CHESHVAN ย Genesis 10:21ย (Genealogy of Noahโs sons)
(and see: CHESHVAN supplement GENESIS 5:32; GEN 6:10; GEN 10:2; + GEN 11:10
and the additional, related syntactic ambiguity: CHESHVAN: a related syntactic ambiguity: ย Gen 9:22-25)
ืึผืึฐืฉืึตึฅื ืึปืึผึทึื ืึผึทื ืึืึผื ืึฒืึดืึ ืึผึธื ืึผึฐื ึตื ืขึตึืึถืจ ืึฒืึดึื ืึถึฅืคึถืช ืึทืึผึธืึฝืึนืื
https://www.anticswiss.com/en/fine-art-antiques/the-sacrifice-of-noah-20585
The month of Cheshvan is the first of the rainy winter months in the Land of Israel. Although this month does not have any formal Jewish holidays,[1]ย there is a special date in this month that holds liturgical significance outside of the land of Israel. The addition of the words ืืชื ืื ืืืืจย into the Amidah prayer begins in the land of Israel on the 7th of Cheshvan. According to Jewish tradition, the Flood that is described in Genesis 6-9 began on 17 Cheshvan and lasted a year, so that Noah and his family left the ark on the 27th of Cheshvan.The syntactic ambiguity that Iโveย selected for the month of Cheshvan is about three of these survivors, Noahโs sons, particularly Shem and Japheth. It is a โscope ambiguityโ found in Genesis 10:21, the chapter that reviews the genealogy of Noahโs sons.
Modern English Translations:
Alhatorah.org: [main translation; annotated with alternatives] ย And to Shem, the father of all the sons of Ever,1ย the brother of Yefet, the elder,2 were also born sons.3
KJV (biblegateway.com): Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.
NRSVUE (biblegateway.com): To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born.
Fox, Schocken Bible (1995: https://www.sefaria.org)
[Children] were also born to Shem, the father of all the Sons of Ever [and] Yefetโs older brother.
JPS (2006; sefaria.org): Sons were also born to Shem, ancestor of all the descendants of Eber and older brother of Japheth.
The difference between the two main reading options is evident in the variation among these modern English translations. The question is essentially: who is the older/oldest brother, Japhet or Shem? i.e., what is the referent of ืืืืื?
Reading A, with Japhet as the elder brother, is the reading in KJV; whereas the NRSV, Fox, and JPS all follow Reading B; the main translation in alhaTorah.org reflects the ambiguity of the Hebrew, which is somewhat more awkward in English than in the original.
AMBIGUITIES and READING OPTIONS
*SYNTACTIC AMBIGUITY: Narrow or Wide Scopeย Referent of Attributive Adjective
ย ืฉืโฆืืื [ืืคืชย ืืืืื] ย narrow scope
ย ืฉืโฆ[ืืืย ืืคืช] ืืืืืย ย wide scope
Lexical Ambiguity: ย ืึผึธืืึนื
(1) Age: older; (2) Stature: greater; (3) Size: larger
Morphological Ambiguity or additional syntactic ambiguity?:
(1) Relative comparative adjective: the elder/greater (/larger)
(2) Absolute superlative adjective: the eldest/greatest (/largest)
(3) Absolute non-comparative adjective: the great (/the large)
READING A: the brother of [Japhet, the eldest/elder/greater]--> Japhetย is the the referent of ืืืืื; JAPHET is the the elder/greater/great brother, | ย ืืื [ืืคืช ืืืืื] |
READING B: the [elder/eldest/greater/greatest [brother of Japhet]--> Shemย is the referent of ืืืืื. SHEM is the elder/greater brother. | ย [ืืื ืืคืช] ืืืืื |
CONTEXT and Implications: What is the birth order of Noahโs sons? How might one determine this? Why is this important to exegetes?
From ย Wikipedia, โJaphethโ: Japheth first appears in the Hebrew Bibleย as one of the three sons of Noah, saved from the Floodย through the Ark. In the Book of Genesis, they are always in the order "Shem, Ham, and Japheth" when all three are listed.[7][8]ย However Genesis 9:24 calls Hamย the youngest,[8]ย and Genesis 10:21 refers ambiguously to Shem as "brother of Japheth the elder," which could mean that either is the eldest.[9]ย Most modern writers accept Shem-Ham-Japheth as reflecting birth order, but this is not always the case: Moses and Rachel also appear at the head of such lists despite explicit descriptions of them as younger siblings.[10]
EXEGESIS
CANTILLATION
Kogut, Teโamimย p. 43, example 12[2]:
The cantillation marks point to READING A; the conjunctive merhaย under Yefet joins this word to the following one, โthe elder/the eldestโ; while the disjunctive tiphaย under the preceding word, โthe brother ofโ, separates it from the word pair.
Targum Onqelosย (3rd century)
ืชืจืืื ืืื ืงืืืก
ืึผืึฐืฉึตืื ืึดืืชึฐืึฐืึดืื ืึทืฃ ืืึผื ืึฒืืึผืืึนื ืึฐึผืึธื ืึฐึผื ึตื ืขึตืึถืจ ืึฒืืึผืึดื ืึฐึผืึถืคึถืช ืจึทืึธึผื.
And (children) were born also to Shem, the father of all the sons of Eber, and the brother of Yapheth the great(/er/est)
Translation in alhatorah.org (based on Metsudah Chumash (Metsudah Publications, 2009) (CC BY-NC 4.0) with modifications): โSons were also born to Shem, father of the Children of the Other Side. He was the brother of Yefes, the elder.โ ย
Grossfield, Aramaic Bibleย vol. 6: โAnd also to Shem, the ancestor of all of Eberโs descendants, the elder brother of Japheth (children) were born.โ
READING: The Aramaic seems to retain the ambiguityโas evident in the difference between the two English translations above: alhatorah.org/Metsudah Chumash: READING A; Grossfield: READING B.
Disambiguation Expression: since Aramaic uses the particle ย -ืึฐึผ rather than the Hebrewโs genitive construct, the attributive adjective might best taken to refer to Yefet. In order to say โthe greater/elder brother of Yefetโ, it would be smoother in Aramaic to have the adjective immediately follow its referent, before the ย -ืึฐึผ particle ย ืืืืื ืจืื ืึฐึผืึถืคึถืช :ืืืืื ืจืื. However, Grossfieldโs translation follows READING B, with Shem as the older brother. The Aramaic construction in Onqelos and Neofiti is the same as that in psJon, where contextual clues point to Shem as the likely referent.
Birth order:ย not determinative. It is also possible that Onkelos is referring to stature rather than age, but the Aramaic ืจึทืึธึผื has the same range as Hebrew ืืืืื, and does not convey what kind of greatness is understood.
Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti)ย = Targum Onkelos
ืชืจืืื ืืจืืฉืืื (ื ืืืืคืืื)
ืืืฉื ืืชืืื ืืฃืย ืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืื ื ืขืืจืืื ืืืื ืืืคืช ืจืื.
McNamara, Aramaic Bible, Vol. 1A: โAnd (children) were also born to Shem; he is the father of all the sons of the Hebrews, the elder brother of Japheth.โ
The Neofiti is like Onqelos, with the orthographic difference of ืจืื with a hehย rather than an aleph. I think the Aramaic retains the ambiguity, or works best with READING A, with Japhet as the elder brother, but McNamara, like Grossfield on Onqelos, translates according to READING B, with Shem as the elder one. The Aramaic construction in Onqelos and Neofiti is the same as that in psJon, where Shem is quite likely the referent.
ืชืจืืื ืืจืืฉืืื (ืืื ืชื)
ืืืฉื ืืืชืืืื ืืฃ ืืื ืืจ ืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืื ื ืขืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืคืช ืจืื ืืืืืชื ืืืดื.
Alhatorah.org (J. W. Etheridge, The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel on the Pentateuch with the Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum from the Chaldee (London, 1862): And to Shem also was born a son. He is the father of all the sons of the Hebrews, the brother of Japheth, great in the fear of the Lord.
Maher, Aramaic Bible, Vol. 1B: โTo Shem also a sonย was born. He is the father of all the children of the Hebrews, the brother of Japhet, great in the fear of the Lord.โ
Syntactically, the ambiguity is likely retained. Content-wise, we may presume that it is Shem who is being described as the more God-fearing of the brothers, supporting READING B, and Etheridgeโs translation. The syntax of the verse is somewhat smoothed out in the Targum by the addition of the pronoun โืืื,โ forming a new nominal sentence, instead of the apposition in the Hebrew, but this does not have an impact on our specific question.
READING: READING B: the [great/greater/greatest brother] of Japhet, i.e., referring to SHEM.
Disambiguation Strategy:ย insertion of ืืืืืชื ืืืดื disambiguates lexically against the background of the Targumโs Tendenz: Shem is greater in character.
Disambiguation Expression: insertion of ืืืืืชื ืืืดื.
Birth order:ย not determinative; we can infer with some confidence that Shem is understood to be younger than at least one of his brothers, and likely that he is specifically younger than Jefeth. Presumably, from the understanding that โgreaterโ refers to Shem, and specifically denotes status rather than age, we can infer that Shem is not viewed as the greatest with respect to age: he is not the eldest brother.
LXXย แผฮดฮตฮปฯแฟท ฮฮฑฯฮตฮธ ฯฮฟแฟฆ ฮผฮตแฝทฮถฮฟฮฝฮฟฯ
โbrother of Japhet the eldestโ
READING: READING A
Disambiguation Expression: The disambiguation expression is morphological, with the form of the word indicating its syntactic function.: the genitive case endings of ฯฮฟแฟฆ and ฮผฮตแฝทฮถฮฟฮฝฮฟฯ match the grammatical role of โJaphetโ in the verse, not โShemโ
Genesis Rabbahย (5th century?)
Gen Rab 37:7ย
ืืืจืฉ ืืจืืฉืืช ืจืื ืื:ื
ืึผืึฐืฉืึตื ืึปืึผึทื ืึผึทื ืืึผื ืึฒืึดื ืึผึธื ืึผึฐื ึตื ืขึตืึถืจ ืืื' (ืืจืืฉืืช ื, ืื), ืึตืื ืึธื ืึผ ืืึนืึฐืขึดืื ืึดื ืฉืึตื ืืึผื ืึทืึผึธืืึนื ืึดื ืึถืคึถืช ืืึผื ืึทืึผึธืืึนื, ืึดื ืึทื ืึผึดืึฐืชึดืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื, ื): ืึตืึผึถื ืชึผืึนืึฐืึนืช ืฉืึตื ืฉืึตื ืึผึถื ืึฐืึทืช ืฉืึธื ึธื ืึทืึผืึนืึถื ืึถืช ืึทืจึฐืคึผึทืึฐืฉืึธื ืฉืึฐื ึธืชึทืึดื ืึทืึทืจ ืึทืึผึทืึผืึผื, ืึฑืึตื ืึถืคึถืช ืืึผื ืึทืึผึธืืึนื. (ืืจืืฉืืช ื, ืื):
And there was born also to Shem, the father of all the children of Ever etc.ย โ We do not know if Shem is the eldest or if Japheth is the eldest; from that which is written (Gen 11:10), โthese are the descendants of Shem, Shem was 100 and he fathered Arpachshad 2 years after the flood,โ it follows that Japheth is the eldest.
READING: READING A, Japhet the eldest.
Explicit statement about ambiguity:ย ืึตืื ืึธื ืึผ ืืึนืึฐืขึดืื ืึดื ืฉึตืื ืืึผื ืึทืึธึผืืึนื ืึดื ืึถืคึถืช ืืึผื ืึทืึธึผืืึนื,
Disambiguation Strategy:ย Logical argument based on data from related biblical text: calculation and intertextuality show that Japheth must be the eldest brother; see bSan69a and Rashi on this verse.
Underlying assumption: perfectly unified Biblical textโ harmonization.
Disambiguation Expression: ย ืึดื ืึทื ืึดึผืึฐืชึดืื โฆ ืึฑืึตื ืึถืคึถืช ืืึผื ืึทืึธึผืืึนื.
Birth order:ย most likely, Jephet, Ham, Shem; the definite article of โthe greatestโ in the conclusion indicates that Jephet is the eldest; in other commentaries, the use of Gen 11:10 and the implied calculation of Noahโs age of 500 when he began fathering children (Gen 5:32) and his age of 600 at the flood (Gen 7:6) is predicated on the understanding that the sons were born successively, one year after the other.
*Bamidbar Rabbah 4:8ย (on firstbornsโ garments)
ืืืจืฉ ืืืืืจ ืจืื
ืึตืช ื ึนืึท ืึผืึฐืกึธืจึธื ืึฐืฉืึตื, ืึฐืึดื ืฉืึตื ืึธืึธื ืึผึฐืืึนืจ ืึทืึฒืืึนื ืึถืคึถืช ืึธืึธื ืึผึฐืืึนืจ, ืฉืึถื ึผึถืึฑืึทืจ (ืืจืืฉืืช ื, ืื): ืึฒืึดื ืึถืคึถืช ืึทืึผึธืืึนื, ืึผืึดืคึผึฐื ึตื ืึธื ืึฐืกึธืจึธื ืึฐืฉืึตื ืึดืคึผึฐื ึตื ืฉืึถืฆึผึธืคึธื ื ึนืึท ืฉืึทืึฐืฉืึถืึถืช ืึธืึธืืึนืช ืขืึนืึถืึถืช ืึดืึผึถื ึผืึผ.
Noah died and passed them [the firstbornsโ garments] to Shem. But was Shem the firstborn? Wasnโt Japhet the firstborn?! As it is said (Genesis 10:21): โThe elder brother of Japheth.โ So why did he pass [them] to Shem? Because Noah foresaw that the chain of the forefathers would emerge from him.ืด
READING: ย READING A, Japhet the eldest.
This source uses Gen 10:21 as a prooftext for Japhetโs status as the firstborn, without explanation or elaboration, as though it were straightforward rather than ambiguous. At the same time, it reflects a perception of Shem as the worthiest sonโas he is the progenitor of Israelโs patriarchs.
Yalkut Shimoniย (11th - 14th centuries) = Genesis Rabbah
ืึผืึฐืฉึตืื ืึปืึธึผื ืึทึผื ืืึผื. ืึตืื ืึธื ืึผ ืืึนืึฐืขึดืื ืึดื ืฉึตืื ืืึผื ืึทืึธึผืืึนื ืึดื ืึถืคึถืช ืืึผื ืึทืึธึผืืึนื, [ืึดื ืึทื ืึดึผืึฐืชึดืื (ืืืื ืืดื:ืืณ) ืดืึตืึถึผื ืชึผืึนืึฐืึนืช ืฉึตืื ืฉึตืื ืึถึผื ืึฐืึทืช ืฉึธืื ึธื ืึทืึผืึนืึถื ืึถืช ืึทืจึฐืคึทึผืึฐืฉึธืื ืฉึฐืื ึธืชึทืึดื ืึทืึทืจ ืึทืึทึผืึผืึผืืด ืึฑืึตื ืึถืคึถืช ืืึผื ืึทืึธึผืืึนื].
Rashiย (1040 - 1105) ~ Genesis Rabbah
ืจืฉืดื
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืืื ื ืืืืข ืื ืฉื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืคืช ืืืืื. ืืฉืืื ืืืืจ: ืฉื ืื ืืืช ืฉื ื ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ื"ื:ื'), ืืื [ืืืืจ] ืืคืช ืืืืื. ืฉืืจื ืื ืืืฉ ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืืื ื ื ืืฉืืชืืื ืืืืืื, ืืืืืื ืืฉื ืช ืฉืฉ ืืืืช, ื ืืฆื ืฉืืืืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืช ืฉื ื, ืืฉื ืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืขื ืืืจ ืืืืื ืฉื ืชืืื.ย
ืืื ืืคืชย โ ืืื ืืื ืื. ืฉืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืช ืืืืื, ืืื ืืืื
ืืื ืืคืช THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH โ It does not state โbrother of Hamโ, because those two honoured their father whereas Ham put him to shame (Genesis Rabbah 37:7).
alhatorah.org:
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื [SHEM โฆ] THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH, THE ELDER โ (The Hebrew is ambiguous: โthe elderโ may refer either to Shem or to Japheth). One cannot from here determine whether Japheth was the elder or Shem. Since, however, it states (10:10) โShem was a hundred years old โฆ two years after the floodโ you must admit that Japheth was the elder. Because Noah was 500 years old when he first had children (5:32), and the Flood happened in the six hundredth year of his life (7:11), consequently the eldest of his sons was then one hundred years old, whereas Shem reached his hundredth year only two years after the Flood (and therefore there needs to be an older brother who was 100 at the end of the flood, and this must be Japheth, so that he was the elder of the two).
ืืื ืืคืช THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH โ It does not state โbrother of Hamโ, because those two honoured their father whereas Ham put him to shame (Genesis Rabbah 37:7).
READING A: Japhet, the elder
Explicit statement about ambiguity:ย ืืื ื ืืืืข ืื ืฉื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืคืช ืืืืื
Disambiguation Strategy:ย Logical argument based on data from related biblical text: calculation and intertextuality show that Japheth must be the eldest brother; following the midrash, Gen Rabba, and Talmud, bSan 69b.[3]
Underlying assumption: perfectly unified Biblical textโ harmonization.
Disambiguation Expression: ย ืึดื ืึทื ืึดึผืึฐืชึดืื โฆ ืึฑืึตื ืึถืคึถืช ืืึผื ืึทืึธึผืืึนื.
Birth order: most likely, Japheth, Ham, Shem; the definite article of โืืืืืโ in the conclusion indicates that Japheth is the eldest; in other commentaries, the use of Gen 11:10 and the implied calculation of Noahโs age of 500 when he began fathering children (Gen 5:32) and his age of 600 at the flood (Gen 7:6) is predicated on the understanding that the sons were born one year after the other.
Rashiโs second comment, on โbrother of Japhet,โ โthat Shem and Japhet honored Noah, while Ham dishonored him, relates to other commentaries, which group Shem and Japhet as good. Some of these are associated ย with READING B,ย taking the โthe greatโ as referring to ย stature/quality of character, and accordingly, to Shem. For Rashi, as for Ibn Ezra and Chizkuni, commenting upon Shem and Japhetโs shared goodness ย is compatible with READING AโJaphet is eldest, and serves to explain why Shem was identified with respect to Japhet, i.e., because of their shared quality of goodness.
Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 69b:
(In the English, the bold translates the Hebrew and Aramaic, and the non-bold is added explanation).
ืืื ืงืฉืืฉ ืืืจืื ืืฉืจื? ืขืฉืจ ืฉื ืื, ืืงืฉืืฉ ืืืืื ืชืจืชืื ืฉื ืื. ืืฉืชืื ืื ืืืืื ืืจื ืืฉืจื ืืชืื ื ืืืืืื. ืืืื? ืืืื ืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืจื ืืืืชื ืงื ืืฉืื ืืื.
