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Sources For Cheshvan: Month 2 Genesis 10:21: Sources For Cheshvan: Month 2 Genesis 10:21

Sources For Cheshvan: Month 2 Genesis 10:21
Sources For Cheshvan: Month 2 Genesis 10:21
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  1. Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti)ย = Targum Onkelos
  2. R. Yaakov b. Asherย (Tur; 1269-1343)
  3. ื˜ื•ืจ ื”ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื”ืืจื•ืš

CHESHVAN ย Genesis 10:21ย (Genealogy of Noahโ€™s 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)

ื•ึผืœึฐืฉืึตึฅื ื™ึปืœึผึทึ–ื“ ื’ึผึทื ื”ึ‘ื•ึผื ืึฒื‘ึดื™ึ™ ื›ึผึธืœ ื‘ึผึฐื ึตื™ ืขึตึ”ื‘ึถืจ ืึฒื—ึดึ–ื™ ื™ึถึฅืคึถืช ื”ึทื’ึผึธื“ึฝื•ึนืœืƒ

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 ื•ืชืŸ ื˜ืœ ื•ืžื˜ื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 Iโ€™veย selected for the month of Cheshvan is about three of these survivors, Noahโ€™s sons, particularly Shem and Japheth. It is a โ€œscope ambiguityโ€ found in Genesis 10:21, the chapter that reviews the genealogy of Noahโ€™s sons.

****SPOILER ALERT: The translations and following text and chart summarize the syntactic ambiguity that we explore in this verse. ย If you prefer to seek the ambiguity without this information, please skip over this text, highlighted in gray, to the section headed โ€œEXEGESISโ€, below, following the 4 asterisks.

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] Yefetโ€™s 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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ?
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 ืฉืโ€ฆืื—ื™ [ื™ืคืชย ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ] ย  narrow scope

ย  ืฉืโ€ฆ[ืื—ื™ย ื™ืคืช] ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย  ย wide scope

Lexical Ambiguity: ย ื’ึผึธื“ื•ึนืœ

(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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ; JAPHET is the the elder/greater/great brother,

ย ืื—ื™ [ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ]

READING B: the [elder/eldest/greater/greatest [brother of Japhet]-->

Shemย is the referent of ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ. SHEM is the elder/greater brother.

ย [ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช] ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ

CONTEXT and Implications: What is the birth order of Noahโ€™s sons? How might one determine this? Why is this important to exegetes?

From ย Wikipedia, โ€œJaphethโ€: 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, Teโ€™amimย p. 43, example 12[2]:

Targum Onqelosย (3rd century)

ืชืจื’ื•ื ืื•ื ืงืœื•ืก

ื•ึผืœึฐืฉึตืื ืึดื™ืชึฐื™ึฐืœึดื™ื“ ืึทืฃ ื”ื•ึผื ืึฒื‘ื•ึผื”ื•ึนืŸ ื“ึฐึผื›ึธืœ ื‘ึฐึผื ึตื™ ืขึตื‘ึถืจ ืึฒื—ื•ึผื”ึดื™ ื“ึฐึผื™ึถืคึถืช ืจึทื‘ึธึผื.

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): โ€œSons 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: โ€œAnd also to Shem, the ancestor of all of Eberโ€™s descendants, the elder brother of Japheth (children) were born.โ€

Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti)ย = Targum Onkelos

ืชืจื’ื•ื ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ (ื ื™ืื•ืคื™ื˜ื™)

ื•ืœืฉื ืืชื™ืœื“ ืืฃืย ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื•ื”ื•ืŸ ื“ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจื™ืื‘ ืื—ื•ื™ ื“ื™ืคืช ืจื‘ื”.

McNamara, Aramaic Bible, Vol. 1A: โ€œAnd (children) were also born to Shem; he is the father of all the sons of the Hebrews, the elder brother of Japheth.โ€

Targum Pseudo-Jonathan

ืชืจื’ื•ื ื™ืจื•ืฉืœืžื™ (ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ)

ื•ืœืฉื ืื™ืชื™ืœื™ื“ ืืฃ ื”ื•ื ื‘ืจ ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื•ื”ื•ืŸ ื“ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื™ื‘ืจืื™ ืื—ื•ื™ ื“ื™ืคืช ืจื‘ื ื‘ื“ื—ืœืชื ื“ื™ื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: โ€œTo 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€

