Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Genesis 45:24/רמב"ן על בראשית מ״ה:כ״ד
אאַל תִּרְגְּזוּ בַּדָּרֶךְ עִנְיַן רֹגֶז לְשׁוֹן רְתֵת וּתְנוּעָה, וְיֵאָמֵר בְּבֹאוֹ מִן הַפַּחַד עַל הָרֹב, "לֵב רַגָּז" (דברים כח סה), "וְרָגְזוּ וְחָלוּ" (שם ב כה), "וְתַחְתַּי אַרְגָּז" (חבקוק ג טז), "וּמֵימֶיךָ בְּרָגְזָה וּבִדְאָגָה תִּשְׁתֶּה" (יחזקאל יב יח), וְלָכֵן הַנָּכוֹן בְּעֵינַי בַּפָּסוּק הַזֶּה שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם יוֹסֵף אַל תִּפְחֲדוּ בַּדֶּרֶךְ. וְהָעִנְיָן, כִּי בַּעֲבוּר נָשְׂאָם בָּר וָלֶחֶם וּמָזוֹן וְטוּב מִצְרָיִם בִּימֵי הַבַּצָּרוֹת, יִפְחֲדוּ אוּלַי בַּדֶּרֶךְ בְּלֶכְתָּם יָבוֹאוּ עֲלֵיהֶם לִסְטִים, וְכָל שֶׁכֵּן בְּשׁוּבָם עִם כָּל רְכוּשָׁם, וְלֹא יְמַהֲרוּ לַדָּבָר. וְלָכֵן אָמַר לָהֶם שֶׁיֵּלְכוּ בִּזְרִיזוּת וִימַהֲרוּ לָבֹא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מ"ה:ט') "מַהֲרוּ וַעֲלוּ אֶל אָבִי", וְאַל יִפְחֲדוּ כְּלָל בַּדֶּרֶךְ כִּי שְׁמוֹ עֲלֵיהֶם, שֶׁהוּא הַמּוֹשֵׁל בְּכָל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם וְחַיֵּי כָּל הָאֲרָצוֹת הָהֵם בְּיָדוֹ וּמִמּוֹרָאוֹ יִירְאוּ הַכֹּל, וְיֵלְכוּ וְיָבֹאוּ לְשָׁלוֹם:
1DO NOT ‘TIRG’ZU’ BY THE WAY. Rogez is an expression of trembling and movement, and is usually applied when the trembling is a result of fear, as for example, a heart ‘ragaz’ (that is trembling);57 ‘V’ragzu’ (and they shall tremble), and be in anguish;58, 2:25. And where I stand ‘ergaz’ (I tremble);59 And drink thy water ‘b’ragzah’ (with trembling) and with anxiety.60 Therefore, the correct interpretation of this verse is, in my opinion, that Joseph said to them, “Do not fear by the way,” and the purport thereof is that since they were carrying corn and bread and sustenance61 and the best of Egypt in the days of the famine, they might fear lest robbers attack them while they travelled on their journey to Canaan, and the moreso when they return to Egypt with all their possessions, and thus they will not hasten the matter.62 Therefore he told them that they should go quickly and hurry to come there, as it is said, Hasten ye, and go up to my father,38 and they should have no fear at all on the way as his name is upon them. Since he is the ruler of the entire land of Egypt, and the lives of the peoples of those countries are in his hand, and all are fearful of his awe, they will travel and arrive in peace.