Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Deuteronomy 10:15/רמב"ן על דברים י׳:ט״ו

אוְטַעַם כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה, כִּי כֵן יִהְיֶה בְּכָל זַרְעָם לְעוֹלָם. וּכְבָר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי (רמב"ן על דברים ז':ז') הַחֵשֶׁק וְהַבְּחִירָה. וּפֵרוּשׁ שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם, גַּלְגַּלֵּי אַרְבָּעָה יְסוֹדוֹת, שֶׁהֵם בְּכֹחַ הַשָּׁמַיִם לְמַטָּה מֵהֶם, כְּעִנְיַן הָאָרֶץ וְכָל אֲשֶׁר עָלֶיהָ (נחמיה ט ו), וְכֵן אָמַר בְּמִזְמוֹר הַלְלוּ אֶת ה' מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם הַלְלוּהוּ בַּמְּרוֹמִים (תהילים קמ"ח:א'), וְהִזְכִּיר מַלְאָכָיו וּצְבָאָיו וְשֶׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵחַ וְכוֹכְבֵי אוֹר וְאַחַר כָּךְ הַלְלוּהוּ שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָיִם:

1AS IT IS THIS DAY. The meaning thereof is that thus it will be with their seed forever [that they will be His chosen ones]. I have already explained²⁴⁶ the terms “delight” and “choosing.” And the expression the heaven of heavens²⁴⁴ refers to the spherical bodies of the four elements [fire, water, earth and air] which are in the potential of the heavens below them,²⁴⁷ similar to what is said, the earth, with all that therein is.²⁴⁴ And so it is said in the psalm: Praise ye the Eternal from the heavens; praise Him in the heights,²⁴⁸ and continues to mention His angels, His host,²⁴⁹, Verse 2. and the stars of light,²⁵⁰, Verse 3. and afterwards, Praise Him, ye heaven of heavens.²⁵¹, Verse 4.