LXXย  แผ€ฮดฮตฮปฯ†แฟท ฮ™ฮฑฯ†ฮตฮธ ฯ„ฮฟแฟฆ ฮผฮตแฝทฮถฮฟฮฝฮฟฯ‚

โ€œbrother of Japhet the eldestโ€

Genesis Rabbahย (5th century?)
Gen Rab 37:7ย 

ืžื“ืจืฉ ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ืœื–:ื–

ื•ึผืœึฐืฉืึตื ื™ึปืœึผึทื“ ื’ึผึทื ื”ื•ึผื ืึฒื‘ึดื™ ื›ึผึธืœ ื‘ึผึฐื ึตื™ ืขึตื‘ึถืจ ื•ื’ื•' (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™, ื›ื), ืึตื™ืŸ ืึธื ื•ึผ ื™ื•ึนื“ึฐืขึดื™ืŸ ืึดื ืฉืึตื ื”ื•ึผื ื”ึทื’ึผึธื“ื•ึนืœ ืึดื ื™ึถืคึถืช ื”ื•ึผื ื”ึทื’ึผึธื“ื•ึนืœ, ืžึดืŸ ืžึทื” ื“ึผึดื›ึฐืชึดื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ื, ื™): ืึตืœึผึถื” ืชึผื•ึนืœึฐื“ึนืช ืฉืึตื ืฉืึตื ื‘ึผึถืŸ ืžึฐืึทืช ืฉืึธื ึธื” ื•ึทื™ึผื•ึนืœึถื“ ืึถืช ืึทืจึฐืคึผึทื›ึฐืฉืึธื“ ืฉืึฐื ึธืชึทื™ึดื ืึทื—ึทืจ ื”ึทืžึผึทื‘ึผื•ึผืœ, ื”ึฑื•ึตื™ ื™ึถืคึถืช ื”ื•ึผื ื”ึทื’ึผึธื“ื•ึนืœ. (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™, ื›ื”):

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), โ€œthese 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.

*Bamidbar Rabbah 4:8ย (on firstbornsโ€™ garments)

ืžื“ืจืฉ ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืจื‘ื”

ืžึตืช ื ึนื—ึท ื•ึผืžึฐืกึธืจึธืŸ ืœึฐืฉืึตื, ื•ึฐื›ึดื™ ืฉืึตื ื”ึธื™ึธื” ื‘ึผึฐื›ื•ึนืจ ื•ึทื”ึฒืœื•ึนื ื™ึถืคึถืช ื”ึธื™ึธื” ื‘ึผึฐื›ื•ึนืจ, ืฉืึถื ึผึถืึฑืžึทืจ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™, ื›ื): ืึฒื—ึดื™ ื™ึถืคึถืช ื”ึทื’ึผึธื“ื•ึนืœ, ื•ึผืžึดืคึผึฐื ึตื™ ืžึธื” ืžึฐืกึธืจึธืŸ ืœึฐืฉืึตื ืžึดืคึผึฐื ึตื™ ืฉืึถืฆึผึธืคึธื” ื ึนื—ึท ืฉืึทืœึฐืฉืึถืœึถืช ื”ึธืึธื‘ื•ึนืช ืขื•ึนืžึถื“ึถืช ืžึดืžึผึถื ึผื•ึผ.

Noah died and passed them [the firstbornsโ€™ garments] to Shem. But was Shem the firstborn? Wasnโ€™t Japhet the firstborn?! As it is said (Genesis 10:21): โ€œThe 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

Yalkut Shimoniย (11th - 14th centuries) = Genesis Rabbah

ื•ึผืœึฐืฉึตืื ื™ึปืœึธึผื“ ื’ึทึผื ื”ื•ึผื. ืึตื™ืŸ ืึธื ื•ึผ ื™ื•ึนื“ึฐืขึดื™ืŸ ืึดื ืฉึตืื ื”ื•ึผื ื”ึทื’ึธึผื“ื•ึนืœ ืึดื ื™ึถืคึถืช ื”ื•ึผื ื”ึทื’ึธึผื“ื•ึนืœ, [ืžึดืŸ ืžึทื” ื“ึดึผื›ึฐืชึดื™ื‘ (ืœื”ืœืŸ ื™ืดื:ื™ืณ) ืดืึตืœึถึผื” ืชึผื•ึนืœึฐื“ึนืช ืฉึตืื ืฉึตืื ื‘ึถึผืŸ ืžึฐืึทืช ืฉึธืื ึธื” ื•ึทื™ึผื•ึนืœึถื“ ืึถืช ืึทืจึฐืคึทึผื›ึฐืฉึธืื“ ืฉึฐืื ึธืชึทื™ึดื ืึทื—ึทืจ ื”ึทืžึทึผื‘ึผื•ึผืœืด ื”ึฑื•ึตื™ ื™ึถืคึถืช ื”ื•ึผื ื”ึทื’ึธึผื“ื•ึนืœ].