ืชืืข ืืงื ืืฉืื ืืื ืงืจื ืืจื ืืืืชื ืืืชืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ื, ืื) ืืืื ื ื ืื ืืืฉ ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืืืืื ื ื ืืช ืฉื ืืช ืื ืืืช ืืคืช ืฉื ืืืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืื ืืืื ืืืคืช ืฉื ื ื ืืฆื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืคืช ืฉืชื ืฉื ืื ืืืชืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ื, ื) ืื ื ืื ืฉืฉ ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืขื ืืืจืฅ ืืืชืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื, ื) (ื)ืืื ืชืืืืืช ืฉื ืฉื ืื ืืืช ืฉื ื ืืืืื ืืช ืืจืคืืฉื ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืจ ืืื ืืชืจืชืื ืฉื ืื ืืื
ืืื ืืจื ืืืืชื ืงื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืื ื ืื ืืจื ืืืืชื ืงื ืืฉืื ืืื
ืืืจ ืจื ืืื ื ืืืจืืชื ืืฉืืขืชื ืงืืื ืืจื ืืืื ืื ืืจืืขื ืืืจ ืื ืืชืื ืืืื ืืชื ืืชื ืืื ื ืืืื ืืชื ืื ื ืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ื, ืื) ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืื
How much older was Abraham than Sarah?ย He was ten yearsย older than her and,ย as stated above, he was two years older than her father,ย Haran. It turns outย then that when Haran begot Sarah, he begot her atย the age of eight. The Gemara refutes this proof: From whereย do you prove this? Perhaps Abraham was the youngest of the brothers, andย not the oldest among them. The fact that Abraham is listed first is no proof that he was the oldest, as perhaps the verse listed them in the order of their wisdomย and therefore Abraham, being the wisest, was mentioned first.
Knowย that it is true that the verseย sometimes listsย brothers not according to their birth order, but in the order of theirย degrees of wisdom, as it is written: โAnd Noah was five hundred years old; and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japhethโย (Genesis 5:32). According to this, Shem wasย at least one year older than Ham, and Ham one year older than Japheth,ย so it turns outย that Shem was two years older than Japheth. And it is written: โAnd Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earthโย (Genesis 7:6). And it is written: โThese are the descendants of Shem; Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arpachshad two years after the floodโย (Genesis 11:10). If Shem was the oldest brother, how could he be only 100 years old? He must have beenย at least 102 years old,ย as Noah was 500 years old when his third son was born, and he was 600 years old at the time of the flood.
Rather,ย the verse listed them in the order of theirย degrees of wisdom,ย Shem being the wisest. With regard to his age, Shem was the youngest of the brothers, having been born when Noah was 502 years old. Shem begot his son 100 years later, which was two years after the flood. Here too,ย then, with regard to the sons of Terah, it can be argued that the verse lists them in the order of theirย degrees of wisdom.
Rav Kahana says: I stated this discussion before Rav Zevid of Nehardeโa.ย When he heard it, he said to me: You learnย that Shem was not Noahโs oldest son from there, and we learn it from here: โAnd to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, to him also were children bornโย (Genesis 10:21). This verse indicates that Japheth,ย rather than Shem, was the oldest of the brothers.ย
READINGS:
- The opinion of R. Zevid, to learn from Gen 10:21 that Japheth is the eldest brother: ืืคืช ืืืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืื
READING A: Japheth, the eldest
Disambiguation Strategy: implies that the verse is unambiguousโ the verse clearly indicates that Japhet is older, and is in fact, the eldest brother.
Disambiguation Expression: adds โof his brothers,โ and names Japheth specifically: ย ืืคืช ืืืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืื
- Theย unattributed tradition, reported by Rav Kahanaย that Japhethย is the eldest, based on calculation and intertextuality, and concluding that the list in Gen 5:32 is according to the sonsโ stature: ืชืืข ืืงื ืืฉืื ืืื ืงืจื ืืจื ืืืืชื
Inconclusive:
- READING A: Japheth, the eldest
or
- READING B: Shem, the greatest
Disambiguation Strategy: This passage does not necessarily disambiguate.
- This view can fit Reading A: the text brings a logical argument based on data from related biblical textโcalculation and intertextualityโto show that Japheth is the eldest brother. This would be like Genesis Rabbah. Japheth is the eldest
- This view can also fit Reading B: it concludes that the order in which the brothers are listedโShem, Ham, Japhethโreflects the sonsโ stature. Shem is the greatest
Disambiguation Expression: although not intended to disambiguate Gen 10:21, it functions as disambiguation, to an extent: ืชืืข ืืงื ืืฉืื ืืื ืงืจื ืืจื ืืืืชื
(Birth order: Japheth, Ham, Shem.
NB: This text not only argues that Yefet is the oldest, but directly argues against the supposition that Shem is oldestโwhich one might have assumed based on the order of the list in Gen 5:32. It excludes Reading B, with the meaning of โgreatโ as referring to age; ย i.e., excludes โShem, the elder.โ)
locate ย *Qirqisani, ย (c. 890-c. 960)ย pp. 33-34 โthe elder brother of Jephetโ: โthe elderโ refers to โbrotherโ. i.e., Shem is older. (via Steiner class notes).
Lekah Tov (R. Toviah b. Eliezer) ย composed app. 1105-1115
ืืงื ืืื
ืืืฉื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ1ืืืื ื ืืืคืช ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืืื.
READING A: Japhet, the eldest
Disambiguation Strategy:ย no explanation is offered; likely depending on an exegetical tradition: midrash, talmud, Rashi
Disambiguation Expression: ืืืื ืืืืื specifies absolute/superlative, not just relative/comparative.
ืืืื ื: seems to imply that this is the โnaturalโ way to read the adjective? Similar to Rav Zevid in b.San 69b.
Birth order: most likely, Japheth, Ham, Shem; the definite article of โthe greatestโ in the conclusion indicates that Japheth is the eldest; in other commentaries, the use of Gen 11:10 and the implied calculation of Noahโs age of 500 when he began fathering children (Gen 5:32) and his age of 600 at the flood (Gen 7:6) is predicated on the understanding that the sons were born one year after the other.
Northern French Commentary Anthology
ืืืงืื ืืืืื ืฆืจืคืช
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ ืงืฉืณ ืืื ืืื ื ืืืืข ืื ืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืคืช ืืืืื. (ืืดื ืืืงืกืคืืจื 271/8)
This snippet preserves only the expression of ambiguity.
Ibn Ezra Aย (1088/89-1164 or 1092-1167) = Sefer HaYashar; โthe Short Commentaryโ[4]
ืืื ืขืืจื ื'
ืืืขื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ โ ืืืืืืข ืืื ืืขืืจืืื, ืื ืืื ืืืขืื ืืื ื, ืืืฉื ืืืืื. ืืื ืืชืื: ืื ืืืจ ืืดื ืืืื ืืขืืจืื (ืฉืืืช ืืณ:ืืณ). ืืื ืขื โ ืืืื ืื, ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืื ื, ืืืื ืจืืื ืืืชืขืจื ืงืืืฉ ืืืื.
ืืืขื ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืฉืืื ืืคืช ืืื. ืืืงืืื ืืืชืื ืืืืืืจ ืฉืื ืื ืืื ืงืื, ืงืืื ืืคืช ืฉืืื ืืืืื, ืืขืืืจ ืืืืื. ืืืขื, ืฉืืืจ ืืืชืื: ืื ื ื ืืื ืื ืืืฉ ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืืฉืืื ืืืืืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืณ:ืืดื), ืืืื ืืื ืืืืขื ืืงืื ืืืขืื, ืื ืืื ืคืืืช ืืืืฉ ืืืืช ืฉื ืื ืืืฉื ืช ืฉืฉ ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืื ืืืืื, ืืืฆืืช ื ื ืืืืืื ืืื ืฉื ืื ืืืช ืฉื ื ืืฉื ื ืืืช, ืืืืชืื ืืืจ: ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืดื:ืืณ).
ืืืฉ ืืคืจืฉ: ืื ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืฉื, ืขื ืื ืืืืืจื ืืืชืื ืืชืืื. ืืืืจ: ืื ืืืฉืจ ื ืืื ืฉื, ืื ื ืื ืกื ืืฉื ืช ืืืฉ ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืื ื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืืขืืื, ืื ืืื ืืฉื ื ืืฉืื ืฉื ื, ืื ื ื ืืื ืืืืืจ, ืืฉื ืืกืืื, ืืืฉืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ื ืชืดืง ืืชืฉืขืื ืืชืฉืข ืฉื ื ืืืืื. ืืื ื ืืื ืืฉื ืชืฉืขืื ืืชืฉืข ืฉืืืืืช ืืฉื ืช ืืืืื, ืืืืื ืืฉื ืืื ืืจืคืืฉื ืื ืืืช ืฉื ื ืืืืฉืื. ืืคืืจืืฉ ืฉื ืชืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืดื:ืืณ) ืฉื ืื ืกื ืืฉื ื ืืฉื ืืช ืืืฉืืื ืจืืฉืืช ืืืืื.
ืื ืืฉ ืืืืจืื: ืื ืืืจ ืืืฉื ืืืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืื, ืฉืืกืจื ืืืื, ืืจืชื ืืฉืช ืฉื. ืืื ื ืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืฉื ื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืดื:ืืณ). ืืืืฉืืื ืืื ืืืฆื ืืืืืื ืืขืฉืจื ืืงืืืืช.
alHatorah:
[THE FATHER OF ALL THE CHILDREN OF EBER.] Scripture informs us that Shem was the father of the Hebrews for no one was greater than he, and the Lord was his God. Similarly it is written, Thus saith the Lord, the God of the Hebrews (ivrim) (Ex. 10:3).1 On the other hand, the Bible tells us that Ham was the father of Canaan for no one was baser than he. It is unfitting for the holy and profane to intermingle.
Scripture notes that Shem was the brother of Japheth the elder to teach us that Japheth, too, was a worthy person. The Bible lists Shem, who was the youngest, before Japheth, who was the elder, out of respect to Shem. Proof that Japheth was the elder lies in Scripture's stating that Noah was five hundred years old when he begat his first son. There is no room for argument, for it is clear that Noah had no children prior to reaching the age of five hundred. The flood came when Noah was six hundred years old. Therefore if Shem was the eldest he would be one hundred and one years old when Noah and his sons came out of the ark. However, Scripture tells us Shem was a hundred years old, and begot Arpachshad two years after the flood (Gen. 11:10).
Others say that Shem was the elder brother of Japheth, and it is for this reason that Shem is mentioned first. They explain that Shem was born a few days after Noah entered his five hundredth year, for even a day in a year is considered a year. They say that Noah was born in Iyyar and Shem in Sivan. When the flood came Noah was five hundred and ninety-nine plus a number of days old. Hence Shem was not a full ninety-nine years old when the flood started and was a hundred and one years plus a number of months old when his son Arpachshad was born. The meaning of two years after the flood (Gen. 11:10) therefore is to be interpreted as meaning that Arpachshad was born in the second year following the beginning of the flood. There are also those who maintain that the wife of Shem conceived five months after the start of the flood when the waters started decreasing. Shem was thus one hundred years old when Arpachshad was born. There are ten similar instances in the Book of Kings.
READING: READING A: Japhet, the eldest, definitively, with a comment that โthere is no room for argument,โ and yet Ibn Ezra cites an alternative opinion, of READING B: โsome say.โ
Statement about ambiguity: Ibn Ezra presents alternative interpretations, โsome explainโ and ย โand also, some sayโ -- according to READING Bโ alongside his preferred understanding, in accord with READING A.
Interpretation 1
READING A: Japhet, the eldest
Disambiguation Strategy: Logical argument based on data from related biblical text: calculation and intertextuality show that Japheth must be the eldest brother. Like Rashi and prior rabbinic sources.
Disambiguation Expression: ืืืืืืจ ืฉื ืื ืืื ืงืื, ืงืืื ืืคืช ืฉืืื ืืืืื
ืืืขื, ืฉืืืจ ืืืชืื: introducing a reference to support from other biblical verses.
Interpretations 2 and 3, โsome explainโ
READING B: Shem, the eldest
Disambiguation Strategy: (Complex)ย logical argument based on <manipulation of> data from related biblical text: calculation and intertextuality; Interpretation 3: counting partial years as a year
Disambiguation Expression: changing word order, and adding ืดืืื ืืด โ
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืฉื
Ibn Ezra Bย (1088/89-1164 or 1092-1167); โthe Long Commentaryโ
ืืื ืขืืจื ื'
ืืืขื ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืฉืืื ืฆืืืงืื ืฉื ืืื, ืืืืฆืื ืื.
ืื ืจืื ืืคืฉื: ืื ืืคืช ืืื ืืื ืืืืื.
And the point of โthe brother of Yefet, the elderโ โ that both of them were righteous, to exclude Ham.
And it appears that the peshatย is that Japheth is the eldest brother.
The first comment is similar to what is written in the short commentary: ืืืขื ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืฉืืื ืืคืช ืืื. ย โScripture notes that Shem was the brother of Japheth the elder to teach us that Japheth, too, was a worthy person.โ
READING: READING A: Japhet, the eldest
Statement about ambiguity:ย ืื ืจืื ืืคืฉื indicates that this interpretationโ that Japhet is the elder/eldestโ is a preference over an alternative reading, not explicitly presented, which takes Shem as the eldest. It is possible that the force and motivation of the expression is to indicate that this interpretation that Japhet is the elder/eldestโis the preferred peshat, over Ibn Ezraโs first comment here, which might be seen as taking the adjective to refer to Japhet (and Shemโs) virtue.
Disambiguation Expression: โand it appears that the peshat is.โ Maybe Ibn Ezra had concluded that this is the most natural reading, like Rav Zevid in b.San 69. Maybe he decided that the chronological gymnastics to get Shem to be the oldest did not have enough basis in text, to be taken as peshat.
Bekhor Shorย 12th century
ืืืืจ ืฉืืจ
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืืคื ืฉืืื ืืงืื ืืื ื ืฉื ืชืืืื, ืืืื ืื ืื ืืจื ืชืืืืชื โ ืืคืช ืืื ืืฉื, ืืืื ืื ืฉืื ืืืืงื, ืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื.
alhatorah.org:
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ THE BROTHER OF YEFET THE OLDEST โ Since in every place, Shem is enumerated first, and here they are enumerated in order of their birth โ Yefet and Cham and Shem, it tells you that this is deliberate, Yefet is the oldest.
READING: READING A: Japhet, the eldest
Expression of Ambiguity: not stated, but implied.
Disambiguation Strategy: Logical argument based on variation in order of presentation of Noahโs sons in Scripture. The argument is that since Shem is always named first, but this pericope, recording their genealogies, presents the brothers in the order Japheth, Ham, and Shem, this order must be deliberate, i.e., reflecting birth order, and indicating that Japheth is the eldest.
Disambiguation Expression: โit tells you that this is deliberate, Yefet is the oldest.โ
Rabbi David Kimhi (Radak) 1160-1235
ืจืืดืง
ืืืฉื โ ืืืจ ืฉื ืืืืจืื ื ืืคื ืฉืืื ืขืชืื ืืืืจ ืกืคืืจ ืขื ืื ืืืืืช ืฉืืื ืืืจืข ืฉื, ืกืคืจ ืชืืืืืช ืฉื ืืืืฉ ืืืืฉ ืขื ืืืจืื ืืืื ื. ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืื ืืื โ ืื ืชืืฉืื ืืคื ืฉืื ืืืจื ื ืชืืืืืชืื ืืจืืฉืื ื ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืกืคืืจืื ืืจืืฉืื ื, ืฉืื ืืื ืื ืชืืืืืช, ืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืชืืืืืช. ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ โ ืฉืืื ื ืืฆืื ืืืืืช. ืืืืชืจ ืืื ืืฉืืืื ืชืืืืืชืื ืืชืืืืืช ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ.
ืืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืืืืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืืขืื, ืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืคืืืช ืืืืื ืืชืืืืืชืื ืื ืื ืคืืืชืื ืืชืืืืืช ืืืื.
ืืืขื ืืืืืย โ ืขื ืืคืช ืื ืขื ืฉื, ืืืืื ืคืืจืืฉื: ืืืืื ืืฉื ืื, ืื ืืืขืชื ื ืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืื, ืืืืขืช ืจืื ืืืคืจืฉืื ืืคืช ืืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืื ืืื ืฉืืชืื ื.
ืืืฉ ืืคืจืฉ ืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืขืื, ืืืืืจ ืื ืื ืขื ืืื ืืฉื ืืื.
ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืึปืื ืืื ืืืจ ืืืื โ ืืืจ ืื ืขื ืืจื ืืื, ืืื, ืืืขืืจ ืึปืื ืฉื ื ืื ืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืณ:ืืดื).
alhatorah.org with modification:
โAnd to Shemโ:, the reason that Shem is listed last [in this genealogical list] is that the story will continue with the lives of the patriarchs, all of whom are descended from Shem. The Torah tells the genealogy of Shem, from man to man, until our father Abraham. [The Torah is trying to preserve continuity].
As to the unusual phrase โalso heโ: the Torah adds these words as if to say that we should not think that seeing that up to now we always heard about Shem first, that the fact that we had not heard about him in this chapter means that he had not been blessed with offspring. Not only did he have sons, but he became the founding โfather of all the [tribes] descended from Eber,โ who in turn became the ancestor of the patriarchs. And his genealogy is more important than the genealogies of his brothers, for he was the โfather of all the sons of Eber.โ
He also was the greatest among his brothers, for he was the brother of โJapheth, the great one.โ That is to say that [Shem] was [Japhethโs] brother in greatness, and not the brother of Ham, who was less than his brothers, and his progeny were also lesser than his brothersโ progeny.
The point of ย ืืืืื โ [this] may refer to Japheth or to Shem, and its meaning should be understood as: the one greatest in years. For, in our opinion, Shem was the greater in years, but according to the opinion of most exegetes, Japheth was the oldest in years, as we have written. (See Radak on Gen 5:32). And it is also to be explained as greatest in stature, and it would again apply to one of the two of them.
From alhatorah.org footnote on Ramban:
Ramban, in this final paragraph, sets forth his principle that Shem was really the oldest of the three brothers. The order of their birth was thus: Shem, Japheth and Ham. This is completely unlike the theory of Rashi (5:32; 9:24) who holds that they were born in this order: Japheth, Ham and Shem. Radak here conforms with Ramban's theory, as is clear from Radak's following words: "The word hagadol (the elder)ย is descriptive either of Japheth or of Shem. If so, the elderย refers to age in years for in my opinion Shem was the oldest of the brothers while, in the opinion of most commentators, Japheth was the oldest. It is also possible to explain the elderย as referring to distinction, and it may also be descriptive of either of them."
