Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Deuteronomy 31:13/רמב"ן על דברים ל״א:י״ג

אוּבְנֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדְעוּ יִשְׁמְעוּ וְלָמְדוּ, הֵם הַטַּף, כִּי יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִשְׁאֲלוּ וְהָאָבוֹת יַרְגִּילוּם וִיחַנְּכוּ אוֹתָם, כִּי אֵין הַטַּף הַזֶּה יוֹנְקֵי שָׁדַיִם, אֲבָל הֵם קְטַנֵּי הַשָּׁנִים הַקְּרוֹבִים לְהִתְחַנֵּךְ. וְזֶה טַעַם וְלָמְדוּ לְיִרְאָה, בֶּעָתִיד, כִּי לְמַעְלָה אָמַר וְלָמְדוּ וְיָרְאוּ. אֲבָל רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ (חגיגה ג), הָאֲנָשִׁים לִלְמֹד וְהַנָּשִׁים לִשְׁמֹעַ, וְהַטַּף לָמָּה בָּא, לִתֵּן שָׂכָר לִמְבִיאֵיהֶם:

1AND THAT THEIR CHILDREN, WHO HAVE NOT KNOWN, MAY HEAR, AND LEARN TO FEAR. This refers to the little children [mentioned in the preceding verse], for they will hear and inquire, and the fathers will accustom them [to the words of the Law] and educate them. For the little children [mentioned here] are not those who suckle at the breasts, but rather the young in years who are nearly old enough to be educated, this being the sense of the expression and learn to fear — in the future [when they are grown up]. But above [when speaking of the men and the women] he stated, that they may learn, and fear¹³ [now, since they are adults]. However, our Rabbis have said,¹⁴ “The men came to learn, and the women to listen. And the little children — why did they come? In order to reward those who bring them.”¹⁵ as applying to the very young who are not yet old enough to ask questions.