Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Deuteronomy 2:20/רמב"ן על דברים ב׳:כ׳

אתֵּחָשֵׁב, שֶׁהִיא בְּחֶשְׁבּוֹן אֶרֶץ רְפָאִים, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁהִיא מִכְּלָלָהּ. וְכֵן מִן הַשִּׁיחוֹר אֲשֶׁר עַל פְּנֵי מִצְרַיִם וְעַד גְּבוּל עֶקְרוֹן צָפוֹנָה לַכְּנַעֲנִי תֵּחָשֵׁב (יהושע יג ג), וְכֵן בְּנֵי רִמּוֹן הַבְּאֵרֹתִי מִבְּנֵי בִנְיָמִן כִּי גַּם בְּאֵרוֹת תֵּחָשֵׁב עַל בִּנְיָמִן (שמואל ב ד ב). וְאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁגַּם כֵּן פֵּרוּשׁ יֵחָשְׁבוּ אַף הֵם הַכָּתוּב לְמַעְלָה יֹאמַר הָאֵמִים אֲשֶׁר יָשְׁבוּ בָהּ לְפָנִים גַּם הֵם יֵחָשְׁבוּ רְפָאִים, שֶׁהָיוּ מִכְּלָלָם וְהֵם כַּעֲנָקִים וְלָכֵן יִקְרְאוּ אוֹתָם אֵמִים, וְהוּא הַנָּכוֹן. וְהִנֵּה אֶרֶץ רְפָאִים הָיְתָה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד, וְלָקְחוּ מֵהֶם מוֹאָב וְלָקְחוּ מֵהֶם בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן וְנִשְׁאֲרָה מִמֶּנָּה לִרְפָאִים עַצְמָם, כִּי עוֹג הַיּוֹשֵׁב בְּעַשְׁתָּרוֹת מֵהֶם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר (בראשית יד ה) וַיַּכּוּ אֶת רְפָאִים בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹת קַרְנַיִם, וּבִיהוֹשֻׁעַ (יז טו) וּבֵרֵאתָ לְךָ שָׁם בְּאֶרֶץ הַפְּרִזִּי וְהָרְפָאִים, וְלָכֵן יֹאמַר הַכָּתוּב בִּגְבוּל מוֹאָב וְעַמּוֹן כִּי לָרְפָאִים יֵחָשֵׁב, וְהַמּוֹאָבִים וְהָעַמּוֹנִים הֵם שֶׁשִּׁנּוּ לָהֶם שֵׁמוֹת אֲחֵרִים אֵמִים וְזַמְזֻמִּים:

1TEICHASHEIV’ (ACCOUNTED). The land of Ammon, too, is considered part of the land of Rephaim; in other words, it is included within it. Similarly, from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the border of Ekron northward ‘teichasheiv’ (is accounted) to the Canaanites.¹⁷⁴ So also, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin; for Beeroth also ‘teichasheiv’ (is accounted) to Benjamin.¹⁷⁵ It is possible that such is also the meaning of the expression written above [with reference to Moab], these also are ‘yeichashvu’ Rephaim,¹⁷⁶ Scripture stating that the Emim who formerly dwelled there¹⁷⁷, Verse 10. are also “accounted”¹⁷⁸ as an expression of importance and esteem. Here Ramban explains it as “accounted” [to the Rephaim]. Rephaim since they were part of them, and they were as the Anakim,¹⁷⁶ and therefore they [the Moabites] called them ‘Emim’¹⁷⁶ [because their “dread,” like that of the Anakim (giants) lay upon the people]. This is the correct interpretation.Thus the land of Rephaim was very large, and from it, Moab and Ammon took their lands. The balance remained for the Rephaim themselves, for Og, who dwelled in Ashtaroth, was of them, as is stated, and they smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim.¹⁵⁵, Verse 5. And in the Book of Joshua it is written, and cut down a space for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim.¹⁷⁹ Therefore, Scripture says of the border of Moab and Ammon that it is “accounted to the Rephaim,” [still calling them “Rephaim,” the name by which they were originally known]. The Moabites and the Ammonites were the ones that changed [the name of the Rephaim] to other names: [the Moabites calling them] Emim and [the Ammonites calling them] Zamzummim.