MEANS FAIL. The word u-matah (and…fail) is related to the word yimmot (he shall…be moved) in he shall never be moved (Ps. 112:6). The mem is a root letter.137. Similarly, the word matah (slippeth) in If I say: My foot slippeth (Ps. 94:18).
באחיך. ישראל:
2THY BROTHER. An Israelite.
געמך. שאתה חייב לנמצא עמך שאתה רואה:
3WITH THEE. For you are obligated to the one who is found with you, the one that you see.
דוהחזקת בו. הפך ומטה ידו שלא יפול:
4THEN THOU SHALT UPHOLD HIM. The reverse of and his means fail (matah).139 literally means fall. Since Scripture earlier employed the term fall, it now employs the term uphold. You shall uphold him so that he does not fall.
הגר ותושב. ואם הוא מארצך או גר ותושב
5AS A STRANGER AND A SETTLER. If he is from your country or is a stranger and a settler.138
ווחי. כמו יחיה:
6SHALL HE LIVE. Va-chai (shall he live) means he shall live.
אנשך ותרבית. מפורש בדברי הקבלה. תי״ו תרבית נוסף כמו תרמית והוא מגזרת רב רק הוא מהפעלים שהלמ״ד שלהם נח נעלם כמו תכלית שנאה ואחר כן פי׳ הנשך והתרבית גם מ״ם מרבית נוסף כמו מ״ם ואבן משכית:
1INTEREST…OR INCREASE. These terms140 and tarbit. are explained in the words of tradition. The tav of tarbit (increase) is superfluous.141 It is like the tav of tarmit (deceitful) (Zeph. 3:13).142 Tarbit is related143 to the word rav (many).144. However, it is a verb that comes from a root whose last letter is silent and hidden.145. Its root is resh, bet, heh. It is similar146 to the word takhlit (utmost)147. in utmost hatred (Ps. 139:22). Scripture next148 explains the terms neshekh (increase) and tarbit (increase). The mem of marbit (increase) (v. 37) is also superfluous. It is like the mem of maskit (figured)149. in any figured stone (Lev. 26:1).
אוטעם אני ה׳ אלהיכם אשר הוצאתי אתכם מארץ מצרים. שהייתם גרים והנה נתתי לכם אחוזה והטעם דבק עם גר ותושב וחי עמך גם עם כל הפרשה הנזכרת בעבור גאלת הארץ. והזכיר פרשת ומטה ידו עמך בעבור שיזכיר הישראלי שיהיה לו צורך רב עד שימכור עצמו שיצא ביובל והנה כל פרשת הסדר דבקה:
1[I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, WHO BROUGHT YOU FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT.] Where you were strangers. Note, I gave you an inheritance. Our verse is connected in meaning to as a stranger and a settler shall he live with thee (v. 35).150 where you were strangers, and I gave you an inheritance. It is also connected to the already mentioned section,151 for it152 deals with the redemption of the land. Scripture mentions the section containing and his means fail with thee (v. 35) because it will go on to state that an Israelite who is in such great need that he sells himself153 shall go out in the year of Jubilee.154 All the sections of the Torah portion are thus connected.
אונמכר לך. הוא מעצמו או גנב ממך ומכרוהו בבית דין:
1AND SELL HIMSELF UNTO THEE. He sells himself to you or he stole from you and he was sold by the Bet Din.
אהוא ובניו עמו. זה שהעתיקו חכמים ועבדו לעולם:
1HE AND HIS CHILDREN WITH HIM. The transmitters of tradition based themselves on this verse when they explained the meaning of and he shall serve him for ever (Ex. 21:6).155 means until the Jubilee year. See I.E. on Ex. 21:6 (Vol. 2, p. 458): “And he shall serve him for ever means, and he will serve him until the year of Jubilee, for there is no season of Israel that is longer than it.”
אוטעם כי עבדי הם. כי אני קניתים מבית עבדים:
1[FOR THEY ARE MY SERVANTS.] Because I bought them from the house of bondage.
אתרדה בו. כטעם ממשלה:
1THOU SHALT NOT RULE OVER HIM. Tirdeh means you shall rule.
בבפרך. כדברי המתרגם ארמית:
2WITH RIGOR. Be-farech (with rigor) is to be explained as the Aramaic translator does.156 (with hard work, i.e., backbreaking work).
אמאת הגוים אשר סביבותיכם. כעמון ומואב ואדום וארם:
1OF THE NATIONS THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT YOU. Such as Amon, Moab, Edom, and Aram.
אוגם מבני התושבים. הדרים בארץ כנען שהיא ארצכם והם מהגוים הנזכרים או מצרים וכל עם חוץ משבעת הגוים כי הכתוב הזהיר עליהם לא תחיה כל נשמה והנה אסור אפילו להאכילם ויתכן שחז״ל אמרו עבד כנעני על הגר הגר בארץ כנען ואיננו כנעני בייחוסו או הם ידעו להוציא זה הדבר לאמתו כי דעתינו נקלה כנגד דעתם:
1MOREOVER OF THE CHILDREN OF THE STRANGERS THAT DO SOJOURN AMONG YOU. Who dwell in the land of Canaan, which is your country, and they are from the nations that are mentioned.157 Or the reference is to Egypt and every nation aside from the seven nations,158 for Scripture commanded regarding the aforementioned, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth (Deut. 20:16). Note, it is prohibited to even feed them.159. It is possible that when the sages, of blessed memory, spoke of a Canaanite slave160 they spoke of someone who lived in Canaan, not of a person of Canaanite ancestry. On the other hand, it is possible that the sages were able to ascertain the truth of the matter,161 67b. Also see Rashi. for our mind is insignificant when measured against their minds.162
אוהתנחלתם. מבנין התפעל וכמוהו והתאויתם לכם:
1AND YE MAY MAKE THEM AN INHERTANCE. Ve-hitnachaltem (and ye may make them an inheritance) is a hitpa’el. Similarly, ve-hitavvitem (and ye shall mark out a line) in and ye shall mark out your line (Num. 34:10).