READING: READING B is Radakโs preferred understanding, but he notes that this is a minority view and most exegetes prefer READING A: โFor, in our opinion, Shem was the greater in years, but according to the opinion of most exegetes, Japheth was the oldest in years.โ
Expression of Ambiguity: Radak notes the lexical ambiguity and observes that the syntactic ambiguity is present whether โืืืืืโ refers to age or status/character:
ืืืขื ืืืืืย โ ืขื ืืคืช ืื ืขื ืฉื, ืืืืื ืคืืจืืฉื: ืืืืื ืืฉื ืืโฆ
ืื ืืืขืชื ื ืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืื, ืืืืขืช ืจืื ืืืคืจืฉืื ืืคืช ืืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืื
ืืืฉ ืืคืจืฉ ืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืขืื ืืืืืจ ืื ืื ืขื ืืื ืืฉื ืืื.
Disambiguation Strategy:
One consideration is that Shem is generally named first
ื ืืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืกืคืืจืื ืืจืืฉืื ื and Radak has a good reason for the exception in this pericope, where his genealogies are listed lastโ for narrative continuity, to segue into the narrative of the patriarchs, who are Shemโs progeny. ย In his comment on Gen 5:32, Radak explains his reasoningโit is the usual listing of the sonsโ names, which he thinks should be according to birth order; he gets around the arithmetic calculations in the rabbinic sources by adopting the stance rejected in Ibn Ezraโs short commentary, as โsome sayโ--manipulating the calculations and scriptural references to dates of the deluge and the sonsโ births.
See Radak on Genesis 5:32
ืึทึฝืึฐืึดืโ ึพื ึนึืึท ืึถึผืโ ึพืึฒืึตึฅืฉื ืึตืึืึนืช ืฉึธืื ึธึื ืึทืึผึฃืึนืึถื ื ึนึืึท ืึถืชโ ึพืฉึตืึื ืึถืชโ ึพืึธึฅื ืึฐืึถืชโ ึพืึธึฝืคึถืช
ืืืืื ื ื ืืช ืฉื ืืช ืื ืืืช ืืคืช, ืืขืช ืจื"ื ืื ืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื, ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืฉืืืจ "ืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืืืื ืืช ืืจืคืืฉื ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื" ืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืจื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืจ ืืืืื, ื ืืฉืื, ืื ืืืื ื ืืื ืืฉื ื ืืืช ืืืืฉ...ืืื ืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื, ืืื ืืืจ "ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื" ืืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืจื"ื ืืืจื ืื ืืฉ ืืชืืื, ืืื ืืชื ืืื ืืงืื ืฉืืืจ ืฉืืฉืชื ืฉื ืื ืืืคืช ืืืฉืืข ืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืคืช ืืงืื?
Sefaria translation:
ืืืืื ื ื ืืช ืฉื, ืืช ืื, ืืืช ืืคืช, in the opinion of our sages (Sanhedrin 69) Yaphet was the oldest. They derived this from Genesis 11,10 where the Torah writes ืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืืืื ืืช ืืจืคืืฉื ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื, โShem was 100 tears old when he begat Arpachshad 2 years after the deluge.โ If Shem had been the eldest, he would have been 100 years old already at the end of or during the deluge, not 2 years later. We think that Shem was born during Noachโs 501st year, allowing for the fact that the year was a leap year, and his wife had become pregnant when Noach married her when he was 500 years old. The deluge commenced in the 600th year of Noachโs life. As a result, Shem was 99 years old when he entered the ark at the start of the deluge. After the deluge he was only 100 years old. How could the Torah describe him as 100 years old 2 years after the deluge? We must therefore conclude that Yaphet was the eldest. This is also how we must understand Genesis 10,21 ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื, โthe brother of Yaphet, the senior.โ Even though our sages have arrived at this conclusion, we must wonder why, every time, the three brothers are mentioned together, Shem is always mentioned as the first one. Surely, this suggests that Shem was the oldest. The words โ2 years after the deluge,โ may be understood as โ2 years after the beginning of the deluge.โ At that time Shem would have been 99 years old as we have mentioned already. When the Torah speaks of his son being born 2 years after the deluge, we must understand this as at the beginning of the second year after the deluge.
Disambiguation Expression:
ืืืืื ืืฉื ืืโฆืื ืืืขืชื ื ืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืโฆ ืืืฉ ืืคืจืฉ ืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืขืื
In Gen 5:32, heย goes so far as to say, โEven though our sages have arrived at this conclusion, we must wonder why, every time, the three brothers are mentioned together, Shem is always mentioned as the first one.
????maybe what Radak says about agreement of verbs with the nomen regens, as a general rule, is a rule that he also applies to adjectives? E.g. on 1 Kings 17:16, ืืฆืคืืช ืืฉืื ืื ืืกืจ.
ืืืืจ: ืืกืจย โ ืืฉืื ืืืจ, ืื ืืขืื ืื ืืฉืื, ืืืืขืื ืืืจ: ืื ืชืืกืจ (ืืืืื ื ืืดื:ืืดื)ย โ ืืฉืื ื ืงืื, ืืขืื ืขื ืืฆืคืืช. ืืืขื ืื ืืื, ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืขืื ืืืย ืื ืื ืืืฉืื ืืจืื ืืืืืช ืืขื ืืคืขื ืื ืืืืง, ืืืืขื ืืืื ืืคืขื ืื ืื ืืืง, ืืื: ืื ืืืชื ืืืื ืคื ื ืืืืืื (ืฉืืืื ื ืืณ:ืืณ), ืงืื ื ืืืืื ื ืืืื (ืืืื ืืดื:ืืณ), ืงืฉืช ืืืืจืื ืืชืื (ืฉืืืื ื ืืณ:ืืณ).
(compare Ramban?)
Chizkuniย (R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach; 13th century)
ืืืงืื ื
ืืืฉื ืืืื ืืืืณ โ ืืื ืืื ื ืืืชื ืืจื ืชืืืืืชื: ืื ื ืืคืช ืืืืืณ (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืณ:ืืณ), ืืื ื ืื ืืืืืณ (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืณ:ืืณ), ืืืฉื ืืืื ืืืืืณ โ ืืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืกืืจ ืืืงื, ืืืื ื ืืชื ืืื: ืืคืช ืืืืื. ืืื ืฉืืืืืจื ืืืชืื ืืื ืคืขืืื ืงืืื ืืืื, ืืจื ืืฉืืืืชื ืงืืฉืื.1 ืืื ืืคืช โ ืฉื ืขืฉื ืขืื ืฉืืชืฃ ืืืื ืืช ืืืื.
alhatorah.org, modified:
'ืืืฉื ืืืื ืืื, โand for Shem were born, etc.โ Here, Scripture lists [the three sons] according to their genealogies:: โthe sons of Yephet etc.โ (Gen 10:2), โand the sons of Ham etc.โ (Gen 10:6), โand to Shem were born etc.โ (Gen 10:21)-- this indicates that this is the actual precise order [of their births]. And therefore it is written here, โYephet ืืืืื.โ ย And as for the fact that Scripture sometimes mentioned [Shem] before his brother, that was calculated according to their importance.
ืืื ืืคืช: For he became a partner to him to honor his father.
READING: READING A.
Expression of Ambiguity: implied, not stated; Chizkuni is entering a prior discourse, transmitting explanations, and interacting with arguments, that we have seen in earlier sources.
Disambiguation Strategy:ย Chizkuni states that his reason is based on the order of the presentation of the genealogies in this pericope. ย And he has a way to account for the alternative cases where Shem is listed first. Presumably, he also relies on tradition, especially in citing the ambiguous text as though it clearly describes Japheth as the eldest. He responds to the counter-argument, that Shem is always listed first when the sons are named, by saying that those lists are according to importance, not age.
Disambiguation Expression:
ืืื ืืื ื ืืืชื ืืจื ืชืืืืืชืโฆโ ืืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืกืืจ ืืืงืโฆ ืืืื ื ืืชื ืืื: ืืคืช ืืืืื
Nahmanidesย (Ramban; 1194 - 1270)
Rambanโs comments on our ambiguity and on the birth order of Noahโs son raise some complications. His comments in this verse are usually understood as indicating that he views Shem as the eldest son, which would be inconsistent with his comments on other verses on Genesis. This is the understanding in the initial translation presented here, of C. Chavel (as well as in alhatorah.org., ) Chavelโs translation is followed by my critique and some suggested emendations.
ืจืืืดื
ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืืย โ ืืขืืืจ ืฉืืืืจ ืชืืืืืช ืฉื, ืืกืืคืจ ืชืืืืืช ืืืื ืืงืื ืืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื, ืืืจ ืืืื ืื ืืื.
ืืืขื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจย โ ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืืฉืื ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ, ืฉืืื ืืงืื ืืืืก ืืืจืื. ืืื ืืชืื ืฉืืืื ืขืืจ ืืืงืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืืฉ ืืื ืคืื, ืื ืืื ืืืืก ืืืชื ืืืื.
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืืจื ืืืชืื ืืืืก ืืงืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืจืื, ืืื: ืืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืืืจื (ืฉืืืช ืืดื:ืืณ). ืืืขื ืืืืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืื, ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืืื, ืืืืื ืฉืื ืืืืจ ืืืชื ืืคื ื ืืขืืช ืื ืขืืื.
ืืื ืจืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืื ืชืืืจ ืืฉื, ืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืช, ืื ืื ืงืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืงืืื ืืืชื. ืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืืชืืืจ ืืืืืืจ ืื, ืืืื: ืืฉืขืืื ืื ืืืืฅ ืื ืืื (ืืืืื ื ืืณ:ืืณ), ืื ื ืื ืื ืขืืืจ ืื ืืื (ืืจืืืื ืืดื:ืืณ), ืืืืื ืื ืจืขืืื ืืืืื ื ืืชื ืืฉื (ืืืืืจ ืืณ:ืืดื). ืืจืืื ื ืฉืืื ืืชื: ืืื ืืคืช ืืื ืืื ืื, ืฉืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื. ืื ืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืื ืืฆืืืง ืืื ืืื ืืจืฉืข, ืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉื ืื ื ืืืจืื. ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื โ ืืฉืืื ืฉืืืืจ ืชืืืืืช ืฉื ืืกืคืจ ืชืืืืืช ืืืื ืืงืื ืืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืจ ืื ืืื: ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ โ ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืืฉืืื ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ ืฉืืื ืืงืื ืืืืก ืฉื ืืืจืื: ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ ืืจื ืืืชืื ืืืืืก ืืงืื ืืฆื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืืืจื ืืืขื ืืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื ืฉืื ืืืืจ ืืืชื ืืคื ื ืืขืืช ืื ืขืืื. ืืื ืจืื ืืขืื ื ืฉืืืืื ืืื ืชืืจ ืืฉื ืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืช ืื ืื ืงืื ืืืืืณ ืืขืดืค ืฉืืงืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืืชืืืจ ืืืืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืืฉืขืืื ืื ืืืืฅ ืื ืืื ืื ื ืืณ ืื ืขืืืจ ืื ืืื:
AND UNTO SHEM, TO HIM ALSO WERE CHILDREN BORN. Since Scripture delayed the narration of the generations of Shem and related the generations of his younger brother as if Shem had no children, it therefore says here, to him also.
THE FATHER OF ALL THE CHILDREN OF 'EBER.' This means that he was the father of all who dwelled beyond (eber) the Euphrates River, which was the place of Abraham's family. But it is not possible that Eber in this context be the name of the person who was the father of Peleg1 for why would Scripture connect the children of Eber with Shem [more so than with any of his other offspring]?
THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH THE ELDER. It is the way of Scripture to record a younger brother beside the oldest of his brothers, and not beside a younger one than himself.[6]ย And similarly, we find the verse, โMiriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron.โ[7]ย The reason for mentioning this altogether is to state that he [Shem] is the brother of the honorable Japheth, comparable to him in distinction. Scripture thus declares that the reason it delayed telling of his genealogy is not because Ham was more distinguished than he. It appears to me that "the elder" is descriptive of Shem,[8]ย meaning that he was the older brother of Japheth, as Ham was the youngest of all, even though Scripture mentioned Japheth first. So, likewise, in all places in Scripture, the descriptive noun refers to the subject spoken of, such as: Isaiah the son of Amoz the prophet,5 [the term "the prophet" refers to Isaiah, who is the subject of the narration]; Unto Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law,6 [here, "Moses' father-in-law" refers back to Hobab]. But Rashi wrote: "The brother of Japheth. It does not state "the brother of Ham" because these two [Shem and Japheth] honored their father whereas Ham put him to shame." This interpretation also declares that the sense of the verse is that Shem is the brother of the righteous brother, and not the brother of the wicked brother even though he is counted after him.
NOTES and alternative translation:
Chavel thus takes Ramban to be saying that Shem is the eldest of the brothers, even though the genealogy of Japhet is placed first in this genealogical pericope. โIt appears to me that โthe elderโ [ ืืืืื] is descriptive of Shem, meaning that he was the older brother [ ืืื ืืืืื] of Japheth, as Ham was the youngest [ ืงืื ืืืืื] of all, even though Scripture mentioned Japheth first.โ Similarly, this footnote in alhatorah.org: ย Ramban, in this final paragraph, sets forth his principle that Shem was really the oldest of the three brothers. The order of their birth was thus: Shem, Japheth and Ham. This is completely unlike the theory of Rashi (5:32; 9:24) who holds that they were born in this order: Japheth, Ham and Shem. Radak here conforms with Ramban's theoryโฆ
The interpretation that Chavel,ย and others, attribute to Ramban here is not only unlike that of Rashi, but also inconsistent with Rambanโs own view in his comments toย Gen 6:10ย and Gen 10:2ย (in our chapter, just 8 verses before ours), that the birth order was Japhet, Ham, Shem. I do not think it is necessary to view the Ramban here as reversing his opinion in those comments. I therefore suggest the following alternative translation,ย taking gadolย as referring to stature, which would accommodate retaining the view of Jepheth as the eldest son:
It appears to me that โthe greaterโ [ ืืืืื] is descriptive of Shem, meaning that he was the greater brother [ ืืื ืืืืื] of Japheth, as Ham was the least of all of them [ืงืื ืืืืื], even though Scripture mentioned Ham first [i.e., before Jephet; repeatedly, when Scripture lists the three sons, typically in the order: Shem, Ham, and Japhet].
Here are some notes and questions embedded in a translation of Rambanโs commentary.:
THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH THEย gadol. It is the way of Scripture to record a younger brother beside the oldest of his brothers, and not beside one who was born after him. ย And similarly, we find the verse, Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron. <<ST: What is this intended to prove? Miriam here is named according to a sibling who is younger than her, though Ramban presumably sees him as greater in stature; the alternative option was to identify her relative to Moses, who was younger than both of them and presumably considered by Ramban to be greater than both of them. Is the description of Miriam mentioned as an example (โand similarlyโ of usual Scriptural practice, or as an example of a similar case to our verse, where there is an unexpected identification relative to a younger/lesser sibling?)>> The reason for mentioning this altogether is to state that he [Shem] is the brother of the honorable [Japheth], comparable to him in his honor. <<so far, it seems that Jephet is the referent of gadol, high-statured; maybe elder/eldest>> ย Scripture thus declares that the reason it delayed telling of his [Shemโs] genealogy is not because Ham was more distinguished than he.
It appears to me that gadol is descriptive of Shem, meaning that he was the greater/greatest brother of Japheth,<<As noted above, Chavelโs translation of โeldestโ would be inconsistent with Ramban on Gen 6:10; 10:2, where he says clearly that Japhet is eldestโ โfirstbornโ. See CHESHVAN supplement GENESIS 5:32; GEN 6:10; GEN 10:2; + GEN 11:10. ย An additional reason to see Ramban as taking this phrase to be about honor/merit/stature, not age, is that this statement follows from Rambanโs previous pointโ that this verse comes to show that Ham was not more distinguished than Shemโand thus, it makes sense that its intent would be to show that Shem was the most distinguished. >>ย as Ham was the youngest of allย <<again, age is less relevant to the context. Unfortunately, Ramban does not comment on haqatanย in Gen 9:24, about Ham, ad loc., though in Gen 6:10 he seems to cite the verse as being about age and in 9:25 he makes very disparaging remarks about Canaan,>> even though Scripture mentioned Japheth first. So, likewise, in all places in Scripture, the descriptive noun refers to the subject spoken of, such as: Isaiah the son of Amoz the prophet, [the term โthe prophetโ refers to Isaiah, who is the subject of the narration]; Unto Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Mosesโ father-in-law, [here, โMosesโ father-in-lawโ refers back to Hobab]. And Rashi wrote <<โandโ, instead of Chavelโs โbutโ>>: โThe brother of Japheth. It does not state โthe brother of Hamโ because these two [Shem and Japheth] honored their father whereas Ham put him to shame.โ This interpretation also declares that the sense of the verse is that Shem is the brother of the righteous brother, and not the brother of the wicked brother even though he is counted after him.
READING: READING Bย
ืืื ืจืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืื ืชืืืจ ืืฉื, ืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืชย
It is unfortunate that Ramban re-uses Scriptureโs lexically ambiguous terms ืืืืื and ืืงืื in his presentation of his view, that Shem is ืืืืื relative to Japhet and that Ham is ืืงืื. He makes effective use of disambiguating ย terms in other parts of this comment, for example, in his preceding paraphrase, โืืจื ืืืชืื ืืืืก ืืงืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืจืืโ-where qatanย and gadolย are clearly about age, ย and when he states ืืื ืื ืืื- where he is clearly talking about honor.
I initially tried to understand Rambanโs comment according to Chavelโs translation, such that he takes ืืืืื in this verse to refer to age, hence, READING Bโ and specifically that Shem was the eldest brother. Thus, my initial understanding was thatย ย Ramban first presented the Sagesโ readingโ that it is customary to identify a person by his older brother, and therefore they take this verse as following that custom, with Japheth as eldest; Reading aโ ย and then he presented his own, different readingโthat Shem is the eldest; Reading B. (= Chavel: โIt appears to me that โthe elderโ is descriptive of Shem, meaning that he was the older brother of Japhethโ). This would align with Radak, as noted in the alhatorah.org footnotes. ย
Upon reflection, Iโve concluded that it is preferable to read this comment as consistent with Rambanโs view in Gen 6:10 and Gen 10:2 that Japheth is the oldest brother. My first inclination is to translate/interpret as I did aboveโ such that Ramban takes the verse as saying that Shem was the greatest brother. This reducesย the contradiction with Rambanโs comment on Gen 6:10, but it does not resolve it. Inย Gen 6:10, ย Ramban not only states decisively that Jepheth is the eldest sonโ ย he also uses our verse as a prooftext for this!
ืื ืจืื ืืื ืื ืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืืจ: ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื
It seems unavoidable that there is an inconsistency between his comments here and in 6:21, about the referent of hagadol. There, he seems to take the word as referring to Japhet, and he takes the phrase to mean that Japhet is the eldest brother. Here, he says that the word modifies Shemโa contradiction. ย But does he mean age?
