Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Leviticus 23:27/רמב"ן על ויקרא כ״ג:כ״ז

אאַךְ בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ כָּל אַכִין וְרַקִּין שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה מִעוּטִין (ר"ה יז סנהדרין מט), מְכַפֵּר הוּא עַל הַשָּׁבִים וְאֵינוֹ מְכַפֵּר עַל שֶׁאֵינָן שָׁבִים, לְשׁוֹן רַשִׁ"י (רש"י על ויקרא כ"ג:כ"ז) מִדִּבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ (בת"כ כאן שבועות יג). וְאִם כֵּן יִהְיֶה טַעַם הַכָּתוּב כִּי בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם לְכֻלְּכֶם יוֹם זִכְרוֹן תְּרוּעָה, שֶׁתִּהְיוּ כֻּלְּכֶם נִדּוֹנִין לְפָנָיו, אַךְ יִהְיֶה לְמִקְצַתְכֶם בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. וְהִנֵּה הוּא כְּטַעַם "בִּלְבַד", וְכֵן "שָׂא נָא חַטָּאתִי אַךְ הַפַּעַם" (שמות י יז), וְכֵן "הֲרַק אַךְ בְּמֹשֶׁה" (במדבר יב ב) הַבִּלְבַד בְּמֹשֶׁה, וְכֵן "אַךְ בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי" (ויקרא כ"ג:ל"ט), יֹאמַר בִּלְבַד בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר תָּחֹגּוּ אֶת חַג ה' שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, לֹא רְצוּפִים, שֶׁאֵין חֲגִיגָה דּוֹחָה שַׁבָּת. וּבַדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה תְּפָרְשֶׁנּוּ בְּכָל הַמִּצְוֹת כְּפִי קַבָּלַת רַבּוֹתֵינוּ. וְכָמוֹהוּ "אַךְ טָרֹף טֹרָף" (בראשית מד כח), שֶׁלֹּא נַעֲשָׂה בּוֹ עִנְיָן אַחֵר לְבַד הַטֶּרֶף. וְכֵן "כִּי הָיוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבְנֵי יְהוּדָה אַךְ עֹשִׂים הָרַע בְּעֵינַי מִנְּעֻרֹתֵיהֶם כִּי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אַךְ מַכְעִסִים אֹתִי" (ירמיהו לב ל), שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשׂוּ דָּבָר אַחֵר. וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ הַפְּשָׁט "אַךְ" טַעְמוֹ "אָכֵן", לְאַמֵּת הָעִנְיָן, "אָכֵן נוֹדַע הַדָּבָר" (שמות יב יד), "אָכֵן כְּאָדָם תְּמֻתוּן" (תהלים פב ז), אָכֵן בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הוּא, הַבְטָחָה בַּאֲמִתַּת הָעִנְיָן, יֹאמַר בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ יוֹם הַדִּין, אָמְנָם בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ יוֹם כִּפּוּרִים עַל כֵּן תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם וְכָל מְלָאכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ. וְכֵן "אַךְ עַצְמִי וּבְשָׂרִי אָתָּה" (בראשית כט יד), "אַךְ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא" (מלכים א כב לב), "אַךְ טוֹב לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֱלֹהִים לְבָרֵי לֵבָב" (תהלים עג א). וְכֵן פֵּרוּשׁ "אַךְ אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ" (שמות לא יב) הִנֵּה צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, אָכֵן אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ לְעוֹלָם. וְכֵן כֻּלָּם יִתְפָּרְשׁוּ לְךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה אִם תַּשְׂכִּיל בָּהֶם:

1ACH’ (BUT) ON THE TENTH DAY OF THIS SEVENTH MONTH IS THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. “All expressions in the Torah of ach (but) and rak (only) indicate limiting qualifications, [and here the word ach indicates that the Day of Atonement] effects atonement ‘only’ for those who repent, but it does not effect atonement for those who do not repent.” This is Rashi’s language on the basis of the words of our Rabbis.³⁷⁵ And if so, the explanation of the verse is that on the first day of this month [Tishri] there will be for all of you a day of memorial of ‘t’ruah³⁷⁶ [a blowing of the quavering sound which signifies judgment], for you will all be judged then before Him, but for some of you [i.e., those who repent] there will be on the tenth day of this month a day of atonement. Thus the meaning of the word ach is like that of bilvad (“only,” “alone”). Similarly, Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my son ‘ach’ (only) this once.³⁷⁷ So also, ‘harak ach b’Moshe’³⁷⁸ means “has He indeed spoken ‘only’ with Moses?” Likewise, ‘Ach’ on the fifteenth day of the seventh month³⁷⁹ means “only on the fifteenth day [of Tishri] ye shall keep the feast of the Eternal seven days,³⁷⁹ not consecutively,” for the Festival-offering [brought by the individual]³⁸⁰ does not override the Sabbath [and therefore it cannot mean seven days consecutively]. In the same way you are to explain [the word ach] in all the commandments, in accordance with the tradition of our Rabbis. Similarly, ‘ach’ he is torn in pieces³⁸¹ means [that Jacob said] that nothing else [could have happened to Joseph] except that he was torn in pieces. So also, For the children of Israel and the children of Judah ‘ach’ have done that which was evil in My sight from their youth; for the children of Israel have ‘ach’ provoked Me,³⁸² means that they have done nothing else.But by way of the plain meaning of Scripture the word ach means achein (“surely”), [a word which is used] to authenticate something, [as in the following expressions]: ‘achein’ (surely) the thing is known;³⁸³ ‘achein’ (surely) ye shall die like men.³⁸⁴ And here it means, “Surely on the tenth day of the seventh month is the day of atonement,” the expression constituting a [Divine] assurance on the authenticity of the matter, Scripture stating: “On the first day of the month is the day of judgment, but indeed on the tenth of the month is the day of atonement, therefore you shall afflict your souls, and you shall do no manner of work.” Similarly, ‘ach’ (surely) thou art my bone and my flesh;³⁸⁵ ‘ach’ (surely) it is the king of Israel;³⁸⁶ ‘ach’ (surely) G-d is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.³⁸⁷ So also is the meaning of the verse, ‘ach’ ye shall keep My Sabbaths³⁸⁸ which declares: “Now I have commanded you concerning the work of the Tabernacle, but surely My Sabbaths you shall keep forever.” So also in all cases [where the word ach is mentioned] it may be explained to you in this way, if you will understand them.