Rashiย (1040 - 1105) ~ Genesis Rabbah

ืจืฉืดื™
ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ืื™ื ื™ ื™ื•ื“ืข ืื ืฉื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืื• ืื ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ. ื›ืฉื”ื•ื ืื•ืžืจ: ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืžืืช ืฉื ื” ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™"ื:ื™'), ื”ื•ื™ [ืื•ืžืจ] ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ. ืฉื”ืจื™ ื‘ืŸ ื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ื”ื™ื” ื ื— ื›ืฉื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืœื”ื•ืœื™ื“, ื•ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื‘ืฉื ืช ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช, ื ืžืฆื ืฉื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ื‘ื ื™ื• ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžืืช ืฉื ื”, ื•ืฉื ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” ืขื“ ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ืฉื ืชื™ื™ื.ย 

ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืชย โ€“ ื•ืœื ืื—ื™ ื—ื. ืฉืืœื• ืฉื ื™ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“ื• ืืช ืื‘ื™ื”ื, ื•ื–ื” ื‘ื–ื”ื•


ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH โ€“ It does not state โ€œbrother of Hamโ€, because those two honoured their father whereas Ham put him to shame (Genesis Rabbah 37:7).

alhatorah.org:

ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ [SHEM โ€ฆ] THE BROTHER OF JAPHETH, THE ELDER โ€“ (The Hebrew is ambiguous: โ€œthe 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) โ€œShem was a hundred years old โ€ฆ 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 โ€œbrother of Hamโ€, because those two honoured their father whereas Ham put him to shame (Genesis Rabbah 37:7).

Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 69b:
(In the English, the bold translates the Hebrew and Aramaic, and the non-bold is added explanation).

ื›ืžื” ืงืฉื™ืฉ ืื‘ืจื”ื ืžืฉืจื”? ืขืฉืจ ืฉื ื™ืŸ, ื•ืงืฉื™ืฉ ืžืื‘ื•ื” ืชืจืชื™ืŸ ืฉื ื™ืŸ. ืืฉืชื›ื— ื›ื™ ืื•ืœื“ื” ื”ืจืŸ ืœืฉืจื” ื‘ืชืžื ื™ ืื•ืœื™ื“ื”. ืžืžืื™? ื“ืœืžื ืื‘ืจื”ื ื–ื•ื˜ื ื“ืื—ื•ื” ื”ื•ื” ื•ื“ืจืš ื—ื›ืžืชืŸ ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื”ื•.

ืชื“ืข ื“ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื”ื• ืงืจื ื“ืจืš ื—ื›ืžืชืŸ ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื”, ืœื‘) ื•ื™ื”ื™ ื ื— ื‘ืŸ ื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ื ื— ืืช ืฉื ืืช ื—ื ื•ืืช ื™ืคืช ืฉื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื—ื ืฉื ื” ื•ื—ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื™ืคืช ืฉื ื” ื ืžืฆื ืฉื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื™ืคืช ืฉืชื™ ืฉื ื™ื ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื–, ื•) ื•ื ื— ื‘ืŸ ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ื•ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื”ื™ื” ืžื™ื ืขืœ ื”ืืจืฅ ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ื, ื™) (ื•)ืืœื” ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืžืืช ืฉื ื” ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ืืช ืืจืคื›ืฉื“ ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” ืฉื ื” ื‘ืจ ืžืื” ื•ืชืจืชื™ืŸ ืฉื ื™ืŸ ื”ื•ื”

ืืœื ื“ืจืš ื—ื›ืžืชืŸ ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื”ื• ื”ื›ื ื ืžื™ ื“ืจืš ื—ื›ืžืชืŸ ืงื ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื”ื•