The approach that I tried above, to harmonize Rambanโs comments, is to say: Ramban thinks Japhet as the eldest, but (at least in this comment), he takes hagadolย in this verse to be about stature and character, not age. ย Towards this end, I tried ย to understand Rambanโs reading ย of this verse as โShem, the great, the brother of Japethโ. ย But he clearly says โืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืชโ-- the great(er/est) brother of Japhet. If he understands ย ืืืืื as indicating honor, then we could explain this statement as saying that Shem is more honorable than Japhetโ contra Chavelโs translation of โolder brotherโ so that his view here could be consistent with his comment on Gen 6:10. This might be how ื ืคืชืื ืืจืฅ ืืืืื reads the Ramban.[9]ย
Statement about ambiguity: implied, e.g., โit appears to me.โ
Disambiguation Strategy: Logical argument based on biblical tendencies in similar cases: identifications of siblings; referents of modifier following genitive construct pair.
Disambiguation Expression: โit appears to me that hagadol is a modifier of Shem, meaning that he was ืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืชโ (= โthe greater (???) ย brother of Japheth.โ) In trying to disambiguate, Ramban converted the biblical genitive construct to the later Hebrew construction โืฉืโ and in so doing, he was able to move the modifier adjacent to the nomen regensโ the gadolย brother of Japhet. Changing word order is a common disambiguating technique. The technical term โืชืืืจโ in ืฉืืืื ืืืืื ืชืืืจ ืืฉื achieves the same disambiguation as the re-ordering, by means of a descriptive comment.
My class notes on Gen 10:21, describe Ramban as taking the modifier as functioning in โextra-wideโ scopeโ referring back to Shem, the subject in the verse. The subject will be the entity referred to in the nomen regens, ย ื ืกืื, in the construct pairโ the term in construct form; this term is modified, or restricted, by the nomen rectum, ืกืืื. The ย ื ืกืื is the ืืืืืจ ืื, the main noun, which is being modified by the ืกืืื and, according to Ramban, also by the additional modifiers that follow. In our verse, ืืื stands in for Shem. But Ramban seems to deliberately state that haggadol refers to โShemโ, not just to โbrotherโ; henceโ extra-wide, going back to a word in the beginning of the verse.
*Ramban on Gen 6:10 and Gen 10:2.
Gen 6:10: ืึทืึผึฅืึนืึถื ื ึนึืึท ืฉึฐืืึนืฉึธืึฃื ืึธื ึดึืื ืึถืชโ ึพืฉึตืึื ืึถืชโ ึพืึธึฅื ืึฐืึถืชโ ึพืึธึฝืคึถืช
ืืช ืฉื ืืช ืื ืืืช ืืคืชย โ ืื ืจืื ืืื ืื ืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืืจ: ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืณ:ืืดื), ืืื ืืื ื ืืชืืืืืชื ืื ื ืืคืช ืชืืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืณ:ืืณ). ืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืืืืื, ืืืฉืจ ืืืจ: ืืืืข ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื ืื ืื ื ืืงืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืณ:ืืดื). ืืื ืืงืืื ืฉื ืืขืืืจ ืืขืืชื, ืืืืืืจ ืื ืืืจืื ืื ืื ื ืืืื, ืืื ื ื ืชืืืจ ืืคืช, ืืื ืจืฆื ืืืชืื ืืืืจ: ืฉื ืืืคืช ืืื, ืื ืืื ืืืื ื ืืืจืื ืฉืื ืืกืืจ ืชืืืืืชื, ืืืื ืืืคืช ืืขืื ืฉืืืื ืืกืืจ ืืขืืืจื, ืืื ืฉื ืืงืืื ืืืชื ืืขืืืจ ืืขืืชื ืืฃ ืขื ืคื ืฉืืื ืืืืืจ ืืกืคืืจ ืืชืืืืืช (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืณ:ืืดื). ืืื: ืื ื ืืืจืื ืืฆืืง ืืืฉืืขืื (ืืืจื ืืืืื ื ืืณ:ืืดื), ืืื: ืืืชื ืืืฆืืง ืืช ืืขืงื ืืืช ืขืฉื (ืืืืฉืข ืืดื:ืืณ).
Chavel:
SHEM, HAM, AND JAPHETH. It appears to me that Japheth was the oldest, as it is said, the brother of Japheth the elder, and so in counting their generations, Scripture mentions the children of Japheth first. Ham was the youngest of all, as it is said, And [Noah] knew what his youngest son had done unto him. Here, however, Scripture mentions Shem first because of his superiority and then Ham, for they were born in that order. Thus Japheth is left at the end. But Scripture did not want to say, "Shem and Japheth and Ham," because in that case all of them would have been mentioned out of the order of their birth, and Japheth had no outstanding quality to merit that the order of birth be dispensed with on his account. Shem, however, is mentioned here first because of his superiority even though in the account of the generations he is last. Similarly, [we find the verses]: The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael; And I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau.
Here: birth order is Japheth, Ham, Shem. ย Shem is named first because of his superiority. Then Ham, who was second-born. Then Japhet, because thereโs no reason to move him earlier based on merit, as his merit was not so great as to warrant displacement from birth order.
Also: Ramban says that Gen 10:21: ย (1) the phrase ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย ย and (2) ย the fact that Japhetโs genealogy is listed first both prove that Japhet is eldest: This understanding of ย ืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื is difficult to harmonize with his comment in Gen 10:21, and how this comment is cited by later commentators. ย It seems that ย Mecklenburg and Hoffmann both understand Ramban as taking Shem as the oldest brother and the referent ofย hagadol. (ื ืคืชืื ืืจืฅ ืืืืื might read him as saying that haggadolย applies to Shem, who was more meritorious than Japheth? Whereas ืืืืื himself takes the verse as indicating that Shem was the eldest. ืฆืจืื ืขืืื).
One possible approach: ย Ramban means that ย ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย ย shows that Japhet was eldest because in this phrase, Shem was identified with respect to Japhet, and it is usual for a person to be identified in terms of his older sibling. ย As he stated in Gen 10:21, Ramban thinks that Shem is being described as โthe great(er) brother of Japhethโ; and this description, i.e., the identification of Shem with respect to Jepheth, shows that Jepheth was his eldest brother, even though โhaggadolโ refers to Shem, the great/er/est brother.
ืื ื ืืคืช โ ืืื ืืื ื ืื ืืื ืืืืืจ, ืื ืชื ืืืจืื ืื ืื ืจืฆื ืืืืจ ืชืืืืืช ืฉื ืืงืจื ืฉื ื ืืคืจืฉืืืช ืืชืืืืืชืื, ืื ืืฉ ืืืืจืื ืืชืืืืืช ืืืจืื.
THE SONS OF JAPHETH: GOMERโฆ. [Scripture] begins with [Japheth] for he was the firstborn. And it places Ham after him, for [Scripture] wanted to delay the account of the generations of Shem in order to place side by side the two sections dealing with Shem's children, since it is important to dwell at length on the generations of Abraham.
Here, the term โfirstbornโ makes very clear that Ramban sees Jepheth as the eldest brother.
R. Yaakov b. Asherย (Tur; 1269-1343)
ืืืจ ืืคืืจืืฉ ืืืจืื
ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื โ ืืฉืืื ืฉืืืืจ ืชืืืืืช ืฉื ืืกืคืจ ืชืืืืืช ืืืื ืืงืื ืืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืจ ืื ืืื: ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ โ ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืืฉืืื ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ ืฉืืื ืืงืื ืืืืก ืฉื ืืืจืื: ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ ืืจื ืืืชืื ืืืืืก ืืงืื ืืฆื ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืจืื ืืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืืืจื ืืืขื ืืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื ืฉืื ืืืืจ ืืืชื ืืคื ื ืืขืืช ืื ืขืืื. ืืื ืจืื ืืขืื ื ืฉืืืืื ืืื ืชืืจ ืืฉื ืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืช ืื ืื ืงืื ืืืืืณ ืืขืดืค ืฉืืงืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืืชืืืจ ืืืืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืืฉืขืืื ืื ืืืืฅ ืื ืืื ืื ื ืืณ ืื ืขืืืจ ืื ืืื:
alhatorah.org, modified:
ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื, โalso for Shem offspring had been bornโ: [The Torah chose this unusual syntax] so that we would not think, seeing that Shem's offspring had not been mentioned up until now, that he had been childless during the time Canaan had produced all these nations.
ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ the founding father of all the โIvrimโ: He was the founder of all the clans settling west of the river Euphrates, the region from which Avraham stemmed.
ย ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โthe brother of the senior Yephet": It is the custom of the Torah to relate the younger brother always by comparing him to the oldest, not to the one who had been born immediately after to him. This is why we have the prophetess Miriam described as Aaron's sister and not as Moses' sister (Exodus 15,20) The reason why this comparison is mentioned altogether, is to inform us that his distinguished brother [Shem] was equal to him [Yephet], and that Shem's being mentioned last does not suggest that he was less distinguished or worthy of mention. Ham was certainly not more distinguished than Shem.
Personally, I believe that the word ืืืืื in our verse is an adjective that applies to Shem, [he was the โgreat oneโ] i.e. he was greater than Yephet, Ham being least of all of them, although he was listed in an order that suggests otherwise.ย It is the custom of the Torah to apply the modifier to the noun that is being spoken about.
Statement about ambiguity: ย ืืื ืจืื ืืขืื ื ืฉืืืืื ืืื ืชืืจ ืืฉื ย implies that others judge otherwise.
Disambiguation Strategy:ย The Tur cites andย follows the Ramban, stating that there is a general rule in biblical Hebrew, that the referent of a modifier following a genitive construct pair is the nomen regens.
In my understanding, R. Yaakov b. Asher states clearly his view that Jephet is the eldest of the brothers, but that Shem is the greatest. He takes the adjective haggadol as modifying Shem for grammatical reasons, and he explains the contextual reason for including the adjectiveโto ensure that Shemโs greatness is recognized despite the fact that his genealogies appear last in the list here.
Disambiguation Expression: โIt appears to me that โthe greaterโ is a modifier of Shem, i.e. he was greater than Jepheth, Ham being the least, although he was listed in an order that suggests otherwise.โ
It is possible that the Tur also believes that the Ramban understood the verse the way he interprets it.
My understanding differs from the translation and explanation in alhatorah.org. The translation there reads: โPersonally, I believe that the word ืืืืื in our verse is an adjective that applies to Shem, [he was the "great one"] i.e. he was senior to Yephet, Cham being the youngest, although he was listed in an order that suggests otherwise. So, likewise, in all places in Scripture, the adjective refers to the subject spoken of.โ
R. Joseph ibn Caspiย (1280-1340)
ืจ' ืืื ืืกืคื
ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืฉื ื ืืืืืกืื ืืืื ืืฉึตื ืืื ืืฉืื, ืืคื ืฉื ื ืืืืืกืื ืฉืืชืืณ ืืื. ืืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืช ื ืืชื ืืชืืจื ืื ืืื ืชืืืจ ืืืคืช ืืืฉืจ ืืขืืื ืขืืื ืขืืื ื ืืื ืื, ืื ืฉื ืื ืกืช ืืืืืื. ืืืื ืชืืื ืืืืจืื ื ืดืืืืืืด, ืื ืืื ืืืจื ืฉืืืื ืืฆืจืืฃ ืืึธื ืืฉึตื, ืื ืฉืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืขืืงืจ ืืืืืง ืืขื ืื ืืืื ืืงืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืฆื ืื ืคืฉ, ืื ืดืื ืืฉืืงื ืืืืฉ ืืจืฆืืด (ืชืืืื ืงืืดื:ืืณ), ืืืชืืณ ืดืื ืชืื ืื ืืจืืื ืืื ืืืื ืงืืืชื ืื ืืืกืชืืืด (ืฉืืืื ื ืืดื:ืืณ), ืืืืืจ ืื ืืืืก ืืื ืืฉื ืืฆื ื ืคืฉื, ืืืื ืืชืณ ืืืืข ื ืคืฉ ืื ืื.
translation: modified chatgpt:
ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย
Both of these identifying attributions for Shem ย [i.e., father of all sons of eberย and brother of Japhet], are for his praise.. The opposite of the two attributions written for Ham. However, the intention of Scripture (โthe Giver of the Torahโ) is that ย ืืืืื is a modifier of Japhet, as attested by reliable witnesses, the men of the Great Assembly.ย But there is no need to wonder about our statement about ย ืืืืื, for it is not necessary for the term to be relative to Ham and Shem. Certainly, the intention of this explanation is that the primary connection in terms of a person, whether smallย or great, is from the aspect of the soul. As it is said, 'He does not desire the strength of a man' (Psalms 147:10), and it is also stated, 'Do not look at his appearance and the height of his stature, for I have rejected him' (1 Samuel 16:7), meaning that he is rejected by God from the perspective of his soul. And He, may He be blessed, knows the soul of every living being.
READING: READING A
Statement about ambiguity: โBoth of these identifying attributions for Shem are for his praise. The opposite of the two attributions written for Ham. However, the intention of Scripture (โthe Giver of the Torahโ) is that ย ืืืืื is a modifier of Japhet, as attested by reliable witnesses, the men of the Great Assembly. But there is no need to wonder about our statement about ย ืืืืื.โ ย Ibn Caspi sees the point of the modifier, ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื, as praising Shem, and yet he takes the adjective as referring to Japhet, following rabbinic tradition; he indicates that there is some tension present in his understanding.
Disambiguation Strategy: He explicitly refers to the authority of the Men of the Great Assembly, by which he presumably means the cantillation marks. ย He may also take this reading as more natural, as some other sources have done, with the cantillation as confirmation. I donโt think Ibn Caspi disambiguates lexically. Since the praise for Shem is his association with Japhet, Ibn Caspi might understand the phrase to say that Shem is associated (1) with Japhet, his older brother, who is known to be a positive figure; or (2) with Japhet, the great, i.e., somebody similar to Shem.
Disambiguation Expression: โHowever, the intention of Scripture (โthe Giver of the Torahโ) is that ย ืืืืื is a modifier of Japhet, as attested by reliable witnesses, the men of the Great Assembly.โ
R. Levi ben Gershomย (Ralbag; 1288- 1384)
ืจืืืดื ืืืืืจ ืืืืืืช
ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจย โ ืื ืืฉืจืื, ืื ืื ื ืงืจืื ืขืืจืื, ืืืจ: ืณืืณ ืืืื ืืขืืจืืืณ (ืฉืืืช ื, ืื, ืืขืื), ืืืืืกืึน ืืื ืืคื ืฉืื ืืืืชืจ ื ืืืืื ืืืจืขื.
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืืืืข ืฉืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื, ืืคื ืฉื ื ืืื ืื ืืืฉ ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืืฉืืืืื, ืืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืื ืืฉืชืื ืฉื ื ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื, ืืื ื ืืฆืื ื ืฉืืื ืฉึตืื ืื ืืืช ืฉื ื ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื (ืื, ื). ืืขืื, ืฉืืชืืจื ืืงืืืื ืืกืคืจ ืชืืืืืช ืืคืช ืงืืื ืชืืืืืช ืฉึตืื. ืืื ื ืืืืก ืฉึตืื ืื ืืคืช ืฉืืื ืืืืื, ืืืืืชื ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉื ืชืืืจ ืืกืืคืืจ ืืงืืื (ื, ืื), ืืืื ืื ืืืืกืึน ืฉืืืื ืืื ืื.
โThe father of all the sons of Eberโ โ these are the Israelites, for they are called Hebrews, as it says, 'the God of the Hebrews' (Exodus 7:16 etc.). And he is identified by attribution to them because they are the most distinguished of his lineage.
โThe brother of Japheth the elderโ โ It is known that Japheth was the eldest, since Noah was five hundred years old when he begat him. Therefore, the oldest among his children was one hundred and two years old after the Flood. We find that Shem was one hundred years old two years after the Flood (Genesis 11:10). Furthermore, the Torah preceded recounting the genealogy of Japheth before that of Shem. Yet, Shem is attributed to Japheth, who is the elder, because they were joined in goodness, as explained in the previous narrative (Genesis 9:23). For this reason, he is not attributed as the brother of Ham.
READING: READING A
Statement about ambiguity: Ralbag seems to state that thereโs no ambiguityโsaying that Japhet is described here as the eldest and that this is also known by other means. And yet, heโs continuing a discourse of resolution of ambiguity.
Disambiguation Strategy: as above: no disambiguation, but exegetical strategy seems to be that the verse obviously describes Japhet as the elder brother, reinforced by the traditional calculation in the midrash, talmud, and other commentaries, as well as the fact that the genealogies in the pericope commence with Japhet.
Disambiguation Expression: โIt is known that Japheth was the eldest, sinceโฆโ
R. Eliyahu Mizrahiย (1450? - 1526)
ืืืจืื
ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ ืืื ืฉื. ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืื ืื ื ืืืื ืจืืืชืื ืืขืืจ ืื ืืืดื ืืื ืื ืืืฉืคืืืช ืืืืฆืืืช ืืื ื ืืื ืืืืืื ืฉืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืฉื ืืืืืื ืฉืืืืณ ืคืืณ ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ: ืืื ืฉื. ืคืืณ ืืืช ืืื ืืืง ืขื ืืืฉื ืื ืขื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืชืืืกื ืื ืื ื ืืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืืขื ื ืืืชืื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืชืืืกืื ืืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืกืชื ืืื ืคืืจืฉ ืืื ืชืืขืืช ืืื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ื ืืืจ:
ืฉืืจื ืื ืชืดืง ืฉื ื ืืื ื ื. ืืฉืืชืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืฉื ื ืื ื ื ื ืืืืืืื ืืขืช ืื ืืืืื ืืืชืจ ืืื ื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืื ืืคืฉืจ ืื ืฉืืจื ืื ืืืฉ ืืงืืดื ืืช ืืขืืื ื ืฉื ื ื ืืืืืืื ืขื ืื ืืืฉ ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืจืืื ืืขืื ืฉืื ืืขืช ืืืืื ืืืืขืื ืืขืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืงืื ืฉืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืฉืื ืืืืื. ืืืดื ืื ืฉืืจื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืจืง ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื. ืืื ืชืืืจ ืืืชื ืืื ืืืข ืืื ืฉืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื ืืฉื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืฉ ืืืืช ืืชืืื ื ื ืืืืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืคืช ืขื ืืืจ ืืณ ืฉื ืื ืืฉืืชืืื ืืืืืื ืฉืืื ืื ื ื ืื ืชืงืดื ืฉื ื ืืฉื ื ืืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืฉื ืื ืืฉืืชืืื ื ื ืืืืืื ืฉืืื ืื ื ื ืื ืชืงืดื ืฉื ื ืฉื ืืฆื ืืื ืฉืฉื ืืื ืื ืงืณ ืฉื ื ืฉื ืชืืื ืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืคืช ืืื ืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืฉืืฉ ืฉื ืื ืืืจ ืืืืื. ืืฉ ืืืืจ ืฉืืืืจ ืฉืกืชื ืืืชืื ืืื ืืืืชื ืืืื ื ืฉืื ื ืืืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืืจ ืฉื ื ืขื ืืกืืจ ืืจืืฉืื ืืฉื ืช ืชืดืง ืืฉื ื ืืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื ืืฉืืืฉื ืืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื ืืืืจ ืฉืืืืืขื ื ืฉื ืืื ืฉื ืืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื ืืืืฉืืข ืืฉื ืื ืงืณ ืฉื ื ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืื ื ืฉืฉื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืคืช ืืืืื ืืื ื ืืืกื ืืืจืื ืืคืณ ืื ืกืืจืจ ืืืืจื ืืืจื ืฉืืฉื ืื ื ื ื ืืืชืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืฉื ืืืช ืื ืืืช ืืคืช ืืฉืืฉื ืื ื ืชืจื ืืืชืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืืืจื ืืช ื ืืืจ ืืืช ืืจื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ื ืืืช:
โThe father of all the sons of eberโ was Shem. Not the sons of Eber, son of his son. For how was Eber greater than every other one? He is the father of all the families that descend from him.. And since Shem is the โfather of all the sons of eber,โ the meaning of โall the sons of eberโ must be, [the farther of all of those from] across the river, was Shem.This means: the word โthe father ofโ refers to โand to Shemโ and not to โwas bornโ. For why would they identify him by attribution to his son and not to him, who was the father of everybody, and would would Scripture not tell us which of his sons he is being attributed to? โall the sons of eberโ, but generically, and it does not specify, and what would be the point of this if he is not named?
