Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Deuteronomy 31:14/רמב"ן על דברים ל״א:י״ד

אוַאֲצַוֶּנּוּ, וַאֲזָרְזֶנּוּ, לְשׁוֹן רַשִׁ"י. וְאֵין צֹרֶךְ, כִּי דְּבַר הַשֵּׁם (דברים ל"א:כ"ג) חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ כִּי אַתָּה תָּבִיא מִצְוָה הִיא, וְאִלּוּ הָיָה מִתְעַצֵּל וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה כֵן הָיָה חַיָּב מִיתָה. וְיִתָּכֵן שֶׁיִּהְיֶה פֵּרוּשׁ וַאֲצַוֶּנּוּ, שֶׁאֲמַנֶּה אוֹתוֹ נָגִיד וּמְצַוֶּה עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק וְצִוִּיתָה אוֹתוֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶם (במדבר כז יט):

1THAT I MAY GIVE HIM [Joshua] A CHARGE. “This means that I may exhort him.” This is Rashi’s language. But there is no need for this, because G-d’s statement [to Joshua] for thou shalt bring [the children of Israel into the Land]¹⁶ is a command, and, if he were to be indolent and not do so, he would be liable to the death-penalty. It is possible that the meaning of that I may give him a charge is that I will appoint him a prince and commander¹⁷ over Israel, and thou shalt give him a charge in their sight.¹⁸