Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Genesis 30:30/רמב"ן על בראשית ל׳:ל׳
אאֶעֱשֶׂה גַם אָנֹכִי לְבֵיתִי עַכְשָׁו אֵין עוֹשִׂין לְצָרְכִּי אֶלָּא בָּנַי וְצָרִיךְ אֲנִי לִהְיוֹת עוֹשֶׂה עִמָּהֶם לְסָמְכָן, וְזֶהוּ גַּם לְשׁוֹן רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על בראשית ל':ל'). וְלֹא מָצָאנוּ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לְיַעֲקֹב צֹאן, וְלֹא שֶׁיִּרְעוּ אוֹתָן בָּנָיו הַקְּטַנִּים, וְהַגָּדוֹל שֶׁבָּהֶם בֶּן שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים אוֹ פָּחוֹת, כִּי לָבָן יִתָּכֵן שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ בָּנִים קְטַנִּים מֵרָחֵל בְּטֶרֶם בֹּא יַעֲקֹב, וְעַתָּה הֵם רְאוּיִים לִרְעוֹת הַצֹּאן. וְאוּלַי עַל נָשָׁיו וְעַל עֲבָדָיו אָמַר שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹשִׂים לוֹ בַּמְּלָאכָה. וְאֵין כָּל זֶה נָכוֹן, אֲבָל פֵּרוּשׁ "מָתַי אֶעֱשֶׂה גַם אָנֹכִי לְבֵיתִי", מָתַי אֶעֱשֶׂה אָנֹכִי גַּם לְבֵיתִי כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשִׂיתִי גַּם לְבֵיתְךָ. וְכֵן "וַיֶּאֱהַב גַּם אֶת רָחֵל מִלֵּאָה" (בראשית כ"ט:ל'), וְגַם אָהַב אֶת רָחֵל מִלֵּאָה, וְכֵן "גַּם אֹתְכָה הָרַגְתִּי" (במדבר כב לג), גַּם הָרַגְתִּי אוֹתְךָ, וְרַבִּים כֵּן:
1WHEN SHALL I PROVIDE ‘GAM’ (ALSO) FOR MINE OWN HOUSE? “At present, my sons alone provide for my needs, but I also ought to work together with them and assist them.” This is the force of the word gam (also). These are Rashi’s words. But we do not find that Jacob had his own sheep, nor do we find mentioned anywhere that his young children — the oldest of whom was six years or less — tended them. It was possible that before Jacob came, Laban had children younger than Rachel156 [Jacob] heard the words of Laban’s sons, (further, 31:1). We must say that these sons were born to him after Jacob came. and now they were fit to tend the flock. [However, Jacob’s children were still very young.] Perhaps Jacob referred to his wives and servants, who he said did his work for him. But all this is not correct. The meaning of, When shall I provide also for mine house? is: “When shall I provide for my house just as I have also done for your house.” Similarly, And he loved also Rachel from Leah,157 means “And he loved Rachel also more than he loved Leah.” And similarly, Also thee I would have slain,158 means “Also I would have slain thee.” And there are many other such verses.