[โThe brother of Japheth the elderโ] For indeed Noah was five hundred years old when he began to have sons born to him. For you cannot say it was when he ceased having children. For, if so, then both of Noahโs elder two children would have been more than one hundred years old at the time when the flood came and this is not possible. Because, God did not impede Noahโs childbearing ability until he was 500 years old; but, in order that none of his sons would be culpable for punishment at the time of the flood, as above. And further, for if so, then the youngest of his sons would have been 100 when the flood came. But this is impossible Because Shem was 100 years old only 2 years after the flood. And if you would say, but we still donโt know from this that Japheth was the elder. From there. If Noah began to have children at the age of 500, and Japheth was only born after 3 years, when Noah was 103, and Shem was born 2 years after Noah began to have children, when Noah was 102, then we would find that Shem was 100 years old, 2 years after the flood, and Japhet was 100 years old, 3 years after the flood.
Then it must be said that after Scripture concealed the time of their births, we learn that they were born year after year consecutively; the first in the 100th year [of Noahโs life], the second in the 101st year, the third in the 102nd year. And after weโve been informed that Shem was born in the 102nd year, as emerges from the fact that Shem was 100 years old, 2 years after the flood, we learn that Shem was the last, and Japhet is โthe elderโ relative to him.
In Sanhedrin, in the chapter about the stubborn and rebellious son, they said that Noah's three sons were mentioned together, and the text reads, "And he bore Shem, and Ham, and Japheth" (Genesis 5:32). ย And Terach's three sons [are mentioned together]: โAnd he bore Abram, and Nahor, and Haran.โ (Genesis 11:26). Each one of them was greater than his brother by one year.
READING: READING A
Statement about ambiguity:ย even after presenting the argument from calculation, Mizrahi states:
ืืื ืชืืืจ ืืืชื ืืื ืืืข ืืื ืฉืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื
โAnd if you would say, โbut we still donโt know from this that Japheth was the elder?โโ
indicating that doubt remainsโ the doubt that the calculation was intended to resolve.
Disambiguation Strategy:ย intertextuality and calculation
Disambiguation Expression: ืืืื ื ืฉืฉื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืคืช ืืืืื ืืื ื
R. Isaac Abarbanelย (1437-1509)
ืืืจืื ืื
ืืืืื ืืืจื ืืืฉื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย ืืชื ืืจืืืดื ืฉืืขืืืจ ืฉืืืจ ืกืคืืจ ืชืืืืืช ืฉื ืืืืจื ืืืืจืื ื ืืืจ ืื ืชืืฉืื ืฉืืขืืืจ ืฉืืืจืชื ืชืืืืืช ืืคืช ืืชืืืืืณ ืื ืืื ื ืืืจื ืขืืื ื ืชืืืืืช ืฉื ืฉืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืฉืืืืืช ืืืื ืืขืืื ื ืชืืื ืื ื ืืืืื ืืืฉื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืื ืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืืย ืืฉืืืจื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจย ืืื ืืจืฆืื ืขื ืขืืจ ืื ืฉืื ืื ืืจืคืืฉืณ ืื ืืืจ ืืคืจืฉื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจย ืื ืืจ ืืงืื ืืืจืื ืืืื ื ื ืืื ืื ืื ืฆืืจื ืืืืจื ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื. ืืืืืืข ืฉืืื ืืฉื ืชืืืืืช ืืืจื ืฉืืืจื ืืชืืจืณ ืชืืืืืชืื ืืื ืืืจื ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ ืืื ืืืืช ืืืืขื ืฉืืื ืื ืชืืขืืณ ืืืื ืื ืืืจ ืืจื ืืฉืืจ ืืืจืฆืืช ืฉืื ืืดื ืื ืื ืฉื ืฉื ืืดืฉ ืฉืืืชืื ืื ืืืจ ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจย ืืืื ืขืืจ ืื ืฉืื ืืืืช. ืืื ืจืืณ ืื ืืื ืืื ืฉืืขืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืฉื ืื ืืณ ืืื ื ืื ืื ืจืืืณ ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืคืช ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืจืฆืชืณ ืืชืืจื ืืืืื ืืชืืื ืณ ืฉื ืืืืฉืจ ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืชื ืืืืชื ืชืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ื ืื ืื ืืดื ืืขืืจ ืื ืฉืื ืื ืืจืคืืฉื ืืืื ืืจืขื ืื ืืืชื ืจืื ืฆืืืง ืืคื ืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืฉื ืืืืืื ืืืืจืฉืืช ืืืืื. ืืฉืืื ืื ืื ืืืชื ืืืืชื ืขื ืื ืืื ืขื ืื ืื ืืื ืขื ืืคืช ืืืื ืืืขืื ืืืฉืืืืช ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืืฉื ืื ืื ืืืจืื ืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื ืื ืืคืช ืืืื ืืืจื ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจย ืจืดื ืืฉื ืื ืื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืจืื ืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืฉืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืขืืดื ืื ืืื ืืขืื ืื ืื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจย ืฉืืื ืืืชื ืืืืชื ืืจืื ืื ืขื ืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืฉืืจ ืืื ืื.
ืืื ืืขื ืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืคืชย ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืย ืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืจืื ืขื ืืืื ืืงืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืช ืืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืขื ืื ื ืืืืืชื ืืืชื ืืื ืื ืืืืช ืฉืฉืืจ ืื ืื ืืฉืืจ ืืืื ืื ืืื ื ืืฉืืื ืืฆืื ืืืืื ืืขื ืื ืฉืคืืจืฉืชื ืืคืกืืณ ืื ืืืชืจื ืืฉืืื ืืืณ.
Indeed, it is said, โAnd to Shem was born the father of all the sons of Eber, the brother of Japheth, the elder.โ The Ramban wrote that since the genealogy of Shem was mentioned and his memory was recorded at the end, the Torah declared: Do not think that since I mentioned the genealogy of Japheth and the genealogy of Ham, but did not yet mention the genealogy of Shem, that he did not have children, and that in order to always be godly and focused, he did not marry any woman. The matter is not so, for what was the need to say โto Shem was born also.โ It is in order to inform that Shem had offspring, after the Torah had mentioned his offspring, and also, saying ย that he was the father of all the sons across the river would really be information without a purpose, and why did he not name Haran and the other lands, which were also his sons? Especially as Scripture did not sayโ the father of all the sons acrossย the river,โ but โ the father of all the sons of Eberโ, and this is truly Eber the son of Shelah. And what seems to me, in this, is that since Shem had many sons and sons of sons, and he also had brothers, Japheth and Ham, and their sonsโtherefore, the Torah wanted to tell Shemโs virtue and integrity, that his love was not attached to any of his other children or grandchildren, but only to Eber, son of Shelah, son of Arpachshad, and his lineage, for him did he see as righteous before him, and wise, dwelling in tents, and study houses, like himself. Similarly, his affection wasn't with Ham or his sons but with Japheth, who was greater in virtue and perfection. This is as if Shem had no other children but the sons of Eber and he had no brother other than Japheth.
Therefore, it was stated, โAnd to Shem was born, the father of all the sons of Eber,โ' meaning that to Shem also were born many children, as to his other brothers, but even so, in his eyes, he regarded himself only as the father of โall the sons of Eberโ, for his love was for them, in the manner of how a father loves sons, as though he were not the father of the other children.
Similarly, concerning his brothers, it was as if he was โthe brother of Japhethโ alone, and also, his elder brother. For the older brother loves his younger siblings as if they were his own children. This was also the case with Shem, the elder brother of Japheth alone, for he was his focus, in his love for him. All of this was as a sign that his other sons and other brothers had no value for him at all. (With my explanation for this verse, the seventh question is resolved.)
READING: READING B: Shem is the greatest and oldest of the brothers, but the verse identifies him specifically as the greater brother of Japhet, because Japhet was the only brother who was a true brother to him.
Statement about ambiguity: despite his interaction with Ramban, Abarbanel does not address the issues in the verse ย from the standpoint of syntactic ambiguity; he addresses the lexical ambiguity of whether or not eberย is a proper name and determines, against the Ramban, that it is. He participates in the discussion of the referent of ย ืืืืื, but does not address this as an ambiguity; he merely states that Shemโs concern for Japhet was the concern of an older brother for a younger.
Disambiguation Expression:
ืืื ืืขื ืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืคืชย ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืย ืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืจืื ืขื ืืืื ืืงืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืื ืื
R. Naftali Herz Wesselyย 1725-1805
ื ืคืชืื ืืจืฅ ืืืืื
ืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืืย โ [ืืชื ืจืืืดื] ืดืืขืืืจ ืฉึถืืึดืึตืจ [ืืืชืื] ืชืืืืืช ืฉื, ืึฐืกึดืคึตึผืจ ืชืืืืืช ืืืื ืืงืื ืืื ื ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืื [ืืฉึตืื] ืื ืื, ืืืจ ืืืื ืณืื ืืืืณโ โ ืด. ืืคืืณ ืจืืืดื ืืดื, ืืืื ื ืจืืื ืืฆืืจื ืืื ืืืจ ืฉืคืจื ืชืืืืืชืื ืืืื ืืืขืืช. ืื ืืืขืชื ืืคืช [ืืื] ืืงืื, ืืฉื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืฉืืคืจืฉ ืืขืืดื ืืคืจืฉื ืืกืืืื, ืึผืึฐืึธืจึธื ืื ืืฆืขืืจ ืื ืืืืืจ ืืคื ืฉืจืืฆื ืืคืจืฉ ืืกืืื ืชืืืืืช ืฉืืณ ืื ืื ืืื ื ืื ืื ืื ืืืึน ืืืืจืื ื, ืฉืื ืืจื ืืืชืืืื ืืคืจืฉ ืืื ืฉืกืืื ืืื ืฉืคืจืฉื ื ืืคืืจืืฉ ืดืชืื ืืืื ืืืืฉืืด. ืืืืขืชื ืืืจ ืดืื ืืืืด ืืื ืดืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืืด ืฉืืื ืืจืืืช, ืฉืื ืืชื ืืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืืช ืืืื. ืืื ืืื ืืขืคืดื ืฉืืืจืชื ืื ืชืืืืืช ืืคืช ืืื, ืฉืืงืืื ืืื ืืื ืฉึธืืจืื ืืืืืื ืืืจืฉื ืืจืฆืืช, ืืืขืื ืืื ืฉึตืื, ืื ืชืืืืืชืื ื ืืืืืช ืืืชืจ ืืืจืืฉืช ืืืจืฆืืช ืืืขืืื ืืืืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืืืื; ืืืืืชืจ ืฉืืืืฆืื ืืฆื ืืืจืื ืืืจืข ืืกืืืื, ืื ืืื ืืื ืดืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจืด ืืืื ืฉืืคืจืฉ.
ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจย โ ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืืืืช ืฉืืขืืจ ืื ืืจ, ืืืื ื ืืจ ืคืจืช, ืืืื ืชืืืืืชืื ืืฉืืืื ืืืชืจ ืืชืืืืืช ืื ืืืคืช. ืื ืืืืืืช ืืืง ืืขืืื ืฉืืขืืจ ื ืืจ ืคืจืช ืขื ืืืืจื ืืืืืื ืืขืฆืืืื ืืืืืืืืช ืฉืืคื ื ื ืืจ ืคืจืช, ืื ืฉื ืืื ืืคืจืก ืืืฉืืจ ืืืืื ืืกืื ื. ืืื ืืื ืืชืืฉืื ืืื ื ืฉื, ืืื ืืจื ื ืืจืื, ืืขืืื, ืืื ืืจืฆืืช ืืฉืืืืช ืืืชืจ ืืืืชื ืฉืืงืื ืื ื ืื ืืืคืช. ืื ืืื ืืื ืืจืข ืืกืืืื ืฉืื ืคืจื ืืขืืื. ืืจืืืดื ืืดื ืืืจ ืดืืขื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ, ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืืืฉืื ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ ืฉืืื ืืงืื ืืืืก ืืืจืื. ืืื ืืชืื ืฉืืืื ืขืืจ ืืืงืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืืฉ ืืื ืคืื. ืื ืืื ืืืืก ืืืชื ืืืื?ืด [ืขืืดื]. ืื ืืื ืืื.
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ [ืืชื ืจืืืดื] ืดืื ืจืื ืืื ืื ืณืืืืืืณ ืชืืืจ ืืฉื... ืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืชืืจ ืืืืืืจ ืื, ืืืื ืณืืฉืขืื ืื ืืืืฅ ืื ืืืืณ, ืณืื ื ืื ืื ืขืืืจ ืื ืืืืณ, ืณืืืืื ืื ืจืขืืื ืืืืื ื ืืืชื ืืฉืืณ.ืด [ืขืืดื] ืื ืื ืืคืืจืืฉ ืจืืืดื ืืดื. ืืืคื ืืงืืง ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืช, ืื ืื ืงืื ืืืืื ืืื [ืฉ]ืืงืืื ืืืชื. ืืืืจ ืืืจื ื ืฉืืื ื ื ืจืื ืื, ืืื ืฉื ืืืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืืืชืื ืืคืฉืืื. ืืืขื ืฉืงืจืื ืืื ืืื ืืคืช, ืืืขืชื ืืคื ืฉืงืจืื ืดืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจืด, ืืคื ืฉืืฆืื ืืืจืขื ืื ืฉืื ืืืืื, ืืจืื ืืณ ืืืืฉืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืื. ืืืื ืฆืืืง ืืืืจื ืืจื ืืื ืื, ืืืจื ืฉืคืจืฉื ื ืดืืื ืื ืืืฉื ืืื ืืืงื ืืด, ืืืืืข ืขืื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืืืืื ืขื ืืืื ืืคืช, ืืืขืืช ืฉึตืื ืืืชื ืืืืื ืืขืื ื ืืคืช, ืืงืื ืืื ื ืืืจื ืืืกืจ ืืืืื. ืขื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื, ืื ืืืื ืืขืืชื ืืขืื ื ืืคืช. ืืื ืื ืื ื ืฉืืข ืืขืฆืชื, ืืื ื ืื ืื ืืืื, ืืขื ืื ืืืืื ืจืฉืขืื ืื ืขื ืืื ืื ืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืฉ, ืืืืฆืจืืื ืฉืืืื ืื ื ืืื ืืืืืืื. ืืขื ืื ืืืจ ืืดื ืดืืคืช ืืืืื ืืืคืช ืืืฉืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืด, ืื ืืื ืืจืื ืืืจืื ืืืืื ืืืจืืื.
โTo Shem was born as well.โ [The Ramban wrote:] โBecause [Scripture] delayed [writing] the genealogy of Shem, and described the genealogy of his brother who is younger ย than him, as though [Shem] had no children, it says here, โas well.โโ โ according to the commentary of the Ramban, blessed be his memory, and he does not see this necessity, after specifying his genealogy, there is no room for the error. In my opinion,ย also,ย Japheth is the youngest, and Shem is the firstborn, as I will explain, God willing, in the following passage; and [Scripture] mentioned them from the youngest to the firstborn because: [Scripture] wants to lay out, adjacently, the genealogy of Shem: his sons and his sonsโ sons, it placed him last. For this is the way of writings, to expand upon that with which it concluded, as we explained in the commentary on โa vacant void and darknessโ (Genesis 1:2).
And in my opinion, โalsoโ' is like ย โAnd Abel also broughtโ (Genesis 4:4), which is for [the purpose of] augmenting, as his offering was better than the offering of his brother. Similarly, here, even though I have told you the genealogy of Japheth and Ham, who established princes and kings among their offspring, conquerors of lands, Shemโs descendants were superior to them, in acquisition of lands, and he established great and honorable kings. And most of all, that from [Shem]โs loins came Abraham and the chosen seed, for he was โthe father of all the sons of Eber,โ and as I will explain. ย
โThe father of all the sons of Eberโ ย โ he was the father of all the kingdoms across the river, which is the Euphrates river, and therefore, all of his descendants are more important than the descendants of Ham and Japheth. Because the kingdoms of the part of the world that was across the Euphrates river, until the East, are greater and mightier than the kingdoms before the Euphrates river, for there is Babylonia, and Persia, and Assyria, and India, and China. And all of these were settled by the sons of Shem. And so, Aram Naharayim, and Elam, and they are more important lands than those which the sons of Ham and Japhet took. He also was the father of the chosen seed, and they are the fruit of the world. And Ramban, of blessed memory, said, โthe meaning of โthe father of all the sons of Eber, that he is the father of all the inhabitants across the river, which is Abrahamโs place of origin. And it is not plausible that โeberโ here would be the name of the man [Eber], the father of Peleg, for why would they be identified by attribution to him?โ
And this is correct.