ืืžืจ ืจื‘ ื›ื”ื ื ืืžืจื™ืชื” ืœืฉืžืขืชื ืงืžื™ื” ื“ืจื‘ ื–ื‘ื™ื“ ืžื ื”ืจื“ืขื ืืžืจ ืœื™ ืืชื•ืŸ ืžื”ื›ื ืžืชื ื™ืชื• ื•ืื ืŸ ืžื”ื›ื ืžืชื ื™ื ืŸ ืœื” (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™, ื›ื) ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉื‘ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื•ื”

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: โ€œAnd Noah was five hundred years old; and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japhethโ€ย (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: โ€œAnd Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earthโ€ย (Genesis 7:6). And it is written: โ€œThese are the descendants of Shem; Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arpachshad two years after the floodโ€ย (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 Nehardeโ€™a.ย When he heard it, he said to me: You learnย that Shem was not Noahโ€™s oldest son from there, and we learn it from here: โ€œAnd to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, to him also were children bornโ€ย (Genesis 10:21). This verse indicates that Japheth,ย rather than Shem, was the oldest of the brothers.ย 

Need to locate ย *Qirqisani, ย (c. 890-c. 960)ย  pp. 33-34 โ€œthe elder brother of Jephetโ€: โ€œthe elderโ€ refers to โ€œbrotherโ€. i.e., Shem is older. (via Steiner class notes).

Lekah Tov (R. Toviah b. Eliezer) ย composed app. 1105-1115

ืœืงื— ื˜ื•ื‘

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“1ืœืžื“ื ื• ืœื™ืคืช ืฉื”ื•ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื›ื•ืœื.

Northern French Commentary Anthology

ืœื™ืงื•ื˜ ืžื—ื›ืžื™ ืฆืจืคืช
ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ ืงืฉืณ ื•ื›ื™ ืื™ื ื• ื™ื•ื“ืข ืื ืฉื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืื• ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ. (ื›ืดื™ ืื•ืงืกืคื•ืจื“ 271/8)

Ibn Ezra Aย (1088/89-1164 or 1092-1167) = Sefer HaYashar; โ€œthe Short Commentaryโ€[3]

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื ื'

ื•ื˜ืขื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ โ€“ ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืื‘ื™ ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื™ื, ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืœืžืขืœื” ืžืžื ื•, ื•ื”ืฉื ืืœื”ื™ื•. ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืชื•ื‘: ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื™ืดื™ ืืœื”ื™ ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื (ืฉืžื•ืช ื™ืณ:ื’ืณ). ื•ื›ื ืขืŸ โ€“ ืื‘ื™ื• ื—ื, ืฉืื™ืŸ ืœืžื˜ื” ืžืžื ื•, ื•ืื™ืŸ ืจืื•ื™ ืœื”ืชืขืจื‘ ืงื•ื“ืฉ ื‘ื—ื•ืœ.

ื•ื˜ืขื ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื™ืคืช ื˜ื•ื‘. ื•ื”ืงื“ื™ื ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ืฉืื ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืงื˜ืŸ, ืงื•ื“ื ื™ืคืช ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื•. ื•ื”ืขื“, ืฉืืžืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘: ื›ื™ ื ื— ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ื›ืฉื”ื—ืœ ืœื”ื•ืœื™ื“ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื”ืณ:ืœืดื‘), ื•ืื™ืŸ ื‘ื–ื” ืœื˜ื•ืขืŸ ืžืงื•ื ืœื˜ืขื•ืŸ, ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ืคื—ื•ืช ืžื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื”ื‘ ื•ื‘ืฉื ืช ืฉืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ื‘ื ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ, ื•ื‘ืฆืืช ื ื— ืžื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืžืืช ืฉื ื” ื•ืฉื ื” ืื—ืช, ื•ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืืžืจ: ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืดื:ื™ืณ).

