Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Genesis 49:3/רמב"ן על בראשית מ״ט:ג׳
ארְאוּבֵן בְּכוֹרִי אַתָּה שִׁעוּר הַפָּסוּק הַזֶּה, רְאוּבֵן אַתָּה בְּכוֹרִי וְכֹחִי וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי, יֶתֶר שְׂאֵתִי וְיֶתֶר עֻזִּי. וְעִנְיָנוֹ, אַתָּה בְּכוֹר כֹּחִי וְרֵאשִׁית אוֹנִי בִּהְיוֹתִי בְּיִתְרוֹן שְׂאֵת וּמַעֲלָה, כִּלְשׁוֹן "הֲלֹא שְׂאֵתוֹ תְּבַעֵת אֶתְכֶם" (איוב יג יא), "מִשְּׂאֵתוֹ יָגוּרוּ אֵלִים" (שם מא יז), רוֹמְמוּת וּגְדֻלָּה, וּבִהְיוֹתוֹ יִתְרוֹן עֹז לְמִלְחָמָה, כְּמוֹ "וְיִתֶּן עֹז לְמַלְכּוֹ" (שמואל א ב י), וֶעֱזוּז מִלְחָמָה (ישעיהו מב כה):
1REUBEN MY FIRSTBORN THOU ART.75. Ramban will transpose the order of the words for the purpose of deriving the meaning of the verse. The sequence of this verse is, “Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the first-fruits of my strength, the excellence of majesty, and the excellence of power,” and its purport is as follows: “You are the first-born of my might and the first-fruits of my strength when I was the excellence of majesty (se’eith) and position” — the expression being similar to that found in the verses: Shall not his excellency (‘se’eitho’) make you afraid?76 When he raiseth himself up (‘mise’eitho’) the mighty are afraid,77, 41:17. ‘mise’eitho’ meaning ascendancy and power — “and when I was at the height of strength (oz) for war” — the expression being similar to that found in the verses: And He will give strength (‘oz’) unto His king;78 And the strength (‘ve’izuz’) of battle.79