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื ย [The Ramban writes]: โIt appears to me that the term โthe elderโ is an appellation for Shem... and likewise in every instance, the modifier is for the subject that is spoken of, ย like โIsaiah the son of Amoz, the prophetโ; โHananiah the son of Azur, the prophet; and โReuel the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses.โโ This is also from the explanation of the Ramban. He did well to examine closely, but he said that he was the elder brother of Japheth, and that Ham was the youngest of all of them, even though he was placed first. But, as we have already said, it does not seem so; Rather, Shem is the greatest among his brothers, and the verse is according to its plain meaning. The reason that [Scripture] called him here โthe brother of Japhethโ' is, in my opinion, because it called him โ'the father of all the sons of Eber,โ ย because there descended from him wise men, God-fearing, and those who consider His Name (???), and he is their father. And he is righteous, and an instructor for this children, as we explained,
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ [ืืชื ืจืืืดื] ืดืื ืจืื ืืื ืื ืณืืืืืืณ ืชืืืจ ืืฉื... ืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืชืืจ ืืืืืืจ ืื, ืืืื ืณืืฉืขืื ืื ืืืืฅ ืื ืืืืณ,4 ืณืื ื ืื ืื ืขืืืจ ืื ืืืืณ,5 ืณืืืืื ืื ืจืขืืื ืืืืื ื ืืืชื ืืฉืืณ.ืด6 [ืขืืดื] ืื ืื ืืคืืจืืฉ ืจืืืดื ืืดื. ืืืคื ืืงืืง ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืืคืช, ืื ืื ืงืื ืืืืื ืืื [ืฉ]ืืงืืื ืืืชื. ืืืืจ ืืืจื ื ืฉืืื ื ื ืจืื ืื, ืืื ืฉื ืืืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืืืชืื ืืคืฉืืื. ืืืขื ืฉืงืจืื ืืื ืืื ืืคืช, ืืืขืชื ืืคื ืฉืงืจืื ืดืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจืด, ืืคื ืฉืืฆืื ืืืจืขื ืื ืฉืื ืืืืื, ืืจืื ืืณ ืืืืฉืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืื. ืืืื ืฆืืืง ืืืืจื ืืจื ืืื ืื, ืืืจื ืฉืคืจืฉื ื ืดืืื ืื ืืืฉื ืืื ืืืงื ืืด,7 ืืืืืข ืขืื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืืืืื ืขื ืืืื ืืคืช, ืืืขืืช ืฉึตืื ืืืชื ืืืืื ืืขืื ื ืืคืช, ืืงืื ืืื ื ืืืจื ืืืกืจ ืืืืื. ืขื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื, ืื ืืืื ืืขืืชื ืืขืื ื ืืคืช. ืืื ืื ืื ื ืฉืืข ืืขืฆืชื, ืืื ื ืื ืื ืืืื, ืืขื ืื ืืืืื ืจืฉืขืื ืื ืขื ืืื ืื ืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืฉ, ืืืืฆืจืืื ืฉืืืื ืื ื ืืื ืืืืืืื. ืืขื ืื ืืืจ ืืดื ืดืืคืช ืืืืื ืืืคืช ืืืฉืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืด,8 ืื ืืื ืืจืื ืืืจืื ืืืืื ืืืจืืื.
โ[Yaval was] the first of those who dwell in tents and raise livestockโ (Genesis 4:20). [Scripture] further informed that he conducted himself in fraternity with his brother Japhet, and Shemโs virtue was great in Japhetโs regard, and he received words of morality and wisdom from him. Therefore, he is his โgreaterโ brother, for his stature/virtue was great in the eyes of Japhet. But Ham did not listen to his counsel, and did not conduct himself towards him with fraternity, and therefore he gave birth to wicked people like Canaan and his sons, and Nimron the son of Cush, and the Egyptians, who debased human beings with their idolatry. ย Therefore, it also says, โGod shall beautify Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem.โ (Genesis 9:27) Japheth followed him closely and learned from his ways.
READING: READING B: Shem is the greater, and in fact the greatest, brother in terms of virtue.
Statement about ambiguity: [Ramban] did well to examine closely, but he said that he was the elder brother of Japheth, and that Ham was the youngest of all of them, even though he was placed first.ย But, as we have already said, it does not seem so; Rather, Shem is the greatest among his brothers, and the verse is according to its plain meaning.
Disambiguation Expression: โIn my opinion,ย also,ย Japheth is the youngest, and Shem is the firstbornโ; ย โRather, Shem is the greatest among his brothers, and the verse is according to its plain meaning.โ
R. Yehuda Leib Frankfurter Spiraย (1743-1836)
ืืจืืกืื ืืืงืขื
ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืืื ืืจื ืืืชืื ืืื ืืช ืืืืืจ ืดืืืืืด. ืื, ืื ืืื ืืืืืจ, ืืื ืื ื ืชืืื ืื ืชืืื ืืฃ ืืืจ ืฉืงืืงื. ืขื ืื ืืชืื ืืคืจืฉ ืฉืืื ื ืืืข ืืืืจื ืืื ืื ืดืืคืช ืืืืืืด, ืขื ืฉื ืืขืฉืื ืื ืืืืชื, ืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืจืืช ืืืจืื, ืืืื ืดืจืณ ืืืืขืืจ ืืืืืืด, ืืืืืฆื. ืืื ืืืืืจ, ืืื ืื ืื ืืคื ื ืืคืช, ืืฉื ืจืืฉืื, ืืืฉืืืืชื ืืืืืื ืืืจืื ืืืจืขื.
ึฟ
Japhet ืืืืื โ ย It is not customary in Scripture to call the firstborn the โelderโ/โeldestโ (ืืืืื). Additionally, if he is the firstborn, why would Ham always be listed before him, even after he sinned? Therefore, it is plausible to explain that he was known in his generation by the epithet โJaphet the Great,โ due to his actions or his wisdom, as is customary in other generations, like โRabbi Eliezer the Greatโ ย and the like. And Ham was the firstborn, and that is why Scripture listed him before Japheth, and Shem [was listed] first, due to his significance and the honor of Abraham and his descendants.
READING: An idiosyncratic variation of READING A: Japhet the Great. ย Narrow-scope, but neither comparative nor superlative adjective.
Statement about ambiguity: indirect reference to uncertainty about birth order, with respect to this verse: โIt is not customary in Scripture to call the firstborn โelderโ/โeldestโ. Additionally, if he is the firstborn, why would Ham always be listed ย before him.โ
Disambiguation Strategy: customary use of scripture; comparison to other biblical texts; comparison to other language usage.
Disambiguation Expression: ืขื ืื ืืชืื ืืคืจืฉ ืฉืืื ื ืืืข ืืืืจื ืืื ืื ืดืืคืช ืืืืืืด, ืขื ืฉื ืืขืฉืื ืื ืืืืชื
R. Yitzchak Shemuel Reggioย (Yashar; 1784-1855)
ืจ' ื.ืฉ. ืจืืืืื
ืืืฉื ืืื ืื ืืื โ ืืขืืืจ ืฉืืืืจ ืชืืืืืช ืฉื ืืกืคืจ ืชืืืืืช ืืืื ืืงืื ืืื ื ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืื ืืื:
ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ โ ืืื ืขืืจ ืื ืฉืื ืื ืืืจ ืืกืืื, ืืืืืืชื ืืืื ืืืขืื ืื ืืืดื ืงืืื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืืฉืืขืงื ืืื ืืืืชื ืืดื ืฉื ื, ืืื ืืืื ืืืืกื ืื ืฉื ืืืขืื ืืืืจืข ืื ืืืจ, ืืืื ืืงืื ืฉื ืงืจืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืืฉื ืขืืจืืื ืืืื ื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืขืืจ ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืืจื. ืืื ื ืื ืฉื ืื ื ื ืืืื ืืืืจื ืืื, ืืื ืฉืืืจื ืืืดื ืืืจืฉื ืฉื ืฉื ืืขืืจ, ืืืื ืื ื ืงืจืื ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืขื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืคื ืฉืืืืื ืื ืื ืจืืื ืฉืืื ืจืืฉื ืืืืืช ืืืจืืช, ืืื ืขืืื ืืฉืืจ ืืืจื, ืืื ืขืืจ ืื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืฉื ื ืื ืื ืคืื ืืืงืื, ืคืื ืืืืื ืืืจืข ืื ืืืจ, ืืื ื ืืงืื ืืืจ ืืืชืื ืฉื ืชืืฉืื ืืืืื ืืช ืจืืืงืืช ืืืืจื ืืดื, ืืืคืืื ืื ืืืฉืื ืขืื ืืขืืจืืื, ืืื ื ืขืืจ ืืืื ืืืขืื ืืืืจืื ืฉืืืืื ืืฆืืง ืืืฉืืขืื ืืื ืืืฆืืง ืฉืืืืื ืืขืงื ืืขืฉื, ืืืื ืืื ืืืืืจ ืฉืื ืขื ืืืืื ืื ืืืจืช:
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ ืืืื ืืื ืชืืืจ ืืืคืช, ืืขื ืื ื ืฉืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื:
ืืืฉื ืืื ืื ืืื โ Since [Scripture] delayed the ย genealogy of Shem and first recounted the genealogy of his younger brothers, it [could seem] as though he did not have children, so it stated here โalso he.โ
ย โ ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ
This is Eber, the son of Shelah who is mentioned shortly afterward. ย As for his elevated status, our Sages had a tradition that he was a prophet and that Jacob studied in his study house for fourteen years. Therefore, those of high stature and the chosen seed are listed in attribution to him. Wherever the Children of Israel are called โHebrews,โ the intention is to refer to their having descended from Eber, who was prominent in his generation. Now, Shem the son of Noah was also a prominent figure in his generation, as our Sages mention in their midrash on Shem and Eber. However, the children of Israel were not called by his name, perhaps because he gave birth to many children, who were the heads of other nations, such as Elam, Ashur, and Aram, while Eber only bore two sons, Peleg and Yoktan; Peleg bore the chosen seed, and of the sons of Yoktan, Scripture mentioned that they settled in countries far to the east of the land of Israel and therefore they are no longer considered Hebrews. And behold Eber was similar in stature/virtue to Abraham who bore Isaac and Ishmael, and also to Isaac who bore Jacob and Esau. Therefore he merited having his name commemorated in the name of the chosen nation. ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ gadolย is a modifier of Japheth, and its point is that Japheth was the oldest of all his brothers.
READING: READING A
Statement about ambiguity:ย perhaps implicit, in the statement of disambiguation:
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ ืืืื ืืื ืชืืืจ ืืืคืช, ืืขื ืื ื ืฉืืคืช ืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื
Disambiguation Strategy and Expression:
R. Reggio uses the grammatical term โืชืืืจ ืโ; he does not state his reasoning explicitly. Earlier in his comment he stated, โTherefore, those of high stature and the chosen seed are listed in attribution to him.โ This could indicates that he sees the description of Japhet as ืืืื as contextually relevant, and indicating his high stature; however, that would not be fully compatible with his explanation that ืืืื means that Japhet was the most ืืืื of all the brothers; in this statement, ืืืื almost certainly has to mean eldest, as Reggio certainly would have considered Shem to be greater than Japhet.
R. Yaakov Mecklenburgย (1785-1865)
ืืืชื ืืืงืืื
ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื โ ืืขืืืจ ืฉืืืืจ ืชืืืืืช ืฉื ืืกืืคืจ ืชืืืืืช ืืืื ืืงืื ืืื ื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืื, ืืืจ ืื ืื ืืื (ืจืืืดื) ืืจืืดื ืืืจ ืืืืืช ืฉื ืขืืกืง ืชืืื ืืขืืื ืื ืืืืืืณ ืืื ืขืืืณ ืขื ืืืขืช ืฉืื ื ืืืืื ืืืฉื ืืื. ืืื ืืืจ ืื ืื ืืื, ืืืฉ ืื ืืืคืจืฉืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืืืืช ืื ืืื ืืื ืฉืืืจืื, ืืืืชื ื ืืืืช ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืื. ืืืดื ืืืจื ืฉืืืขื ื ืืงืืืช ืจืืืชืื ื ืื ืฉื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืฉื ืืขืื ืืืืืืื, ืขื ืฉืืืจื ืืขืงื ืืืื ื ืืื ืืืืช ืืืจืฉื ืฉื ืฉื ืืขืืจ, ืืืืื ืฆืืง ืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืขืืืื ืืื ืฉื ืื ื ื (ืขืดืฉ ืจืฉืดื ืืืืดืข) ืืืืจื ืฉื ืืืืจืฉ ืืื ืฉื ืชืืจื ืืืืจืื, ืืืชื ื ืืืดื (ืืดื ืคืืดื) ืฉื ืืชื ืื ืืจืืข ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืืื ืืจืฆืืช, ืืืืจ ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืืืชืื ืื ืืขืืื ืืืืืืืข ืืขืืชื ืืืืื ืืืืช, ืื ืืื, ืืื ืืืช ืื ืืคื ืื ืฉืืืจืื ืืขืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืชืืกืคืืช ืืจืืื, ืื ืืืืกืืฃ ื ืืฉื ืขื ื ืืฉื, ืื ื ืฉืื ืขื ื ืฉืื, ืื ืืฆืื ืืืืงืจ ืื ืืจืขื, ืืื ืชืืกืคืืณ ื ืืฉื, ืืืืื ืื ืืื ืืช ืืกืคืื ื ืืื ืชืืกืคืืช ื ืฉืื, ืืืคื ืฉืขืืงืจ ืืืจืืชื ืืื ืชืืกืคืืช ืืจืืื, ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ื ืฉืื ืืฉืืฉ ืื ืืื ืจืง ืืืื ืืขืืื, ืืื ืืฉืืฉ ืื ืืชืืืจ ืืฉื, ืืืืจื ืขื ืชืืกืคืืช ืืจืืื ืืขืื ืฉืืฉื ื ืืืืจ, ืืืขื ืื ืืชืจืื ืืขืื (ืคืึธืจืฆืื), ืืืืจ ืฉืืชืืื ืืืืจ ืืืฉื ืืื ืืืืืืข ืชืืืืืชืื, ืืืืืข ืื ืฉืื ืขืฆืื, ืขืืดื ืื ืืื ืจืดื ืื ืืืืฉ ืฉื ืืื ืืืคืื ืืืชืจืื ืืขืืืชืื (ืขืจ ืืขืจ ืคืึธืจืฆืืืืืืขืจ) ืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืจื, ืืขื ืืื ื ืื ืืฉ ืืคืจืฉ ืื ืืฉืช ืฉื ืืืจ ืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืืณ ืืดื) ืืืฉืช ืื ืืื, ืื ืื ืฉืช ืืื ืืืคืื ืืืชืจืื ืืขืื, ืืขืืืช ืืืชืื ืขืืื (ืฉื ืืณ ืืณ) ืฉื ืืื ืืืืืชื ืืฆืืื, ืฉืืชื ืื ืืืจืดื, ืืฃ ืฉืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืฆืื, ืืดื ืืขืฆื ืื ื ืืจืื ืืฆืื ืจืง ืืื ืืฉืช, ืืืื ืืฆื ืืช ืงืื (ืืดื ื ืดื ืืณ) ืื ืืืืืช ืืืืงื ื ืืืืณ, ืืื ืืื ืืฉ ืืืืื ืื ื ืืืื ืขืื ืืืืืชื ืืฆืืื ืจืง ืืงืืฃ ืืคื ื ืืื, ืืืื ื ืงืจืื ืื ืืื ืืืจืื ืื ืฉืื ืืฉืื ืจืืื ืขื ืฉืื, ืืื ืืฉืจืืฆืื ืืื ืืช ืืื ืงืืจืื ืืืชื ืื ืืฉ, ืื ืื ืืฉ ืื ืชืืืจื ื (ืชืืืื ืืณ:ืืณ), ืืขืดืฉ ืืจืืืดื ืืืืจื ืืืดืจ ืคืืดื ืืขืื ืงืืื ืืื ืืื ืืจืืื ืืื ืฉืช ืื ืืฉ ืืฉืชืง (ืจืดื ืคืกืง ืื ืคืกืงื) ืืืจ ืขืดื ืืฆืื ืืืืืืช ืืืื ืืืืื ื ืชืงืืงืื ืืืืจืืช ืื ืืจืื ืงืืืจืื (ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืืืืช ืืื, ืืื ืขืฉื ืื ืคืืกืงื ืื ืื ืืขืฆืื ืืื ืคืืกืงื ืืฆืื), ืื ื ืืืชืจืื ืืขืืช ืฉืช ืืขืฆื ืืฆืื ืืืจ ืขืืื ืื ืืื - ืืืืจ ืขืื ืืืขืืืช ืฉื: ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ: ืืืืืจ ืื ืืชืืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืืืช ืืืจืฉื ืฉื ืขืืจ, ืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืืืจื ืืืชื, ืฉื ืืื ืืืฉืชืื ืืืืื ื ืืืืืจืืชื ืืืืืขืืช ืืืืชืืืช; ืืืืืื ืืืืืจื ืืงืจื ืื, ืืื (ืฉืืืื ื ืืืดื ืืื ืืืืื ืืืื (ืืืืื ื ืืดื) ืืื ืืื ืจืื ืืฉืจืื. ืืืชืืืืืื ื ืงืจืื ืื ืื, ืืืชืื ืื ื ืื ืืืืื, ืืขืืจ ืืืงืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืคืื ืืืคืืจืกื ืืื ืืืขืืชื, ืืงืืืช ืืืืื ื ืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืื, ืืืืจืื ืืขืช ืืจืื ืื ืืจืื ืืื ืืขืืจ ืืจืื ืืณ ืืืืกืจืื, ืื ื ืืืืช ืืืจืฉื ืืื ืฉื ืืืืื ืืืืืจื, ืืืืกืืฃ ืืืืจ ืืืขืืืช ืฉื, ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื: ืจืดื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืงืจืืืช ืขื ืฉืืจ ืืืื ืจืง ืขื ืืคืช ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืขืืณ ืืืฉืืืืช, ืืื ืฉืชืืืดืข ืืืื ืืืคืช ืจืื ืืืืืชื ืืืฉื, ืืืืื ืืื ืชืืืจ ืืืคืช, ืื ืื ืืื ืชืืืจ ืืฉื, ืฆืจืื ืืืืืช ืืื ืืคืช ืืืจืื ืืคืื, ืืืื ืืจืืืดื.