ื•ื™ืฉ ืžืคืจืฉ: ื›ื™ ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืžื ื• ื”ื•ื ืฉื, ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจื• ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ืชื—ืœื”. ื•ืืžืจ: ื›ื™ ื›ืืฉืจ ื ื•ืœื“ ืฉื, ืœื ื ื›ื ืกื• ืžืฉื ืช ื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ืœื ื— ื›ื™ ืื ื™ืžื™ื ืžื•ืขื˜ื™ื, ื›ื™ ื™ื•ื ื‘ืฉื ื” ื—ืฉื•ื‘ ืฉื ื”, ื•ื ื— ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืื™ื™ืจ, ื•ืฉื ื‘ืกื™ื•ืŸ, ื•ื›ืฉื‘ื ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื”ื™ื” ืœื ื— ืชืดืง ื•ืชืฉืขื™ื ื•ืชืฉืข ืฉื ื” ื•ื™ืžื™ื. ื•ื”ื ื” ืื™ืŸ ืœืฉื ืชืฉืขื™ื ื•ืชืฉืข ืฉืœื™ืžื•ืช ืœืฉื ืช ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ, ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ื›ืฉื ื•ืœื“ ืืจืคื›ืฉื“ ื‘ืŸ ืžืืช ืฉื ื” ื•ื—ื“ืฉื™ื. ื•ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืฉื ืชื™ื (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืดื:ื™ืณ) ืฉื ื›ื ืกื” ื”ืฉื ื” ื”ืฉื ื™ืช ืžื—ืฉื‘ื•ืŸ ืจืืฉื™ืช ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ.

ื’ื ื™ืฉ ืื•ืžืจื™ื: ื›ื™ ืื—ืจ ื—ืžืฉื” ื—ื“ืฉื™ื ืžื™ื•ื ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ, ืฉื—ืกืจื• ื”ืžื™ื, ื”ืจืชื” ืืฉืช ืฉื. ื•ื”ื ื” ื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” ืฉื ื” (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืดื:ื™ืณ). ื•ื›ื—ืฉื‘ื•ืŸ ื”ื–ื” ื™ืžืฆื ื‘ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ืขืฉืจื” ืžืงื•ืžื•ืช.

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.

Ibn Ezra Bย (1088/89-1164 or 1092-1167); โ€œthe Long Commentaryโ€

ืื‘ืŸ ืขื–ืจื ื‘'

ื•ื˜ืขื ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ืฉื”ื™ื• ืฆื“ื™ืงื™ื ืฉื ื™ื”ื, ืœื”ื•ืฆื™ื ื—ื.

ื•ื ืจืื” ื”ืคืฉื˜: ื›ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื•ื ื”ืื— ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ.

And the point of โ€œthe 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.

Bekhor Shorย 12th century

ื‘ื›ื•ืจ ืฉื•ืจ

ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ืœืคื™ ืฉื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืžื•ื ื” ืฉื ืชื—ื™ืœื”, ื•ื›ืืŸ ืžื ืืŸ ื“ืจืš ืชื•ืœื“ืชืŸ โ€“ ื™ืคืช ื•ื—ื ื•ืฉื, ืžื’ื™ื“ ืœืš ืฉื–ื” ื“ื•ื•ืงื, ื™ืคืช ื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ.

alhatorah.org:
ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ 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.

Rabbi David Kimhi (Radak) 1160-1235

ืจื“ืดืง

ื•ืœืฉื โ€“ ื–ื›ืจ ืฉื ื‘ืื—ืจื•ื ื” ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืขืชื™ื“ ืœื–ื›ืจ ืกืคื•ืจ ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืื‘ื•ืช ืฉื”ื™ื• ืžื–ืจืข ืฉื, ืกืคืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื ืžืื™ืฉ ืœืื™ืฉ ืขื“ ืื‘ืจื”ื ืื‘ื™ื ื•. ื•ืžื” ืฉืืžืจ ื’ื ื”ื•ื โ€“ ืืœ ืชื—ืฉื‘ื• ืœืคื™ ืฉืœื ื–ื›ืจื ื• ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื” ื›ืžื• ืฉื ื–ื›ืจ ื”ื•ื ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ืกืคื•ืจื™ื ื‘ืจืืฉื•ื ื”, ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช, ื›ื™ ื’ื ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช. ื•ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ โ€“ ืฉืžืžื ื• ื™ืฆืื• ื”ืื‘ื•ืช. ื•ื™ื•ืชืจ ื”ื™ื• ื—ืฉื•ื‘ื™ื ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื• ืžืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื—ื™ื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ.

ื•ื”ื™ื” ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืžืขื•ืœื” ื‘ืื—ื™ื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืžืขืœื”, ืœื ืื—ื™ ื—ื ืฉื”ื™ื” ืคื—ื•ืช ืžืื—ื™ื• ื•ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื’ื ื›ืŸ ืคื—ื•ืชื™ื ืžืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื—ื™ื•.

ื•ื˜ืขื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ืขืœ ื™ืคืช ืื• ืขืœ ืฉื, ื•ื™ื”ื™ื” ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื•: ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ืฉื ื™ื, ื›ื™ ืœื“ืขืชื ื• ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ืฉื ื™ื, ื•ืœื“ืขืช ืจื•ื‘ ื”ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ื™ืคืช ื”ื™ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ืฉื ื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉื›ืชื‘ื ื•.