בלעולם בהם תעבודו. מותרים רק כאשר מצאנו חז״ל שאמרו כי היא מצוה קבלנוה:
2OF THEM MAY YE TAKE YOUR BONDMEN FOR EVER. One is permitted to do so. However, since we find that the sages say that it is a commandment to do so, we accept what they say.163 38b; Sotah 3b.
גוטעם ובאחיכם בני ישראל. שתעשה הפרש בין אחיך ובין הנכרי:
3[BUT OVER YOUR BRETHREN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.] Its meaning is, you will make a difference between your brother and the stranger.
אאו לעקר. כמו שרש והטעם ששב לדת ישראל והוא ממשפחת גר ואין ריע לו רק הוא כמו מלת ושרשך הפך וכן ואת סוסיהם תעקד:
1OR TO THE OFFSHOOT. Eker (offshoot) means a root. The reference is to a person who accepted the Jewish religion. He himself is from the family of a stranger. The word eker has no neighbor.164 However, it is similar in meaning to ve-shereshkha (and root thee out) (Ps. 52:7). It means the opposite of its stem.165 means a root. However, ve-shereshkha means, and uproots you. Similarly, eker comes from the Hebrew stem meaning a root. However, its meaning is someone who has been uprooted, i.e., a stranger. Similarly, te’akker (thou shalt hough) in thou shalt hough their horses (Josh 11:6).166
אאו השיגה ידו. שמצא אבדה או ירש ממון מת ממשפחתו. והזכיר בתחלה האח והמשפחה כי הוא הדבר הנמצא ברוב:
1OR IF HE BE WAXEN RICH. He found a lost object or he inherited the money of a deceased member of his family. Scripture first mentions the brother and the family167 because that is what is most usually the case.168
אקנהו. בה״א ובלא ה״א שוה:
1HIM THAT BOUGHT HIM. Konehu (him that bought him) has the same meaning whether spelled with a heh or not.169 has the same meaning as kono. The latter is the form most used.
בהמכרו. שם הפעל מבנין נפעל והשנים שיעמוד עמו כימי שכיר יהיה:
2HE SOLD HIMSELF. Himakhero (he sold himself) is an infinitive170 in the nifal. The years that he was with his master shall be like the days of a hired man.171
אוי״ו ואם מעט נשאר בשנים. כפ״א רפה בל׳ ישמעאל והטעם בין היות השנים הנשארות רבות או מועטות:
1[IF THERE BE YET MANY YEARS.] The vav in If there be yet many years…and if (ve-im) there remain but few years (v. 52) is like an unaspirated fa in Arabic.172 in ve-im (v. 52) does not mean and. It means or, for verse 52 is not a continuation of verse 51. However, there are editions of I.E. which read: “If (ve-im) there be yet many years…and if (ve-im) there remain but few years.” The latter is also the reading in Vat. Ebr. 38. If the latter is correct then I.E.’s version of the Torah reads ve-im while our Torah in verse 51 reads im. It is possible that I.E. quoted from memory and erred. For the unaispirated fa, see I.E. on verse 34 and the notes thereto. It means173 whether the remaining years be many or few.
בלפיהן ישיב גאלתו. על כסף מקנתו כן יחשב לו:
2ACCORDING UNTO THEM, HE SHALL GIVE BACK THE PRICE OF HIS REDEMPTION. It174 shall be so considered with regard to the money that he was bought for.175
אכשכיר שנה. להוסיף לא ירדנו בפרך לעיניך לא נעזוב הגר לרדות בו בפרך:
1AS A SERVANT HIRED YEAR BY YEAR. This176. is repeated177 in order to add that which follows.178. HE SHALL NOT RULE WITH RIGOR OVER HIM IN THY SIGHT. We shall not permit the stranger to rule over him with rigor.179 means you will not permit him to rule with rigor over him. See I.E. on verse 43 and the notes thereto for the definition of rigor. Verse 43 prohibits an Israelite from ruling over an Israelite slave with rigor. Scripture now prohibits the Israelites from allowing strangers to rule over Israelites with rigor.
אואם לא יגאל באלה. בשנים הנשארות ליובל ויש אומרים על ידי אלה הנזכרים:
1AND IF HE BE NOT REDEEMED BY ANY OF THESE MEANS.180 (literally, in these or by these). The years remaining until the Jubilee.181 Others say by those mentioned earlier.182 is to be rendered in these. According to the second interpretation ba-elleh is to be rendered by these.
אכי לי בני ישראל. טעם שתודיעו כן הגר הקונה העבד הישראלי:
1FOR UNTO ME THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ARE SERVANTS. This means you shall inform the stranger who buys an Israelite as a servant that the children of Israel are My servants.