Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Genesis 4:3/רמב"ן על בראשית ד׳:ג׳

אוַיָּבֵא קַיִן מִפְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה מִנְחָה לַה' וְהֶבֶל הֵבִיא גַם הוּא הֵבִינוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה סוֹד גָּדוֹל מֵהַקָּרְבָּנוֹת וְהַמְּנָחוֹת, וְכֵן נֹחַ, וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ (ע"ז ח) שֶׁגַּם אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן הִקְרִיב שׁוֹר פָּר. וְזֶה יַחְסֹם פִּי הַמַּבְהִילִים בְּטַעַם הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. וְעוֹד אֶרְמֹז בּוֹ עִקָּר גָּדוֹל בִּרְצוֹן הקב"ה (עיין ויקרא א ט):

1AND CAIN BROUGHT OF THE FRUIT OF THE GROUND AN OFFERING UNTO THE ETERNAL. 4. AND ABEL, HE ALSO BROUGHT. These men [Cain and Abel] understood the great secret of the sacrifices and the meal-offerings. So also did Noah, [who likewise offered sacrifices].⁴²¹ Our Rabbis have said that the first man also sacrificed a bullock.⁴²² This should close the mouth of those who speak foolishness⁴²³ concerning the reason of the sacrifices. I will yet intimate a great principle concerning this matter with the will of the Holy One, blessed be He.⁴²⁴