ื•ื™ืฉ ืœืคืจืฉ ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ืžืขืœื”, ื•ื™ืืžืจ ื’ื ื›ืŸ ืขืœ ืื—ื“ ืžืฉื ื™ื”ื.

ื•ืžื” ืฉืืžืจ ื™ึปืœื“ ื•ืœื ืืžืจ ื™ืœื“ื• โ€“ ืืžืจ ื›ืŸ ืขืœ ื“ืจืš ื›ืœืœ, ื›ืžื•, ื•ืœืขื‘ืจ ื™ึปืœื“ ืฉื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืณ:ื›ืดื”).

alhatorah.org with modification:

โ€œAnd 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 โ€œalso 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 โ€œfather 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 โ€œfather of all the sons of Eber.โ€

He also was the greatest among his brothers, for he was the brother of โ€œJapheth, the great one.โ€ That is to say that [Shem] was [Japhethโ€™s] 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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ 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.

See Radak on Genesis 5:32

ื•ึทึฝื™ึฐื”ึดื™โ ึพื ึนึ•ื—ึท ื‘ึถึผืŸโ ึพื—ึฒืžึตึฅืฉื ืžึตืึ–ื•ึนืช ืฉึธืื ึธึ‘ื” ื•ึทื™ึผึฃื•ึนืœึถื“ ื ึนึ”ื—ึท ืึถืชโ ึพืฉึตืึ–ื ืึถืชโ ึพื—ึธึฅื ื•ึฐืึถืชโ ึพื™ึธึฝืคึถืช

Radak comments:

ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ื ื— ืืช ืฉื ืืช ื—ื ื•ืืช ื™ืคืช, ื“ืขืช ืจื–"ืœ ื›ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื•ืœืžื“ื• ื–ื” ืžืžื” ืฉืืžืจ "ื•ื™ื”ื™ ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” ืฉื ื” ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ืืช ืืจืคื›ืฉื“ ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ" ื•ืื ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ืจื™ ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืžืื” ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ, ื ื—ืฉื•ื‘, ื›ื™ ื”ื™ืœื“ ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืฉื ื” ืื—ืช ื•ื—ืžืฉ...ืืœื ื™ืคืช ื”ื™ื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื•ื›ืŸ ืืžืจ "ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ" ื•ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉืจื–"ืœ ืืžืจื• ื›ืš ื™ืฉ ืœืชืžื•ื”, ืื™ืš ื›ืชื‘ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื–ื›ืจ ืฉืœืฉืชืŸ ืฉื ื—ื ื•ื™ืคืช ื“ืžืฉืžืข ื›ื™ ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื•ื™ืคืช ื”ืงื˜ืŸ?

Sefaria translation:
ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ื ื— ืื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 ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” ืฉื ื” ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ืืช ืืจืคื—ืฉื“ ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ, โ€œShem 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 Noachโ€™s 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 Noachโ€™s 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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, โ€œthe 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 โ€œ2 years after the deluge,โ€ may be understood as โ€œ2 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.

Chizkuniย (R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach; 13th century)

ื—ื–ืงื•ื ื™

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื•ื›ื•ืณ โ€“ ื›ืืŸ ืžื•ื ื” ืื•ืชื ื“ืจืš ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื: ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืคืช ื•ื’ื•ืžืณ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืณ:ื‘ืณ), ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื—ื ื•ื’ื•ืžืณ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืณ:ื•ืณ), ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื•ื’ื•ืžืณ โ€“ ืžื’ื™ื“ ืœืš ืฉื–ื”ื• ื”ืกื“ืจ ื“ื•ืงื, ื•ืœื›ืš ื ื›ืชื‘ ื›ืืŸ: ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ. ื•ืžื” ืฉื”ื–ื›ื™ืจื• ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื›ืžื” ืคืขืžื™ื ืงื•ื“ื ืื—ื™ื•, ื“ืจืš ื—ืฉื™ื‘ื•ืชืŸ ืงื—ืฉื™ื‘.1 ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช โ€“ ืฉื ืขืฉื” ืขืžื• ืฉื•ืชืฃ ืœื›ื‘ื“ ืืช ืื‘ื™ื•.

alhatorah.org, modified:

'ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื•ื’ื•, โ€œand for Shem were born, etc.โ€ Here, Scripture lists [the three sons] according to their genealogies:: โ€œthe sons of Yephet etc.โ€ (Gen 10:2), โ€œand the sons of Ham etc.โ€ (Gen 10:6), โ€œand 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, โ€œYephet ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ.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.

