Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Genesis 30:41/רמב"ן על בראשית ל׳:מ״א
אהַצֹּאן הַמְּקֻשָּׁרוֹת הַנָּכוֹן בְּעֵינַי בַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה שֶׁהֵם הַצֹּאן אֲשֶׁר הַזְּכָרִים מֵהֶם הוֹלְכִים אַחַר הַנְּקֵבוֹת בְּכָל עֵת, לֹא יִתְפָּרְדוּ מֵהֶם לְרֹב תַּאֲוָתָם, מִלְּשׁוֹן "וְנַפְשׁוֹ קְשׁוּרָה בְנַפְשׁוֹ" (בראשית מ"ד:ל'). וּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים כֵּן הוּא (בכורות כד), חֲזִיר כָּרוּךְ אַחַר רָחֵל, בִּכְרוּכִין אַחֲרֶיהָ (קדושין עט). וְיִקָּרְאוּ הַנּוֹלָדִים בָּעֵת הַהִיא "הַקְּשׁוּרִים" עַל שֵׁם אֲבִיהֶם. וְרַבִּים אָמְרוּ כִּי קְשׁוּרִים הֵם הַחֲזָקִים, אֲשֶׁר אֵיבְרֵיהֶם קְשׁוּרִים זֶה בָּזֶה קֶשֶׁר אַמִּיץ, כִּי זֶה סִבַּת הַבְּרִיאוּת, וְהָעֲטוּפִים הֵם הַחֲלוּשִׁים אֲשֶׁר נַפְשָׁם בָּהֶם תִּתְעַטָּף וְאֵין לָהֶם תַּאֲוָה, מִלְּשׁוֹן "הָעֲטוּפִים בְּרָעָב" (איכה ב יט). וְהַתַּרְגּוּם אָמַר "בַּכִּירַיָּא וְלַקִּישַׁיָּא", כִּי כֵן הַדָּבָר:
1THE FLOCKS ‘HAMEKUSHAROTH.’ The correct interpretation of this expression appears to me to be that they are the flocks in which the males follow the females at all times, never leaving them due to their abundant desire, as in the expression, Seeing that his soul is ‘keshurah’ (bound up) with the lad’s soul.170 This is also found in the language of our Sages: “a swine karuch (clinging) to a ewe;”171 “clinging to her.”172 And the offspring born at that time are called hakeshurim after the name of their father.But many authorities say173 that keshurim are “the strong ones” whose limbs are firmly attached to each other with a strong tie, as this is the basis of health, while atuphim165 are “the weak ones” whose soul ‘tithataph’ (fainted) in them,174 and who have no desire, as in the expression, ‘ha’atuphim’ (that faint) for hunger.175 Onkelos translated hamekusharoth as the early-bearing sheep, and atuphim as the late-bearing ones, for such is the fact: [the early-bearing sheep are the stronger ones, and the late-bearing ones are weaker].