Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Deuteronomy 32:28/רמב"ן על דברים ל״ב:כ״ח

אכִּי גוֹי אֹבַד עֵצוֹת הֵמָּה, וְכָל הַפָּרָשָׁה עַל הָאוֹיֵב הַנִּזְכָּר, כְּדִבְרֵי רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה (ספרי כח). וְטַעַם כִּי לֹא כְצוּרֵנוּ צוּרָם, גַּם כֵּן דִּבְרֵי הָאוֹיֵב, יֹאמַר הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶם לַחְשֹׁב וּלְהַשְׂכִּיל זֹאת הַנַּעֲשָׂה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי הוּא פֹּעַל הַשֵּׁם עַל עֲוֹנָם, וְיָבִינוּ מִמֶּנָּה לְאַחֲרִית נַפְשָׁם כִּי כֵן יַעֲשֶׂה בַּסּוֹף לְכָל הַגּוֹיִם, כִּי הֵם מוֹרְדִים בַּשֵּׁם יוֹתֵר מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, יַשְׂכִּילוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ אֵיכָה יִרְדֹּף אֶחָד אֶלֶף מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, אִם לֹא כִּי צוּרָם מְכָרָם, כִּי צוּרָם הוּא תַּקִּיף וּבַעַל הַיְּכֹלֶת לַעֲזֹר וּלְהַצִּיל יוֹתֵר מִצּוּרֵנוּ, וְאֹיְבֵינוּ פְּלִילִים הָיוּ בָּנוּ מִתְּחִלָּה לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּנוּ שְׁפָטִים כִּרְצוֹנָם, וְעַתָּה לָמָּה בּוֹרְחִים מִפָּנֵינוּ אֶלֶף מִפְּנֵי גַּעֲרַת אִישׁ אֶחָד, לוּלֵי צוּרָם הַתַּקִּיף שֶׁמְּכָרָם וְהֵבִיא מֹרֶךְ בִּלְבָבָם, וְנָפְלוּ וְרוֹדֵף אָיִן. פְּלִילִים, מִלְּשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר פִּלַּלְתְּ לַאֲחוֹתֵךְ (יחזקאל טז נב), וַיַּעֲמֹד פִּנְחָס וַיְפַלֵּל (תהלים קו ל):

1FOR THEY ARE A NATION VOID OF COUNSEL. [This verse and] the entire section [further on] refers to the aforementioned enemy, according to the words of Rabbi Nechemyah.¹¹⁴ 322. And, so too, the verse, For their Rock is not as our rock¹¹⁵ is to be understood as the words of the enemy. Scripture thus states, the enemy should have considered and understood that what was done with Israel had been brought about by G-d because of their sin, and from it they should have realized their own ultimate punishment, for He would do the same to all the nations since they rebel against G-d more than does Israel. They should have been wise and said: “How should one pursue a thousand from Israel except their Rock had given them over.¹¹⁶ For their Rock is powerful and possesses the capability to help and save more than does our rock, and our enemies [i.e., the Israelites] were ‘pelilim’ (judges)¹¹⁵ over us originally to execute judgments upon us as they wished. And now, why do a thousand [of the Israelites] flee from before us at the shout of one man, except that their mighty Rock gave them over and sent a faintness into their heart¹¹⁷ and they fell when there was no pursuer.”¹¹⁸, Verse 37. The term ‘pelilim’ (judges)¹¹⁵ is associated with the expressions: that ‘pilalt’ (thou hast given judgment) for thy sisters;¹¹⁹ Then stood up Phinehas ‘vayephaleil’ (and wrought judgment).¹²⁰