Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Exodus 2:5/רמב"ן על שמות ב׳:ה׳
אלִרְחֹץ עַל הַיְאוֹר סָרֵס הַמִּקְרָא וְדָרְשֵׁהוּ, וַתֵּרֶד בַּת פַּרְעֹה עַל הַיְאוֹר לִרְחֹץ בּוֹ, לְשׁוֹן רַבֵּינוּ שְׁלֹמֹה. וְאִם כֵּן יִהְיֶה עַל הַיְאוֹר כְּמוֹ "אֶל הַיְאוֹר" וְכֵן "וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶלְקָנָה הָרָמָתָה עַל בֵּיתוֹ" (שמואל א ב':י"א), "כֹּה תֹאמְרוּ אִישׁ עַל רֵעֵהוּ וְאִישׁ אֶל אָחִיו" (ירמיה כג לה). וְיִתָּכֵן שֶׁהָיוּ בַּיְאוֹר מַעֲלוֹת, וְהִיא יָרְדָה מֵאַרְמוֹן הַמֶּלֶךְ לִרְחֹץ בַּמַּעֲלָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה אֲשֶׁר בַּיְאוֹר, לֹא תִּכָּנֵס אֶל שִׁבֹּלֶת הַנָּהָר, וְרָאֲתָה הַתֵּבָה בְּתוֹךְ הַסּוּף רָחוֹק מִמֶּנָּה וַתִּשְׁלַח אֶת אֲמָתָהּ וַתִּקָּחֶהָ אוֹ הוּא כְּמוֹ לִרְחֹץ בַּיְאוֹר, וְכֵן "וְנָתַתָּ אוֹתָם עַל סַל אֶחָד" (שמות כ"ט:ג'):
1TO BATHE ‘AL’ (BY) THE RIVER. “Transpose [the order of the words in] the verse65. Rashi explains it to mean: “And the daughter of Pharaoh went down by the river to bathe in it.” and then explain it: the daughter of Pharaoh went down by the river to bathe in it.” Thus the language of Rabbeinu Shlomo [Rashi]. If so, al haye’or (by or upon the river) is like el haye’or (to the river). Similarly, And Elkanah went to Ramah ‘al beitho’ (upon his house)66 [is like el beitho (to his house)]; Thus shall ye say every one ‘al rei’eihu’ (upon his neighbor) and every one to his brother67 [is like el rei’eihu (to his neighbor)].It is possible that there were steps upon the bank of the river and that she went down from the royal palace to bathe upon the first step by the river, but did not enter into the river’s stream. [In this case, the expression al haye’or would be completely understandable, as it would mean that she came down to bathe “upon the step near the river”], and then she saw the ark among the reeds far from her and she sent her handmaid to fetch it. It may be that to bathe ‘al haye’or’ is like “to bathe baye’or (in the river).” Similarly, And thou shalt put them ‘al’ one basket68 [is like b’sal echad (‘into’ one basket)].