Nahmanidesย (Ramban; 1194 - 1270)

Rambanโ€™s comments on our ambiguity and on the birth order of Noahโ€™s 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., ) Chavelโ€™s translation is followed by my critique and some suggested emendations.

ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ืย โ€“ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืื™ื—ืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื, ื•ืกื™ืคืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืžืžื ื• ื›ืืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ื‘ื ื™ื, ืืžืจ ื‘ื›ืืŸ ื’ื ื”ื•ื.

ื•ื˜ืขื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจย โ€“ ืฉื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ, ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืงื•ื ื™ื—ื•ืก ืื‘ืจื”ื. ื•ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืขื‘ืจ ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืฉื ื”ืื™ืฉ ืื‘ื™ ืคืœื’, ื›ื™ ืœืžื” ื™ื™ื—ืก ืื•ืชืŸ ืืœื™ื•.
ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ื“ืจืš ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื™ื—ืก ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ืื—ื™ื ื•ืœื ืืœ ื”ื ื•ืœื“ ืื—ืจื™ื•, ื•ื›ืŸ: ืžืจื™ื ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื” ืื—ื•ืช ืื”ืจืŸ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื˜ืดื•:ื›ืณ). ื•ื˜ืขื ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื–ื” ื”ื›ืœืœ ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืื—ื™ ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“, ืฉื•ื” ืืœื™ื• ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื•, ืœื”ื’ื™ื“ ืฉืœื ืื™ื—ืจ ืื•ืชื• ืžืคื ื™ ืžืขืœืช ื—ื ืขืœื™ื•.

ื•ื”ื ืจืื” ืืœื™ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืชื•ืืจ ืœืฉื, ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ืื— ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืœ ื™ืคืช, ื›ื™ ื—ื ืงื˜ืŸ ืžื›ื•ืœื ื•ืื ื”ืงื“ื™ื ืื•ืชื•. ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ื”ืชื•ืืจ ืœืžื“ื•ื‘ืจ ื‘ื•, ื›ื’ื•ืŸ: ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ืืžื•ืฅ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื›ืณ:ืืณ), ื—ื ื ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ื•ืจ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื (ื™ืจืžื™ื”ื• ื›ืดื—:ืืณ), ืœื—ื•ื‘ื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืจืขื•ืืœ ื”ืžื“ื™ื ื™ ื—ืชืŸ ืžืฉื” (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ืณ:ื›ืดื˜). ื•ืจื‘ื™ื ื• ืฉืœืžื” ื›ืชื‘: ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื•ืœื ืื—ื™ ื—ื, ืฉืืœื• ืฉื ื™ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“ื• ืื‘ื™ื”ื ื•ื–ื” ื‘ื–ื”ื•. ื’ื ื–ื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืื—ื™ ื”ืฆื“ื™ืง ื•ืœื ืื—ื™ ื”ืจืฉืข, ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉื ืžื ื” ืื—ืจื™ื•. ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื โ€“ ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืฉืื™ื—ืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื ื•ืกืคืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืžืžื ื• ื›ืืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ื‘ื ื™ื ืืžืจ ื’ื ื”ื•ื: ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ โ€“ ืฉื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ื™ืฉื•ื‘ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืงื•ื ื™ื—ื•ืก ืฉืœ ืื‘ืจื”ื: ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ ื“ืจืš ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื™ื™ื—ืก ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืืฆืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ืื—ื™ื ื•ืœื ืืœ ื”ื ื•ืœื“ ืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ื›ืŸ ืžืจื™ื ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื” ืื—ื•ืช ืื”ืจืŸ ื•ื˜ืขื ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื›ืœืœ ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ื™ ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“ ืฉื•ื” ืืœื™ื• ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืœื”ื’ื™ื“ ืฉืœื ืื™ื—ืจ ืื•ืชื• ืžืคื ื™ ืžืขืœืช ื—ื ืขืœื™ื•. ื•ื”ื ืจืื” ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ืฉื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื•ื ืชืืจ ืœืฉื ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืื— ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืœ ื™ืคืช ื›ื™ ื—ื ืงื˜ืŸ ืžื›ื•ืœืณ ืืขืดืค ืฉื”ืงื“ื™ืžื• ืœื• ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ื”ืชื•ืืจ ืœืžื“ื•ื‘ืจ ื‘ื• ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ืืžื•ืฅ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื—ื ื ื™ืณ ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ื•ืจ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื:

Translation of Chavel[4]:

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. ย And similarly, we find the verse, โ€œMiriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron.โ€ 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, 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, [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, [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.

