Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Leviticus 11:1/רמב"ן על ויקרא י״א:א׳

אאֶל מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל אַהֲרֹן וְגוֹ' דַּבְּרוּ אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - הַמִּצְוֹת בַּפָּרָשִׁיּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה (יא א-מז) נוֹהֲגוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבַכֹּהֲנִים, אֲבָל עִנְיָנָם מְרֻבֶּה בַּכֹּהֲנִים. כִּי הֵם צְרִיכִים לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּר תָּמִיד מִנְּגִיעַת הַטֻּמְאָה בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁיִּצְטָרְכוּ לָבֹא בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ וְלֶאֱכֹל הַקֳּדָשִׁים. וְעוֹד, כִּי אִם שָׁגְגוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּהֶם חַיָּבִין לְהָבִיא עֲלֵיהֶם קָרְבָּן שֶׁיַּקְרִיבוּהוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים. וְעוֹד שֶׁצִּוָּה אוֹתָם "וּלְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין הַקֹּדֶשׁ וּבֵין הַחֹל וּבֵין הַטָּמֵא וּבֵין הַטָּהוֹר" (ויקרא י':י'). וְהִנֵּה הֵם צְרִיכִים לְהוֹרוֹת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל הַטָּמֵא וְהַטָּהוֹר שֶׁיִּזָּהֲרוּ בָּהֶם. עַל כֵּן הָיָה הַדִּבּוּר הַזֶּה אֶל מֹשֶׁה וְאֶל אַהֲרֹן שְׁנֵיהֶם, אוֹ לְמֹשֶׁה שֶׁיֹּאמַר לְאַהֲרֹן, וְצִוָּה לִשְׁנֵיהֶם "דַּבְּרוּ אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל". וּלְכָךְ נֶאֶמְרוּ בְּסֵפֶר תּוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים. וְיַזְהִיר בַּפָּרָשָׁה בַּאֲכִילָה וּבְטֻמְאָה שֶׁלֹּא יְטַמְּאוּ הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְקָדָשָׁיו.
1AND THE ETERNAL SPOKE UNTO MOSES AND TO AARON, SAYING UNTO THEM: 2. SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. The commandments [mentioned] in these sections apply to both Israelites and the priests, but their subject-matter affects mostly the priests, for they must always guard themselves from touching impure objects, since they have to come into the Sanctuary and eat the hallowed food [which they may not do when they are impure]. Moreover, when an Israelite errs in these matters, he has to bring an offering [to effect atonement for his transgression],149 which the priests offer up. Furthermore, He commanded them, And that ye may put difference between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;150, etc. thus they must instruct Israel concerning the impure and the pure so that they can be careful of them. It was for this reason that the communication about these laws came to both Moses and Aaron, or to Moses to say to Aaron, commanding both of them, speak unto the children of Israel, and this is the reason why these laws were said in the Book of the Laws of the Priests [i.e., this Book of Leviticus]. In this section He also warns against eating impure foods, so as not to defile the Tabernacle and its hallowed things.