Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Numbers 10:6/רמב"ן על במדבר י׳:ו׳

אוְנָסְעוּ הַמַּחֲנוֹת הַחֹנִים תֵּימָנָה – פֵּרֵשׁ הַכָּתוּב שְׁתֵּי תְּרוּעוֹת: הָרִאשׁוֹנָה לְמַסַּע מַחֲנוֹת הַמִּזְרָח (במדבר י׳:ה׳), וְהַשֵּׁנִית לְמַסַּע מַחֲנוֹת הַדָּרוֹם. וְאָמַר תְּרוּעָה יִתְקְעוּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶם – שֶׁיִּתְקְעוּ כֵן לְכָל מַסְעֵיהֶם, לוֹמַר שֶׁיִּתְקְעוּ תְּרוּעָה שְׁלִישִׁית לְמַסַּע הַמַּחֲנוֹת הַחוֹנִים יָמָּה, וּרְבִיעִית לְמַסַּע הַחוֹנִים צָפוֹנָה, כִּי לְכָל דֶּגֶל מַסָּע בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר יְפָרֵשׁ "וְנָסַע דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי אֶפְרַיִם" (במדבר י׳:כ״ב) "וְנָסַע דֶּגֶל מַחֲנֵה בְנֵי דָן" (במדבר י׳:כ״ה). וְכָךְ הִיא שְׁנוּיָה בַּבָּרַיְתָא שֶׁל מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן (פרק יג). אֲבָל בְּסִפְרֵי (בהעלתך עג) שָׁנוּ: אִי כְּשֵׁם שֶׁתּוֹקֵעַ לַמִּזְרָח וְלַדָּרוֹם כָּךְ תּוֹקֵעַ לַמַּעֲרָב וְלַצָּפוֹן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר תְּרוּעָה יִתְקְעוּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶם – תְּקִיעָה אַחַת לִשְׁתֵּיהֶן, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שָׁלֹשׁ לְכָל רוּחַ וְרוּחַ, עַד כָּאן. וְכֵן הוּא פְּשׁוּטוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא בֶּאֱמֶת שֶׁיִּתְקְעוּ לְכָל רוּחַ כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי:

1AND THE CAMPS THAT LIE ON THE SOUTH SIDE SHALL SET FORWARD. Scripture explained the purpose of the two t’ruoth,¹⁰² is a succession of nine tremulous or quavering sounds. A t’kiah is a continuous plain sound. The sh’varim are broken disconnected sounds, but they are not as broken as those of the t’ruah. The three broken sounds of the sh’varim are equal [in length of time] to the nine quavering sounds of the t’ruah. the first one being [the sign] for those encamped eastward to go forward, and the second one for those encamped southward to set out on the journey. And it states [in the verse before us], a ‘t’ruah’¹⁰² is a succession of nine tremulous or quavering sounds. A t’kiah is a continuous plain sound. The sh’varim are broken disconnected sounds, but they are not as broken as those of the t’ruah. The three broken sounds of the sh’varim are equal [in length of time] to the nine quavering sounds of the t’ruah. they shall blow for their journeys, meaning that they should blow [this quavering alarm] for all their journeys, that is to say, they should blow a third t’ruah for the camps on the west side to set forth, and a fourth one for the camps on the north side to set out on the journey, for each standard journeyed by itself, as He explains: And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward;¹⁰³ And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward.¹⁰⁴, Verse 25. And thus it is taught in the Beraitha of the Work of the Tabernacle.¹⁰⁵, Chapter 13. But in the Sifre the Rabbis have taught:¹⁰⁶ 73. “I might think that just as he blows for the camps in the east and the south to set forward [as Scripture clearly explains], so he is to blow for [those that were encamped in] the west and the north; Scripture therefore states [in the verse before us], a ‘t’ruah’ they shall blow for their journeys, that is, one blowing for the two [remaining standards]. And some Rabbis say that there were three [sounds, i.e., t’kiah, t’ruah, t’kiah]¹⁰² is a succession of nine tremulous or quavering sounds. A t’kiah is a continuous plain sound. The sh’varim are broken disconnected sounds, but they are not as broken as those of the t’ruah. The three broken sounds of the sh’varim are equal [in length of time] to the nine quavering sounds of the t’ruah. for [the camps in] each and every direction.” Thus far [the language of the Sifre], and such indeed is the plain meaning of Scripture, that they should blow [for the camps] in each direction, as I have explained.

