Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Genesis 37:36/רמב"ן על בראשית ל״ז:ל״ו
אשַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים שׁוֹחֲטֵי בְּהֵמוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ, לְשׁוֹן רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על בראשית ל"ז:ל"ו). וְכֵן "וַיָּרֶם הַטַּבָּח" (שמואל א ט כד), "לְרַקָּחוֹת וּלְטַבָּחוֹת" (שם ח יג). אֲבָל יוֹתֵר קָרוֹב דַּעַת אוּנְקְלוֹס (תרגום אונקלוס על בראשית ל"ז:ל"ו), בַּעֲבוּר הֱיוֹת בֵּית הַסֹּהַר בְּבֵיתוֹ, וּמָצִינוּ טְבִיחָה לַהֲרִיגַת הָאֲנָשִׁים, "הָכִינוּ לְבָנָיו מַטְבֵּחַ" (ישעיהו יד כא) "טָבַחְתָּ וְלֹא חָמָלְתָּ" (איכה ב כא), וּרְאָיָה לַדָּבָר הַכָּתוּב בְּדָנִיֵּאל (ב יד) "לְאַרְיוֹךְ רַב טַבָּחַיָּא דִּי מַלְכָּא דִּי נְפַק לְקַטָּלָא לְחַכִּימֵי בָּבֶל":
1OFFICER OF ‘HATABACHIM.’ This means the slaughterers of the king’s animals. This is the language of Rashi. Similarly, it says, And the ‘tabach’ (cook) took up the thigh;102 For perfumers and for cooks (‘tabachoth’).103, 8:13.Closer to the meaning of the word hatabachim is the opinion of Onkelos who says that since the prison house was under his charge, [he was called the officer of the tabachim, since] we find the word t’vichah in connection with the killing of people. Prepare ye the slaughter (‘matbiach’) for his children;104 Thou hast slaughtered (‘tavachta’) unsparingly.105 The verse in the book of Daniel is proof of the validity of Onkelos’ interpretation: To Arioch the captain of ‘tabachaya’ of the king, who was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon.106 or tabachim is thus clearly associated with the slaying of people. See my Hebrew commentary, Note 77, pp. 211-212.