Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Deuteronomy 1:9/רמב"ן על דברים א׳:ט׳
אוָאֹמַר אֲלֵכֶם בָּעֵת הַהִיא לֵאמֹר קֹדֶם שֶׁאָמַר לָנוּ ה' בְּחוֹרֵב רַב לָכֶם שֶׁבֶת בָּהָר הַזֶּה, עַל דַּעַת הָאוֹמְרִים קֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ, וְטַעַם בָּעֵת הַהִיא בְּשִׁבְתֵּנוּ בְּחוֹרֵב. אֲבָל הִזְכִּיר זֶה בְּכָאן לוֹמַר הִנֵּה קִבַּלְנוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה וְהָיוּ עֲלֵיכֶם שׁוֹפְטִים וְשׁוֹטְרִים לִשְׁפֹּט וּלְהַנְהִיג אֶתְכֶם, וְהִנֵּה הָיִינוּ מוּכָנִים וּמְזֻמָּנִים לָבֹא בָּאָרֶץ, וַנִּסַּע מֵחוֹרֵב לִדְגָלֵינוּ עִם שׁוֹפְטֵינוּ וּזְקֵנֵינוּ, וַתִּקְרְבוּן אֵלַי כֻּלְּכֶם עִם חַכְמֵיכֶם וְרָאשֵׁיכֶם וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם מְרַגְּלִים וְנִתְקַלְקֵל הָעִנְיָן:
1AND I SPOKE UNTO YOU AT THAT TIME, SAYING: ‘I AM NOT ABLE TO BEAR YOU MYSELF ALONE.’ [Moses’ statement here in this verse was actually said] before the Eternal said to us in Horeb, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mountain,71 they moved away from Horeb. Hence we must say that the whole episode that begins with Verse 9 happened before Israel was commanded to journey from Horeb (Verse 6). And the expression at that time (in this verse) means “while we dwelled at Horeb.” But according to the Sages who say that Jethro came after the Giving of the Torah, the expression at that time means “at that time when we were about to leave Horeb.” according to the opinion of those who say that Jethro came before the Giving of the Torah.72 And the meaning of the expression at that time [in the verse before us] is “while we dwelled at Horeb.” But Moses mentioned it here [in Verse 9, rather than before Verse 6] to convey the following thought: We received the Torah, and you had judges and officers to judge you and lead you, and we were thus ready to enter the Land. And we journeyed from Horeb73 in our [four] divisions with our judges and our elders, and then ye came near unto me every one of you73 with your wise men and your leaders and you wanted spies to be sent, and thus the plan [for an immediate entry into the Land] was frustrated.