בתְּרוּעָה יִתְקְעוּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶם – כְּבָר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּסֵדֶר אֱמֹר אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים (ויקרא כג כד) כִּי הַתְּרוּעָה רֶמֶז לְמִדַּת הַדִּין, כִּי כֵן כָּתוּב בַּמַּסָּעוֹת: ״עַל פִּי ה' בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה״ (במדבר ט׳:כ״ג), וְהִיא הַמְנַצַּחַת בַּמִּלְחָמָה. וְכָתוּב: ״וְכִי תָבֹאוּ מִלְחָמָה בְּאַרְצְכֶם וְגוֹ' וַהֲרֵעֹתֶם״ (במדבר י׳:ט׳), וְעַל כֵּן אָמַר מֹשֶׁה: ״וְיָנֻסוּ מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ מִפָּנֶיךָ״ (במדבר י׳:ל״ה). וּכְבָר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי סוֹד הַפָּנִים בַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת (שמות כ ג). וְכֵן תִּרְאֶה כִּי חוֹמַת יְרִיחוֹ נָפְלָה בִּתְרוּעָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״עַד יוֹם אָמְרִי לָכֶם הָרִיעוּ וַהֲרֵעֹתֶם״ (יהושע ו י), וּכְתִיב: ״וַיָּרִיעוּ הָעָם תְּרוּעָה גְדוֹלָה וַתִּפֹּל הַחוֹמָה״ (שם פסוק כ), וְלָכֵן הָיְתָה חֵרֶם. וּבְהַקְהִיל אֶת הַקָּהָל רְאוּיִים לִתְקִיעָה, כִּי הַפְּשׁוּטָה רֶמֶז לְמִדַּת רַחֲמִים, כִּי יְמִינוֹ פְּשׁוּטָה לְקַבֵּל שָׁבִים. עַל כֵּן יֹאמַר בְּנֻחֹה: ״שׁוּבָה ה' רִבְבוֹת אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״ (במדבר י׳:ל״ו). וְכָתוּב: ״וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶם וּבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם וּתְקַעְתֶּם״ (במדבר י׳:י׳), כִּי הַמִּלְחָמָה לִתְרוּעָה וְהַמּוֹעֲדִים וְהַשִּׂמְחָה לְרַחֲמִים. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ (ר״ה לג) הֶעְתִּיקוּ, פְּשׁוּטָה לְפָנֶיהָ וּפְשׁוּטָה לְאַחֲרֶיהָ וּתְרוּעָה בָּאֶמְצַע, שֶׁלֹּא יְקַצֵּץ בַּנְּטִיעוֹת בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים וְעַל הַקָּרְבָּן. אֲבָל הַכַּוָּנָה זוֹ לִתְקִיעָה וְזוֹ לִתְרוּעָה, וְהַמַּשְׂכִּיל יָבִין:

2A ‘T’RUAH’ THEY SHALL BLOW FOR THEIR JOURNEYS. I have already explained in Seder ‘Emor El Hakohanim’ (Speak unto the priests)¹⁰⁷, 23:24. that the t’ruah alludes to the [Divine] attribute of justice, for so it is written concerning the journeyings that they were ‘al pi Hashem’ (at the commandment of the Eternal) by the hand of Moses,¹⁰⁸ alludes to the attribute of justice (Abusaula). and it is that [attribute] which brings victory in war, as it is written, And when ye go to war in your land … ‘vahareiothem’ (ye shall sound a ‘t’ruah’).¹⁰⁹ Therefore Moses said, and let them that hate Thee flee ‘mipanecha’ (before Thee),¹¹⁰, Verse 35. Literally: “from before Thy face.” and I have already explained the secret of the panim (face) in the Ten Commandments.¹¹¹ And similarly you see that the wall of Jericho fell to the sound of a t’ruah, for it is written, Ye shall not shout … until the day I bid you ‘hari’u’ (sound a ‘t’ruah’); ‘vahari’othem’ (then shall you sound it),¹¹² and it is written, and the people sounded a great ‘t’ruah,’ and the wall fell down.¹¹³, Verse 20. It was for this reason that it [the city of Jericho] was declared cheirem (devoted) [to the Eternal, and prohibited for private use.].¹¹⁴, Verse 17. But when the assembly is to be gathered together ‘tithke’u’¹¹⁵ — they are deserving that the t’kiah¹⁰² is a succession of nine tremulous or quavering sounds. A t’kiah is a continuous plain sound. The sh’varim are broken disconnected sounds, but they are not as broken as those of the t’ruah. The three broken sounds of the sh’varim are equal [in length of time] to the nine quavering sounds of the t’ruah. be sounded, for the ‘p’shutah’ [plain long and continuous sound] alludes to the [Divine] attribute of mercy, for “His right hand is p’shutah (stretched out) to receive the penitent” [as it is stated at the Closing Service on the Day of Atonement — a time of mercy]. Therefore, when the ark rested, Moses said, ‘Return, O Eternal, unto the myriads of thousands of Israel.’¹¹⁶ And it is written, And in the day of your gladness and in your appointed seasons … ‘uthkatem’ (ye shall blow a ‘t’kiah’),¹¹⁷, Verse 10. since war is [suitable] for t’ruah [which alludes to the attribute of justice, as explained above], and the appointed seasons and joyous occasions are for mercy [i.e., for the sound of t’kiah, which alludes to mercy].¹¹⁸ And our Rabbis have received by tradition that there should be a long continuous sound before [the t’ruah] and a long continuous sound after it and the t’ruah in the middle, on the New Year, the Day of Atonement [of the Jubilee year],¹¹⁹ and at the bringing of the offerings,¹²⁰ in order not “to mutilate the shoots” [of faith]. But as far as their purpose is concerned, the one is for t’kiah [which alludes to mercy] and the other for t’ruah [which alludes to judgment].¹¹⁸ The student learned [in the mystic lore of the Cabala] will understand.