Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Deuteronomy 16:12/רמב"ן על דברים ט״ז:י״ב
אוְזָכַרְתָּ כִּי עֶבֶד הָיִיתָ בְּמִצְרָיִם, אָמַר ר"א (אבן עזרא על דברים ט"ז:י"ב) שֶׁהוּא דָּבֵק עִם וְעַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתֶךָ. וְהַנָּכוֹן שֶׁהוּא כִּפְשׁוּטוֹ, שֶׁתִּשְׁמֹר הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר צִוְּךָ הָאָדוֹן הַפּוֹדְךָ מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים. וְכֵן נַזְכִּיר בְּקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם. וְאָמַר הַחֻקִּים הָאֵלֶּה בְּחַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁלֹּא נִתְפָּרֵשׁ בַּתּוֹרָה טַעַם מִסְפַּר שִׁבְעָה הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת וּמִסְפַּר הַחֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם וְהוּא לְבַדּוֹ הָעֲצֶרֶת, וּכְבָר הִזְכַּרְתִּי סוֹדָם (ויקרא כג טו):
1AND THOU SHALT REMEMBER THAT THOU WAST A BONDMAN IN EGYPT. Rabbi Abraham [ibn Ezra] said that this phrase is connected with the expression and thy manservant, and thy maidservant363 [mentioned in the first part of the preceding verse]. The correct interpretation is according to the plain meaning thereof, that you are to observe these statutes364 which the Lord Who redeemed thee out of the house of bondage365 commanded you. We also proclaim in the Kiddush of that [festival] day, “It is a memorial of the exodus from Egypt.” He stated these statutes364 with reference to the Festival of Weeks [an expression not used with reference to the other festivals] because the reason for the counting of seven weeks, and the observing of only the fiftieth day as the only solemn assembly is not mentioned in the Torah [and hence they are accounted as chukim — “statutes,” commandments for which we do not know the reasons, and therefore he warned us to observe and do these statutes]. I have already mentioned their secret.366Shoftim