Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Exodus 15:6/רמב"ן על שמות ט״ו:ו׳
איְמִינְךָ ה' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב לְשׁוֹן רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על שמות ט"ו:ו'), פְּשָׁטוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר, יְמִינְךָ הַנֶּאְדָּר בַּכֹּחַ מַה מְּלַאכְתָּהּ, יְמִינְךָ ה' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב, וְכַמָּה מִקְרָאוֹת דֻּגְמָתוֹ "כִּי הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶיךָ ה' כִּי הִנֵּה אֹיְבֶיךָ יֹאבֵדוּ" (תהלים צב י), "עַד מָתַי רְשָׁעִים ה' עַד מָתַי רְשָׁעִים יַעֲלֹזוּ" (שם צד ג), "נָשְׂאוּ נְהָרוֹת ה' נָשְׂאוּ נְהָרוֹת קוֹלָם" (שם צג ג). וְרַבִּים כָּכָה. וְאֵינוֹ נָכוֹן לְדַעְתִּי, כִּי הַפְּסוּקִים יִכְפְּלוּ מִלּוֹת לוֹמַר כִּי תָּמִיד יִהְיֶה כָּכָה מִבְּלִי שֶׁיְּבָאֲרוּ עִנְיָן רַק בַּפַּעַם הַשֵּׁנִית, וְאִלּוּ אָמַר יְמִינְךָ ה' יְמִינְךָ ה' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב, הָיָה כְּמוֹת אֵלּוּ הַנִּזְכָּרִים: ור"א אָמַר (אבן עזרא על שמות ט"ו:ו') כִּי פֵּרוּשׁוֹ יְמִינְךָ ה' שֶׁאַתָּה נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ יְמִינְךָ ה' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב, שֶׁהוּא כְּמוֹ אֵלּוּ הַנִּזְכָּרִים. וְיוֹתֵר נָכוֹן לוֹמַר יְמִינְךָ ה' הוּא נֶאְדָּר בַּכֹּחַ לְהַשְׁפִּיל לְכָל גֵּאֶה וָרָם, יְמִינְךָ ה' תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב בְּכֹחַ גָּדוֹל. וְהִזְכִּיר יָמִין בִּלְשׁוֹן זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה, כְּמוֹ "וְהִנֵּה יָד שְׁלוּחָה אֵלָי וְהִנֵּה בוֹ מְגִלַּת סֵפֶר" (יחזקאל ב ט), וְהוּא כָּפוּל כְּדֶרֶךְ הַנְּבוּאוֹת. וְדֶרֶךְ הָאֱמֶת יֵדָעֶנָּה הַמַּשְׂכִּיל מִן הַפְּסוּקִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי, וְכָךְ אָמְרוּ (שמו"ר כד א), הָיְתָה יָדוֹ אַחַת מְשַׁקַּעְתָּן וְיָדוֹ אַחַת מַצֶּלֶת אוֹתָם, כִּי הַכֹּחַ מַצִּיל, כְּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְעַתָּה יִגְדַּל נָא כֹּחַ אֲדֹנָי" (במדבר יד יז):
1THY RIGHT HAND, O ETERNAL, GLORIOUS IN POWER, THY RIGHT HAND, O ETERNAL, DASHETH IN PIECES THE ENEMY. Rashi commented: “The literal sense of the text is as follows: ‘Thy right hand that is glorious in power — what does it do? Thy right hand, O Eternal, dasheth in pieces the enemy.’ There are many Scriptural verses that follow this form. For lo Thine enemies, O Eternal, for lo Thine enemies shall perish;136, 92:10. The meaning then would be: “For lo Thine enemies, O Eternal, what shall happen to them? For lo Thine enemies shall perish.” Eternal, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?137, 94:3. The floods have lifted up, O Eternal, the floods have lifted up their voice.”138, 93:3. In my opinion, however, this is not correct. Verses repeat words in order to indicate that such will always be the case, without identifying what they refer to until they mention it the second time. Had Scripture said here, “Thy right hand, thy right hand, dasheth in pieces the enemy” it would have been exactly like the other verses Rashi mentions. [But instead it says here, Thy right hand, O Eternal, ‘glorious in power,’ Thy right hand, O Eternal, dasheth… and consequently it is unlike the other verses mentioned.] Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra said that the verse means: “Thy right hand, O Eternal, Thou Who art glorious in power, may Thy right hand dash in pieces the enemy.” In that case, the verse here is similar in form to the verses mentioned [by Rashi].A more correct interpretation would be to explain it thus: “Thy right hand, O Eternal, is glorious in power to humble all proud and lofty; Thy right hand, O Eternal, dashes in pieces the enemy with great power.” It mentions the right hand both in the masculine and feminine forms,139” is in the masculine gender; “Thy right hand… ‘tir’atz’ (dasheth)” is in the feminine. just as in the verse, Behold, a hand was put forth unto me; and lo, a roll of a book was therein,140 (put forth) is a feminine form; bo (therein) is a masculine. and is repeated as is customary in prophecies.The student learned [in the mystic lore of the Cabala] will understand the way of the Truth in this verse from the first verses141 I have explained. And so did the Rabbis say it:142 “With the very same hand with which He sank the Egyptians, He delivered Israel,”143 for it is “the power” that saves, as it is said, And now, I pray Thee, let the power of the Eternal be great.144