ืืืฉื ืืืื ืื ืืื โ This is because the account of Shemโs genealogy is delayed, and [Scripture] recounted the genealogy of his younger brothers, so it [could seem] as if he had no children, so it is stated of him, โhe tooโ (Ramban). And Abarbanel said that since Shem was constantly engaged in divine contemplation, it might have been thought that he did not marry at all. Therefore it is stated about him โhe too.โ And there are some among the commentators who attach the words โhe tooโ to that which follows; but the etnah on the word โheโ will not allow this. And it seems to me that after we know from the tradition of our Sages that Shem was one of the great figures of his time โ to the extent that our forefather Jacob studied in Shem and Eber's house of study, and King Melchizedek, who was a priest to the Most High God, was Shem, the son of Noah (see Rashi and Rabbi Ishmael???) and they said there in the Midrash that Shem revealed Torah to Abraham, and in the Tanna deโvei Eliyahu (1:18), Shem prophesied for four hundred years in all the landsโ my heart says to me that the verse also does not omit to inform us of his greatness and it included this in the expression ย โhe too.โ And this word, โalsoโ, as it has been defined by language experts, is an expression of supplementation and augmentation, whether to add a subject to a subject, or an object to an object: โalso the sheep and cattle should not grazeโ (Exodus 34:3, this is an addition of a subject; โhe has also totally consumed our moneyโ (Genesis 31:15), this is an amplification of an object. And since the primary meaning is ย supplementation and augmentation, therefore I say that it does not function here as an insignificant word, but [the word] โalsoโ functions as a modifier of Shem, and it points to his additional qualities and the greatness of his stature, and the meaning of โalsoโ is a superiority of virtue/stature (Vorzug). And after it started to say that โto Shem were bornโ, to inform about his genealogy, it also communicated praise of him; and on this account, it says, โhe tooโ, that this man Shem, he is outstanding in his superior virtue (he is the most outstanding, the Vorzuglicher) among all the men of his generation. ย This interpretation should be applied to the use of โ'alsoโ about Seth, as it says about him, โAnd to Seth also [was born a son]โ (Genesis 4:26), ย for Seth too had exceptional qualities and was outstandingly righteous, as the testimony of Scripture about him (Genesis 5:3), that he was born โin his likeness, in his image,โ as the Vilna Gaon wrote about him. Even though every one of the human species is โin the [divine] ย imageโ, nevertheless, only Adam and Eve were created in divine image. Therefore a heavenly voice went forth (b.Bava Batra 58a): If in the image of my โฆ. etc.
ืื ืืืืืช ืืืืงื ื ืืืืณ,
But from Enosh forward none others were born in His likeness and Image, but only like a monkey with the face of a human, and therefore every human after him, people, in the plural, are called by his name, and so when somebody wants to denigrate a human, they call him โmanโ (enosh), like, โwhat is man (enosh), that You are mindful of him?โ (Psalm 8:5).
And see there, in the Ramban, and it says inย ืืืดืจ ืคืืดื,
ืืขืื ืงืืื ืืื ืืื ืืจืืื ืืื ืฉืช ืื ืืฉ ืืฉืชืง (ืจืดื ืคืกืง ืื ืคืกืงื)
He said: until here, โin likeness and in imageโ; from here on, the generations declined, and ืงืืืจืื were created (which are only the appearance of Adam, therefore he made a break with him, because with him, himself, there was an end of the image). Behold it is to the superiority of the virtue of Seth, in the essence of the image, it says upon him โhe tooโ-- and it says further the virtues of Shem: โthe father of all the sons of Eber,โ that is, all of the students who studied in Eberโs house of studyโhe was their teacher and instructor, Shem strove to impart understanding to them and to instruct them in true knowledge. And a teacher and instructor is called โfather,โ like โwho is their father?โ (1Sam 10:12) and like โMy father, my father, the chariots of Israelโ (2Kings 2:12). And the students are called โsons,โ as is written, โthe sons of the prophetsโ. And Eber, in this place, is the father of Peleg, who was very renowned for his virtue, in accord with the tradition of our Sages that he was a great prophet, and that Abraham, in his flight from Nimrod, learned the ways of God and ethics from Eber; indeed, Shem was the teacher and instructor in his study house, and it adds, about the virtues of Shem, โthe brother of Japheth, the elder.โ โ This phrase indicates that he had no brotherhood with the rest of his brothers, only with Japheth, who was great in his virtues and perfection. This is akin to how Jonathan ben Uzziel translated, ย ืืืคืช ืจืื ืืืืืชื ืืืฉื, that Japheth was great in the fear of God. ืืืืื is a modifier of Japheth, for if it were a modifier of Shem, then ืืื ืืคืช would have to be [marked] with the cantillation marks merha tipha, And it is not like Ramban.
READING: A variation of READING A: Japhet the great, in virtue, not comparative or superlative.
Disambiguation Strategy: cites cantillation and Targum pseudo-Jonathan
Statement of Ambiguity and Disambiguation Expression: Shem is identified with reference to his brother Japhet the great, because only with Japhet did he have a true fraternal relationship, due to Japhetโs greatness.
ืืืืกืืฃ ืืืืจ ืืืขืืืช ืฉื, ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื: ืจืดื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืงืจืืืช ืขื ืฉืืจ ืืืื ืจืง ืขื ืืคืช ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืขืืณ ืืืฉืืืืช, ืืื ืฉืชืืืดืข ืืืื ืืืคืช ืจืื ืืืืืชื ืืืฉื, ืืืืื ืืื ืชืืืจ ืืืคืช, ืื ืื ืืื ืชืืืจ ืืฉื, ืฆืจืื ืืืืืช ืืื ืืคืช ืืืจืื ืืคืื, ืืืื ืืจืืืดื.
S.D. Luzzattoย (Shadal; 1800-1865)
ืฉืืดื
ืืืฉื ืืื ืื ืืืย โ ืืืจ ืืฉืื ืื ืืฉื ืืคื ืฉืืืืืจื ืืืืจืื ื (ืจืืืดื) ืืื ืฉืื ืึตืึธืฉึตื ืฉืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืืืื, ืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืืืกืื ืืืืื. ืืืคื ืฉืึดืึตืจ ืืืชื ืืืกืืฃ ืืฉืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืืืณ.
ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจย โ ืื ืืื ืืืขืช ืจืฉืดื ืืจืืืดื ืืงืืขืจืืงืืก ืืจืืื ืืืืจ ืืืขืืขื ืืืก ืฉืืืขื ืื ืฉื ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ, ืืืืืจ ืืฉืืื ืื ืืืืจืื ืฉื ืคืจืช, ืืืขื ืืขืืจ ืื ืืจ ืืฉืื ืืืืชืืื ืืขืืื ืชืจื ืืื ืืืจืื (ืืืืฉืข ืืดื:ืืณ)...
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืืคืช, ืืื ื ืืืจ ืืืขื ื ืื ืฉื ืืืคืช ืืืื, ืืื ืืื ืืคื ืจืฉืดื ืื ืืื ืืืืื ื ืืืืช ืื ืฉืื, ืืื ืฉืืขืื ืืืื ืืืื (ืืืื ืืดื:ืืณ), ืื ืืืืชื ืืชื ืื (ืืืื ืืณ:ืืดื), ืื ืืื ืืืขื ืืฉืืืช (ืืฉืื ืืดื:ืืณ), ืืืืขื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืืืคืช ืฉืืื ืืืืื; ืืื ืื ืืื ื ืืืืืืช ืืช ืื ืฉืืฆืื ืืื ื ืืฆืจืื ืืื ืขื.
alhatorah.org, modified:
โShem, too, had [numerous] descendantsโ. This language is used with Shem because he is mentioned last (Nachmanides), so that it would not be thought that he was not as worthy of honor as his brothers, or was not as populous as them. Again because he is mentioned last, there is augmentation of his praise, as โthe father of all the sons ofย eber., etc.โ
โ the father of all the sons ofย eberโ The correct explanation is that of Rashi, Nachmanides, Clericus,ย Rosenmueller, and Gesenius, that โsons of eberโ means โthe people from across the river,โ i.e., those who live east of the Euphratesโฆ
ย ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืย โ
ย ืืืืื is an epithet for Japhet.ย And, of course, we already know that Shem and Japhet are brothers, and the correct [explanation] is, like Rashi, that here, the intention of the word โbrotherโ is โequalโ, like โSimeon and Levi are brothersโ (Genesis 49:5); โI have become a brother to jackalsโ (Job 30:29); โ[He who is slothful] is brother to him who destroysโ (Proverbs 18:9). The meaning is that [Shem] was as respected as Japheth, who was the eldest. And [the purpose of] all this is to denigrate Ham, from whom descended Egypt and Canaan [see also above at Gen. 5:32].
READING: READING A: Japhet is the oldest; though Shadal takes โbrotherโ as a means to praise Shem, somewhat through extension of the word โgreatโ that is used for Japheth.
Disambiguation Strategy: reliance on Rashi; reading meaning into the word โbrotherโ
Disambiguation Expression: ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืืคืชโฆืืืืขื ืฉืืื ื ืืื ืืืคืช ืฉืืื ืืืืื
***See also, Shadalโs ืืช ืฉื ืืช ืื ืืืช ืืคืช โ ืืื ืืคืช ืืืื ืืืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื, ืืื ืืงืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืืข ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื ืื ืื ื ืืงืื ืืื ืืงืืื ืฉื ืืืขืืชื, ืืืืืืจ ืืืจืื ืื ืื ืื ื ืืืื, ืืขืดื ืืืฆืจื ืืืืืืจ ืืคืช ืืืืจืื ื. See comment on Gen 5:32.
R. Samson Raphael Hirschย (1808-1888)
From sefaria.org
ืืฉื ืืื ืื ืืื. Auch dem Schem, auf welchem nach dem Prophetenspruche des Vaters das letzte Ziel der Menschheit ruhte, wurden Nachkommen geboren. Er wird hier in doppelter Beziehung hervorgehoben. Erstens als Vater aller Kinder ืืขืืจ Obgleich ืขืืจ Schems Urenkel war, und dessen Kinder ja gerade zuerst den Ausspruch Noachs ืืืฉืืื ืืืืื ืฉื zu verwirklichen begannen, so war doch Schem zugleich deren geistiger Vater. Selbst ืืขืงื lernte ja noch von Schem. Daร im Hause Terachs ein Abraham geboren werden konnte und dessen Sรถhne das weiter tragen konnten, was Gott dem Abraham als Kleinod fรผr die Menschheit รผberantwortet, das haben wir Schem zu verdanken. Es weiร es oft keiner, was er dem ืืืืช seiner Vรคter und Groรvรคter zu verdanken hat, deren Standpunkt er vielleicht verhรถhnt und belรคchelt, und fragt sich nicht, wie viel solch geistiges und sittliches ืืืืช er seinen Kindern und Enkeln denn vererben werde.
Zweitens war er zugleich ืืคืช .ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื war sein รคlterer Bruder und ging ihm der Bestimmung nach als Herold voran, der Menschen Herz fรผr die einstige Aufnahme der Lehren Schems empfรคnglich zu machen. Ganz natรผrlich, daร auf lange hinaus Schem nicht als der ืืืื auf Erden anerkannt werden konnte. Fรผr japhetische Kunst und Wissenschaft sind die Menschen leicht empfรคnglich. Das stille Licht, als dessen Trรคger Schem zu wandeln, die Wahrheit, die er zu bringen haben sollte, der Begriff, den man nur leugnen kann oder erfรผllen muss โ einen Mittelweg gibt es nicht โ der muร auf lange Zeit hinaus auf Anerkennung im groรen verzichten.
ืจืฉืดืจ ืืืจืฉ
ืืืฉึตื ืืื ืื ืืื โ ื ืืืื ืฆืืฆืืื ืื ืืฉึตื, ืฉืืจืื ืขืชืืื ืืืชืงืืื ืืชืืืืช ืืกืืคืืช ืฉื ืืื ืืฉืืช. ืืืชืื ืืืืืฉ ืืืช ืืฉืชื ืืืื ืืช:
ืืืืช, ืฉึตื ืืื ืดืืื ืื ืื ื ืขึตืึถืจืด. ืืขื ืืฃ ืฉืขึตืึถืจ ืืื ื ืื ื ืืืืื ืฉื ืฉึตื, ืืจืง ืื ืื ืฉื ืขึตืึถืจ ืืืื ืืืืฉ ืืช ืืืืจ ื ื ืดืืืฉืื ืืืืื ืฉึตืืด, ืืื ืืืช, ืื ืฉึตื ืืื ืืืืื ืืจืืื ื. ืืืจื ืืื, ืืขืงื ืื ืืื ืืื ืชืืจื ืืฉึตื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืจืื ืกื, ื). ืื ืื ื ืจืืืื ืฉืืืจืื ืืฆื ืืืืชื ืฉื ืชืจื, ืืื ื ืืืจืื ืงืืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืืคืงืืื ืืืงืจ ืฉื ืืกืจ ืื ืืืขื ืืื ืืฉืืช โ ืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืคืฉืจื ืืืืื ืืืืชื ืฉื ืฉึตื. ืืชืื ืืฆื ืฉืืื ืืืขื ืขื ืืืืชืื ืืื ืืืกืืจืชื, ืืืื ืขืืื ืขื ืืขืชื ืฉืืืืชื ืฉืืืจื ืืืืื ืืืืจืืฉ ืืื ืื ืืืจืื.
ืฉื ืืช, ืฉึตื ืืื ืดืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืืด, ืืืื ื [ืขืืื ืคืืจืืฉ ืืขืื ื, ืื] ืฉืืคืช ืืื ืืืื ืืืืื. ืืืขืืื ืฉื ืืคืช ืืื ืืขืืืจ ืืคื ื ืฉึตื, ืืืืืฉืืจ ืืช ืืืืช ืื ื ืืืื ืืืืืช ืืื ืงืืืื ืืชืืจืช ืฉึตื. ืืืขื ืืืืจ, ืฉืฉึตื ืื ืืืืจ ืืื ืึทึผืดืืืืืด ืขื ืืืจืฅ [ืืื ืฉืืืฉืืื ืืช ืืคืช ืืืืื ืืืืื]. ืืืื ืืืืช ืืืืืขืื ืฉื ืืคืช ื ืืืื ืืืชืจ ืืืชืงืื ืืืืืช ืืื ืฉืื. ืื ืืืืจ ืืฉึธืึตื ืฉืฉึตื ืืื ื ืืฉืื, ืืืืืช ืฉืืื ืืืฉืจ, ืืชืืจื, ืฉืืืชื ืืคืฉืจ ืจืง ืื ืืืืืช ืื ืืงืื (ืืื ืืจื ืืืฆืขืืช), ืืื ืจื ืขืื ืืขืืืจ ืขื ืฉืืืื ืืืืจื ืืืืืช.
"And to Shem was born also he" โ Descendants were born to Shem as well, through whom the ultimate purpose of humanity will be fulfilled in the future.
The text emphasizes this from two perspectives:
Firstly, Shem was the "father of all the Hebrews"... the spiritual fatherโฆ
Secondly, "Shem was the brother of Japheth, the elder." That is, [see comment on Gen 9:24 above] ย that Japheth was his elder brother. Japheth's destiny was to go before Shem and prepare humanity to become vessels to receive Shem's Torah. Naturally, Shem wasn't immediately recognized as "great" upon the Earth [as they considered Japheth to be the greatest among his siblings]. The arts and sciences of Japheth were more easily received in people's hearts. However, the serene light that Shem carried and the truth he conveyed, namely, the Torah, which can only be accepted or rejected (there is no middle ground)--it will take much more time until it gains general recognition.
READING: READING A: in the German, it is not clear whether R. Hirsch takes ืืืืื in the sense of age. He discusses โgreatnessโ in stature and qualities, separately from the question of the syntactic ambiguity. R. Hirsch notes that Shem was great, but people did not realize it and it will take a long time until Shemโs teachings will be generally accepted.
Disambiguation Expression: ย ืืคืช ย war sein รคlterer Bruder.
R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlinย (Netziv; 1816-1893)
ื ืฆืืดื
ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ ืืืก ืื ืืืืจ ืคืจืฉื ื, ืืืื ืดืืืืืืด. ืืืขื ืื, ืฉืื ืืืชืื ืืืืืืข ืืืจืข ืฉื ืืื ืืฉื ื ืืื ืื, ืืืื, ืืืืื ืื ืืืจืช ืฉื ืชืืืืื ืืฉืื ืณืื ื ืขืืจืณ, ืืืืชืื ืดืืืจื ืืขืืจืืด (ืืืื ืื,ืื), ืืขื ืืฉืจืื ื ืงืจืื ืณืขืืจืืืณ, ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืคืื ืื ืขืื ืืื ื ืืคืช. ืืืฉื ื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืขืืื ืืขืจื ืื ื ืืคืช, ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ื ืืคืช ืืฆืืื ืื ืืื ื ืฉื, ืืืฉืื ืืื ืืชืื ืดืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืืด. {ืืื ืื ืืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืฉืืืฆื ืืชืืจืช ืื ื ืขืืจ, ื ืืื ืืชืื ืืืจืืขืื ืืื ื ืืคืช, ืืขืื ืืืจืคื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืฆืื ืขืฆืื ืืืขืืชื, ืืขืืื ืื ืฉืืชืืชื ืืกืคืจ ืฉืืืช (ืื,ืื) ืืืืืจ ืืืงืจื ืดืืื ืื ืชืคืื ืืขืจืคืชืืด}.
ย ืืืืืฆื ืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืกืฃ ืื ืฉื ืืืคืจืื, ืืืคืจืื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืฉื ืืขื ืื ื ืืืงืืช, ืืื ืฉื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืืช ืืขืืื, ืืืฉืจ ืืืืืจ ืืืงืืื ืืคืจืฉืช ืืืื.
"Father of all the children of Eber, brother of Japheth the elder" โ This identifying attribution says, โexplain me!โ And what is ืืืืืืดโ? The issue is, that Scripture comes to inform that Shemโs seed were of two types.
One: ย the chosen nation, which was distinguished by the name โsons of eberโ as it is written, โAbram the Hebrew (ivri)โ(Genesis 14:13), and the people of Israel were referred to as Hebrews (Ivrim). And this type was more exceptional and exalted than the sons of Japheth.
And the second were like all the nations of the world, approximately valued like the sons of Japheth. But in this, the sons of Japheth excelled beyond the sons of Shem, and because of this, it is written โthe brother of Japheth the greater (ืืืืื).โ
ย {And thus, whomever of the children of Israel departs from the Torah of the Hebrews, is counted among the worst of the sons of Japheth, and it is a greater disgrace for him, for he removed himself from his elevated status; and see what I have written in the book of Exodus (13:13) in explanation of the verse, โand if you do not redeem it, you shall break its neck.โ A similar situation can be found with the sons of Joseph โ Manasseh and Ephraim. For Ephraim was greater than Manasseh in matters of spirituality, while Manasseh excelled in worldly matters, as explained in its proper place in the portion of Vayechi."
READING: READING A: Japhet the greater. ย Narrow-scope, comparative. Japhetโs descendants are greater than Shemโs ordinary descendants in worldly matters, though inferior to Shemโs spiritually-inclined descendants.
Disambiguation Expression:
ืืฉื ื ืืื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืขืืื ืืขืจื ืื ื ืืคืช, ืืื ืืื ืืื ืื ื ืืคืช ืืฆืืื ืื ืืื ื ืฉื, ืืืฉืื ืืื ืืชืื ืดืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืืด.
