Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Exodus 6:23/רמב"ן על שמות ו׳:כ״ג
אוַיִּקַּח אַהֲרֹן אֶת אֱלִישֶׁבַע בַּת עַמִּינָדָב אֲחוֹת נַחְשׁוֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר הִזְכִּיר אֵם הַנְּבִיאִים לִכְבוֹדָם, וְלוֹמַר שֶׁהִיא בַּת לֵוִי אִישׁ צַדִּיק, וְנִרְמָז שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בָּהּ נֵס, כֵּן הִזְכִּיר אֵם הַכְּהֻנָּה שֶׁהִיא מְיֻחֶסֶת מִזֶּרַע הַמְּלוּכָה, אֲחוֹת הַנָּשִׂיא הַגָּדוֹל. וְהִזְכִּיר אִמּוֹ שֶׁל פִּנְחָס שֶׁהוּא ג"כ כֹּהֵן שֶׁזָּכָה בָּהּ מֵעַצְמוֹ (זבחים קא:). וְאִם הָיָה זֶה שֵׁם פּוּטִיאֵל שֵׁם אֵינֶנּוּ נִדְרָשׁ, מָה טַעַם לְהַזְכִּיר שֵׁם אָדָם לֹא יָדַעְנוּ מִי הוּא, וְלָכֵן אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (ב"ב קי; סוטה מג.) שֶׁהוּא מִזֶּרַע יוֹסֵף שֶׁפִּטְפֵּט בְּיִצְרוֹ וּמִזֶּרַע יִתְרוֹ שֶׁפִּטֵּם עֲגָלִים לַעֲבוֹדַת גִּלּוּלִים, וְהֻזְכַּר לִשְׁבָח שֶׁזָּכוּ בְּצִדְקָתָם לִכְהֻנַּת עוֹלָם. וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ הַפְּשָׁט נֹאמַר שֶׁהַכְּתוּבִים מַזְכִּירִים בַּמְּלָכִים שְׁמוֹת אִמֹּתָם, "וְשֵׁם אִמּוֹ מַעֲכָה בַּת אֲבִישָׁלוֹם" (מ"א טו ב-י), "וְשֵׁם אִמּוֹ עֲזוּבָה בַּת שִׁלְחִי" (דהי"ב כ לא), וְכֵן כֻּלָּם, אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה פּוּטִיאֵל נִכְבָּד וְיָדוּעַ בְּדוֹרוֹ וְהִזְכִּירוֹ לִשְׁבָח. וְאָמַר הַכָּתוּב מִבְּנוֹת פּוּטִיאֵל, וְלֹא אָמַר "בַּת פּוּטִיאֵל", כִּי הָיוּ לוֹ בָּנוֹת רַבּוֹת וְהוּא בָּחַר מֵהֶן הָאַחַת, אוֹ שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה בִּתּוֹ אֲבָל בַּת בִּתּוֹ, מִתְיַחֶסֶת אֵלָיו לְמַעֲלָתוֹ, וְעַל כֵּן לֹא הִזְכִּיר שְׁמָהּ:
1AND AARON TOOK HIMSELF ELISHEBA, THE DAUGHTER OF AMMINADAB, THE SISTER OF NACHSHON TO WIFE. Just as Scripture mentioned the mother of the prophets, [namely, Jochebed],82 in their honor, saying that she was the daughter of Levi, a righteous man, and alluding to the fact that a miracle occurred to her,83 it also mentioned the mother of priesthood, i.e., that she was related to the seed of royalty, being the sister of the great prince [Nachshon of the tribe of Judah].Scripture mentioned the mother of Phinehas,84. for he too was a priest, a reward which he earned himself.85 Now if this name Putiel — [Phinehas’ maternal grandfather] — is a proper name, it is not clear why Scripture [suddenly] mentions the name of a person whose identity we do not know. It is for this reason that our Rabbis have said86 that Phinehas was of the family of Joseph, who conquered his passion,87 (conquered) is suggested by the name Putiel. and of the family of Jethro, who fattened88 (fattened) is also suggested by the name Putiel. Phinehas was thus descended on his mother’s side not only from Joseph but from Jethro also. calves for idolatrous sacrifice, and he is mentioned for praise [here together with Aaron and his sons], who for their righteousness were worthy to be endowed with everlasting priesthood.In line with the plain meaning of Scripture, we will say [that the mothers of Moses and Aaron, of Aaron’s sons, and of Phinehas are mentioned here because] in the case of kings, it is the customary way of Scripture to mention the names of their mothers: And his mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom;89 And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi;90 and so in all cases. It may be that [Scripture does not relate more about Putiel because] he was an honorable and known person in his generation, and it [sufficed just to] mention him in praise.Scripture says, of the daughters of Putiel,84. and not “the daughter of Putiel,” because Putiel had many daughters and Eleazar chose one of them. It may be that she was not his daughter but his daughter’s daughter who related herself to him on account of his distinction, and therefore Scripture did not mention her name.