Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Genesis 31:43/רמב"ן על בראשית ל״א:מ״ג

אוְלִבְנֹתַי מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לָאֵלֶּה הַיּוֹם אָמְרוּ (הראב"ע והרד"ק) שֶׁהוּא כְּמוֹ וְלִבְנוֹתַי מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לָהֶן הַיּוֹם, וְהִיא תּוֹסֶפֶת בֵּאוּר. וְכֵן "אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְנוּ שְׁנֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ" (שמואל א כ מב), "בָּנֵינוּ וּבְנֹתֵינוּ אֲנַחְנוּ" (נחמיה ה ב). וְיוֹתֵר נָכוֹן נִרְאֶה שֶׁהוּא דֶּרֶךְ חֶמְלָה, וְלִבְנֹתַי מָה אֶעֱשֶׂה לָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר לְפָנַי כִּי נִכְמְרוּ רַחֲמַי עֲלֵיהֶן, אוֹ לִבְנֵיהֶן הַנּוֹלָדִים בְּבֵיתִי וְהֵם לִי כְּבָנַי, וְזֶה טַעַם "אֲשֶׁר יָלָדוּ". וְאָמַר זֶה כְּמִתְנַצֵּל עַל דִּבְרֵי יַעֲקֹב, כִּי בָּאתִי אַחֲרֶיךָ לִרְאוֹת בְּנוֹתַי וּמָה אוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת לָהֶם טוֹבָה אוֹ לִבְנֵיהֶם, וְעַתָּה אֵיטִיב לָהֶן שֶׁתִּכְרֹת לִי בְּרִית שֶׁלֹּא תְּעַנֶּה אוֹתָן וְלֹא תִּקַּח עֲלֵיהֶן נָשִׁים:

1AND TO MY DAUGHTERS, WHAT CAN I DO TO THESE TODAY? Commentators have said²³⁶ that it is as if it were written, “And to my daughters, what could I do to them today?” and the word “them” constitutes additional clarification. Likewise, As we both of us have sworn,²³⁷ [the word “we” serving as additional clarification]; We, our sons and our daughters,²³⁸ [the word “we” is here too mentioned for the greater clarity].But it appears to be more correct that this is said in a compassionate way: “And to my daughters, what can I do to these who are before me, for I am deeply stirred for them, or unto their children, who have been born in my house, and they are to me as my children?” This is also the meaning of whom they have borne. Laban thus said this as if defending himself against Jacob’s words by claiming: “I have come after you to see my daughters, and to determine what favor I can do for them or their children. Now I can do them this good by seeing that you make me a covenant that you will not afflict them and will take no other wives in addition to them.”²³⁹