R. David Zvi Hoffmannย (1843 - 1941)
ืจืืดืฆ ืืืคืื
ืืื ืืโ ึพืืื โ ืืื ืืขืื ืืณ:ืืดื ืืฆื ืฉืช. ืืื ืฉื ืืขื ืืืืืช ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ, ืืืขืช ืื ืืฉื ืชืฉืืืช ืื ืืืืืืช. ืืื ืืโ ึพืื ื ืขืืจ โ ืืื ืืืืื ื ืืืืจ ืฉืฉื ืืื ืืื ืขืืจ ืืืฉ, ืฉืื ืืื ื ืืืจ (ืคืกืืง ืืดื) ืฉืฉืื ืืื ืืื ืขืืจ. ืืื ืืืืื ื ืืืืจ ืฉืฉื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ, ืืืืืจ ืืขืืจืื, ืืืื ืขื ืืืช ืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ื ืืขืืจืื ืงืจืืืื ืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืืืืืืจืื ืืื.
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ ืืคื ืืขืื ืืืงืจื, ืืื ืื ืืคื ืืืืจืฉ,1 ืืจื ืดืืืืืืด ืืืกื ืขื ืืคืช, ืืื ืืฉืืข ืืืื ืืดื:ืืณ, ืืืฉืืื ืืืื ืืดื:ืืดื ืืฉืืืื ื ืืดื:ืืดื, ืฉื ืืจืืจ ืฉืืืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืฉื ืื, ืืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืดื:ืืดื, ืฉื ืคืืจืืฉื ืฉื ืดืืืื ืืงืืืด ืืื โ ืืงืื ืืฉื ืื. ืืืื, ืื ืืคืฉืจ ืืคืจืฉ ืืื ืืืจืช, ืฉืื ืื ืืฆืื ื ืืฉืื ืืงืื ืืื ืฉืืื ืืฆืขืืจ ืืชืืืืก ืื ืืืืืืจ ืืื ื, ืืื ืืืืคื (ืคืจื ืืืืฆื ืื ืืืื ืืื โ ืืฆื ื ืฉืื ืดืืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืืืจืืด2). ืื ืืฉืืื ืชืจืืื ืืื ืชื, ืืืคืจืฉ ืืช ืืืื ืดืืืืืืด โ ืดืจืื ืืืืืชื ืืืณโ โ ืด, ืืืืช ืืฉืื ืฉืืืขืชื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืื ืฉืืืืื, ืืื ืื ืืขืช ืืจืืืดื ืืื.
โwere born, he tooโ โ as mentioned above in Genesis 4:26 regarding Seth. As the one destined to be the father of all the descendants of Eber, special attention is drawn to Shem.
โfather of all the sons of eberโ โ the intention is not to say that Shem is the literal father of Eber, for it is immediately stated (verse 24) that Shelah is the father of Eber. Rather,, the intention is to say that Shem is the father of all the sons of Eber, that is, the Hebrews. At the same time, it is said that the Hebrews are indeed closely related to all the peoples named here.
โthe brother of Japheth, the elderโ โ according to the cantillation of the verse, and also according to the Midrash, โhagadolโ refers to Japheth, and this also is implied below, in Genesis 11:10; and compare below, Genesis 44:12ย and 1Samuel 17:13; there, it is clear that hagadol means greater in years, i.e., older. Similarly, below, in Genesis 48:19; there, the meaning of โhis brother, haqatanโ means smaller in years, i.e., older. Indeed, it is impossible to interpret it differently here, as we find in every instance that the younger sibling is referred to in relation to the older one, rather than the opposite (except for one exception โ with regard to women: โMiriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister.โ) However, contrast [my interpretation against] ]the Targum ย of Yonatan, who explains the word โhagadolโ-- โgreater in the fear of God,โ ย and this is because in his view, Shem is the oldest (hagadol) among the brothers.ย This is also the view of the Ramban here.
READING: READING A: Japhet the Great. ย Narrow-scope; comparative, meaning โolderโ or possibly โeldestโ.
Statement about ambiguity: โrefers to Japhethโฆ. However, contrast: the Targum ย of Yonatan; This is also the view of the Ramban here.โ
Disambiguation Strategy and Expression: โaccording to the cantillation of the verse, and also according to the Midrash, โhagadolโ refers to Japheth, and this also is implied below, in Genesis 11:10;โ + other scriptural instances of โgreatโ with siblings referring to age.
Baruch HaLevi Epsteinย (Torah Temimah; 1860 - 1942)
ืชืืจื ืชืืืื
ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ ืืคืช ืืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืื, [ืืืชืื (ืคืณ ืืจืืฉืืช) ืืืืื ื ื ืืช ืฉื ืืช ืื ืืืช ืืคืช, ืืืื ืฉืืจื ืืืืชื ืืฉืื ืืื].1 (ืกื ืืืจืื ืกืดื:)
"The brother of Japheth, the eldestโ โ Japheth was the eldest of his brothers [and it is written, โAnd Noah bore Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, this teaches that they were ordered according to their wisdom (bSan 69b).]
READING: READING A: Japhet the eldest.. ย Narrow-scope, superlative.
Statement about ambiguity: implied in reference to lists that begin with Shem and name Japheth last; with an explanation that those verses are not according to birth order. Disambiguation Expression: ย ืืคืช ืืืื ืฉืืืืื ืืื
See *** for supplementary material: [select] ย commentaries on: Genesis 5:32, ย Genesis 9:24
GENESIS 10:2 ย https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QYc7YnIC-6403XEQm6XIAqi23jti3d4IfA9g2KL1oiU/edit
COMMENTATORS on RASHI:
Gur Aryheh
Siftei Hachamim
ืืืจ ืืจืื
R. Judah Loew of Pragueย (Maharal; ย ~1520 - 1609)
ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ โ ืื ืืจ ืืื ืฉื. ืืืื ืคืืจืืฉื ืฉืืื ืดืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจืด ืฉืืื ืื ืื ื, ืืืืชืื (ืจืณ ืคืกืืง ืื) ืดืืฉืื ืืืืื ืืช ืขืืจืด (ืงืืฉืืช ืืจืืดื), ืืืื ืฉื ื ืขืืจ ืื ืงื, ืฉืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืฉื, ืืฉืืจ ืืืฆืื ืืืฆืื ืฉื ืฉื, ืฉืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืณืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจืณ โ ืืฉืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืณืืื ืื ื ืืจืคืืฉืืณ, ืื ืฉืืจ ืฉืื ืืืืฆืื ืืืฆืื ืฉื ืฉื. ืืื ืฉืืืกืืฃ ืณืืื ืฉืืณ, ืฉืื ืชืืืจ ืดืืืฉื ืืืืด ืคืืจืืฉื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ืฉืืื ืืืชื ืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจ ืื ืืจ, ืืื ืืื ื, ืืืื ืืืืืืจ ืืช ืื ืืื ืงืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืจ ืดืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจืด, ืืขืื โ ืืื ืืืขื ื ืื ืืื ืืืชื ืื ืืื, ืฉืื ืืืืืจื ืืืชืื, ืืื ืดืืื ืื ืื ื ืขืืจืด ืงืื ืขื ืฉื, ืืืฉืื ืดืืืืด ืืืชืื ืืืฉืื ืืืื โ ืจืฆื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืจืข โ ืขื ืฉืืื ืืื ืื ืื ื ืื ืืจ: ืฉืืจื ืื ืชืดืง ืฉื ื ืืืืณ. ืคืืจืืฉ ืืืื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืืชืื (ืจืณ ืืขืื ื, ืื) ืดืืืื ื ื ืชืดืง ืฉื ืืด ืืืื ื ืืฉืคืกืง ืืืืืื (ืืขืจืช ืืจืืดื), ืืื ืื ืืืื ืืงืื ืฉืืื ืื ืืฉืื ืืืืื ืื ืงืณ ืฉื ื, ืืื ืื ืืชืื, ืืื ืฉื ืืื ืื ืืื โ ืฉื ืชืืื ืืืจ ืืืืื (ืืืื ืื, ื). ืืืื ืืืืจ ืืื ื ืืื ืื ืชืดืง, ืืฉื ืื ืชืงืดื, ืืืคืช ืื ืชืงืดื, ืืฉื ืืืื ืืืคืช (ืงืืฉืืช ืืจืืดื), ืืืืื ืื ืืคืช ืืืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืืื, ืืื ืฉืืืื ืื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืชืื, ืืื ืืื ืืชืื ืดืืื ืืคืช ืืืืืืด, ืืกืชืื ืืชืื, ืืืฉืืข ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืื, ืืืื ืืื ืืชืื ืณืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื ืืื ืืณ. ืืืจืืดื ืชืืจืฅ ืืืืื ืืืื ืืกืชื ืืชื ืื ืชืืืืืชืื, ืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืื ืจืง ืฉื ื ืืืืืจื, ืืืืืื ืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื โ ืฉื ืชืืื ืืืจ ืืืืื, ืื ืื ื ืืื ืื ืชืงืดื, ืืืืืื ืืืื ื ืื ืืคืช ืืืืื โ ืืฉื ืช ืชืดืง, ืืืืจืื ืื ืืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื, ืืฉื ืืื ืืงืื โ ืืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื. ืืื ืืืจืื ื ืืกื ืืืจืื (ืกื ืขืดื) ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืจืื ืฉื ื. ืืืืืช ืฉืื ืืืชื ืืืืจื ืืคืจืง ืื ืกืืจืจ ืืืืจื (ืกื ืืืจืื ืกื ืขืดื), ืืื ืฉืื ื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืงืืืจ ืฉื ืณืฉื ืืืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืื ืืืื ืืืคืช ืฉื ืืณ ืืื ืืืฉืจ ืืืื ื ืกืืืจืื ืืืฉืื ืืื ืชื ื ืืจื ืชืืืืืชื, ืื ืืืจืื ื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืืจื ืฉื ื ืืืฉืืขืืช ืืืชืื, ืืื ืืคื ืืืกืงื ื ืืืฉืื ืืื ืืจื ืืืืชื, ืืื ืืืชืื (ืจืณ ืืขืื ื, ืื) ืดืืืื ื ื ืื ืชืดืง ืืืืื ืืช ืฉื ืืืช ืื ืืืช ืืคืชืด, ืืฉื ื ืืื ืื ืชืงืดื ืื ื, ืืืคืช ื ืืื ืื ืชืดืง, ืฉืคืืจ ืืฆืื ื ืืืืืจ ืืื ื ืืื ืืืจ ืฉื, ืืื ืืืขื ื ืืชื. ืืื [ื ืจืื] ืืืืจื ืจืฉืดื, ืืืชื ืจืฉืดื ืืืขืื (ื, ืื) ืณืืจืืจ ืื ื ืืจืืืขื ืฉืืืื ืืฉืืฉ ืืจืขื ืฉื ืืื ืืืืืืืืณ, ืืฉืืข ืืืื ืืณ ืื ืืืืืืื, ืืื ืืื; ืืืคืช ื ืืื ืืฉื ืช ืชืดืง, ืืฉื ืืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื, ืืืฉื ืช ืชืจืดื ืื ื ืืื ืฉื ืื ืืื ืฉื ื, ืืื ืดืฉื ืชืืื ืืืจ ืืืืืืด:
ืฉืคืชื ืืืืื
ื ืืฆื ืฉืืืืื ืืื ืื ืืืณ ืื ืงืณ ืฉื ื. ืืืดืช ืืื ืืืืื ืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืื ืงืณ ืฉื ื ืืฉืื ืืืืื ืืฉื ืืื ืื ืงืณ ืืณ ืฉื ื ืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืคืช ืืื ืื ืงืณ ืืณ ืื ืืจืืข ืฉื ื ืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืดื ืืฉืื ืืืืืจืืช ืืจืืฉืื ืื ืื ืื ืื ืฉืืืืืื ืืื ืืืืืืื ืฉื ื ืืืจ ืฉื ื ืืืืืจืื ื ืืคืจืง ืื ืกืืจืจ ืืืืจื (ืกื ืืืจืื ืกื:) ืืืืจ ืฉืืืืืขื ื ืฉื ืืื ืฉื ืืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื ืฉืืื ืฉื ืชืื ืืืจ ืืืืื ืืืื ื ืฉืฉื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืคืช ื ืืื ืืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื ืืื ื ืืื ืืฉื ืช ืชืดืง ืืืื ื ื ืืงืดื:
ย ืึทืึผึดืึฐืขึฒืงืึผ ืึฐื ึตื-ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตื ืึถื-ืึฐืืึธื, ืึทืึผึธืงึถื ืึฐืืึธื ืืึนืฉืึดืืขึท ืึดืึฐื ึตื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตื ืึทืึผึนืฉืึดืืขึตื--ืึตืช ืขึธืชึฐื ึดืืึตื ืึผึถื-ืงึฐื ึทื, ืึฒืึดื ืึธืึตื ืึทืงึผึธืึนื ืึดืึผึถื ึผืึผ
Kind of funny: ืึดืึผึถื ึผืึผ clarifies that we are dealing with a relative modifier. ย But it remains uncertain whether the referent is Caleb or Kenaz. ย
ืึดืึผึถื ึผืึผ
ย Seems inserted in order to disambiguate? But doesnโt?
SOURCE | JEPHET is referent: narrow scope | SHEM is referent: wide scope | |
Maybe explore the possibility of DELIBERATE Ambiguity/Multivalence?
Contemporary Critical Scholarship:
ICC
P. 219
Florentino Garcรญa Martรญnez, โGeography as Theology: From the Book of Jubilees to the Phaleg by Arias Montano,โ in Between Philology and Theology: Contributions to the Study of Ancient Jewish Interpretationย (Supplements to the Journal for the Study of Judaism, 2012).ย
https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004243941/B9789004243941_004.xml
(summarized in thisย reviewย by Pieter W. van der Horst, 2013:
Garcรญa Martรญnez turns to Genesis 10 in โGeography as Theology: From the Book of Jubileesย to the Phalegย by Aria Montano,โ demonstrating how later Jewish writers updated its geographical and ethnic data to keep in step with their contemporaries. To that end, Josephus used the knowledge produced by Greek geographers; the author of the Aramaic Bible translation that goes by the name of Targum Neofitiย used cartographic knowledge current in the Roman Empire of the third century; and, by way of Christian example, in his Phalegย of 1572, Arias Montano interpreted Genesis 10 in light of the discovery of the Americas (Parwaim is Peru [in the dual]!). Other early Jewish writings, however, such as Jubileesย and the Genesis Apocryphon, do not modernize the biblical text but try to use the geographical knowledge of their time to reinterpret it theologically. For example, Jubileesย explicitly emphasizes that Shemโs God-given inheritance is the central part of the earth that belongs to his descendants forever, a clear theologico-political statement. Conversely, Hamโs son Canaan has no right whatsoever to Palestine: the Genesis Apocryphonย assigns the right to the land of Israel unequivocally to the descendants of Shem alone. It is striking that here Israel is presented as the rightful possessors of the very land that in Genesis 10 is allocated to Canaan and his descendants!)
[1]ย Caveat: The Beta Israel holiday of Sigd occurs on 29th Cheshvan. There is a popular belief that the name of the month, โMarcheshvanโ incorporates the word mar, โbitter,โ as a prefix to the basic name Cheshvan, and that this is related to the lack of holidays, but, in fact marย is original to the name of the month. See ย "Putting the Mar Back in Marheshvan"ย by Shlomo Zuckier, in The Lehrhaus.
[2]ย Kogut brings this example in a section entitled,
ย โืืชืืืืกืืชื ืืืคืืจืฉืช ืฉื ืคืจืฉื ืืช ืืืงืจื ืืืกืืจืชืืช ืืฉืืื ืืืืืืืืช ืืืขืื ืืืงืจืโ, and notes that the Talmud interprets the verse in accordance with the teโamim: b.San 69 a-b.
[3]ย Kogutโs comment: ย The Talmudโs determination that Japhet was the eldest brother (bSan 69b) matches the cantillation, and it is possible that since the Talmud had already determined this, Rashi did not need to rely on the cantillation in his Torah commentary, for this matter; especially since he noted the syntactic problem in the verse: โI donโt knowโ-- indicating that itโs not possible to conclude on the basis of Scripture itselfโโwhether Japhet is the elder, or Shem.โ Rashi supported his interpretation with dates specified in Scripture, following the Sages.
[4]ย from alhatorah.org:
ืดHe refers to the first commentary as "Sefer HaYashar".
This is the "short commentary" of Ibn Ezra, which is generally the shorter of his two surviving commentaries on Torah; in this verse, it is longer than the later "long commentary".
[5]ย From Chavel ed.: translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel, Shilo Publishing House, (New York, 1971-1976) (CC BY 3.0). In sefaria: https://www.sefaria.org.il/Ramban_on_Genesis.10.21.3?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
[6]ย Alhatorah.org, footnote. 2: See above, 6:10, that Ramban's opinion is that Noah's children were born in this order: Japheth, Shem, and Ham. Ramban thus says here that it is customary for Scripture to record a second son (Shem) beside the oldest (Japheth) even though Shem had a younger brother, Ham. Thus Scripture writes, the brother of Japheth the elder, rather than "the elder brother of Ham."
[7]ย ย In his comment on Exod 15:20, Ramban puzzles over Miriamโs identification relative to Aaron. Perhaps his point here is that Miriam is identified relative to Aaron rather than Moses, even though Mosesโ was presumably of higher stature than Aaron, because Aaron was older than Moses (though probably younger than Miriam herself).
Alhatorah.org footnote: Exodus 15:20. Even though Moses was younger than Miriam, Scripture records the younger Miriam beside the elder Aaron, rather than say, "the older sister of Moses."
[8]ย Alhatorah.org footnote:ย Ramban, in this final paragraph, sets forth his principle that Shem was really the oldest of the three brothers. The order of their birth was thus: Shem, Japheth and Ham. This is completely unlike the theory of Rashi (5:32; 9:24) who holds that they were born in this order: Japheth, Ham and Shem. Radak here conforms with Ramban's theory, as is clear from Radak's following words: โThe word hagadol (the elder)ย is descriptive either of Japheth or of Shem. If so, the elderย refers to age in years for in my opinion Shem was the oldest of the brothers while, in the opinion of most commentators, Japheth was the oldest. It is also possible to explain the elderย as referring to distinction, and it may also be descriptive of either of them.โ
[9]ย The alhatorah.org English translation of Shadaโl on Gen 5:32 offers a paraphrase of Rambanโs comment here, which might offer assistance in clarifying the Rambanโs reading of
ืฉืโฆ ืืื ืืคืช ืืืืื: ย โNachmanides correctly explains that Japheth was the eldest, as it is written, โHe [Shem] who of the eldest brother, Japheth, was [the worthy] brother [aแธฅi Yefet ha-gadol]โ (Gen. 10:21).โ Shadal on Genesis; translation by Daniel A. Klein (New York, 2019). Unfortunately, this English paraphrase uses the word โbrotherโ twice, and also uses both โeldestโ and [โthe worthyโ], seemingly having ืืื and ืืืืื do double duty, referring to both of the two brothers.