ST: alternative translation:

It appears to me that โ€œthe greaterโ€ [ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ] is descriptive of Shem, meaning that he was the greater brother [ ื”ืื— ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ] of Japheth, as Ham was the least of all of them [ืงื˜ืŸ ืžื›ื•ืœื], 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].

*Ramban on Gen 6:10 and Gen 10:2.

Gen 6:10: ื•ึทื™ึผึฅื•ึนืœึถื“ ื ึนึ–ื—ึท ืฉึฐืืœึนืฉึธืึฃื” ื‘ึธื ึดึ‘ื™ื ืึถืชโ ึพืฉึตืึ–ื ืึถืชโ ึพื—ึธึฅื ื•ึฐืึถืชโ ึพื™ึธึฝืคึถืช

ืืช ืฉื ืืช ื—ื ื•ืืช ื™ืคืชย โ€“ ื”ื ืจืื” ืืœื™ ื›ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉื ืืžืจ: ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืณ:ื›ืดื), ื•ื›ืŸ ื™ืžื ื ื‘ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืคืช ืชื—ืœื” (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืณ:ื‘ืณ). ื•ื—ื ื”ื•ื ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ื‘ื›ื•ืœื, ื›ืืฉืจ ืืžืจ: ื•ื™ื“ืข ืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉื” ืœื• ื‘ื ื• ื”ืงื˜ืŸ (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื˜ืณ:ื›ืดื“). ืื‘ืœ ื”ืงื“ื™ื ืฉื ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืžืขืœืชื•, ื•ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื—ื ืื—ืจื™ื• ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ื ื•ืœื“ื•, ื•ื”ื ื” ื ืชืื—ืจ ื™ืคืช, ื•ืœื ืจืฆื” ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื•ืžืจ: ืฉื ื•ื™ืคืช ื•ื—ื, ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื• ื›ื•ืœื ื ื–ื›ืจื™ื ืฉืœื ื›ืกื“ืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื, ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœื™ืคืช ืžืขืœื” ืฉื™ื‘ื˜ืœ ื”ืกื“ืจ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจื•, ืื‘ืœ ืฉื ื”ืงื“ื™ื ืื•ืชื• ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืžืขืœืชื• ืืฃ ืขืœ ืคื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืื•ื—ืจ ื‘ืกืคื•ืจ ื”ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื™ืณ:ื›ืดื). ื•ื›ืŸ: ื‘ื ื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื ื™ืฆื—ืง ื•ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ (ื“ื‘ืจื™ ื”ื™ืžื™ื ื ืืณ:ื›ืดื—), ื•ื›ืŸ: ื•ืืชืŸ ืœื™ืฆื—ืง ืื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.

Gen 10:2

ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืคืช โ€“ ื”ื—ืœ ืžืžื ื• ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ื‘ื›ื•ืจ, ื•ื ืชืŸ ืื—ืจื™ื• ื—ื ื›ื™ ืจืฆื” ืœืื—ืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื ืœืงืจื‘ ืฉื ื™ ื”ืคืจืฉื™ื•ืช ื‘ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื•, ื›ื™ ื™ืฉ ืœื”ืืจื™ืš ื‘ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื‘ืจื”ื.

THE SONS OF JAPHETH: GOMERโ€ฆ. [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.

R. Yaakov b. Asherย (Tur; 1269-1343)

ื˜ื•ืจ ื”ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื”ืืจื•ืš

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื โ€“ ื‘ืฉื‘ื™ืœ ืฉืื™ื—ืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื ื•ืกืคืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืžืžื ื• ื›ืืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ื‘ื ื™ื ืืžืจ ื’ื ื”ื•ื: ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ โ€“ ืฉื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ื™ืฉื•ื‘ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืงื•ื ื™ื—ื•ืก ืฉืœ ืื‘ืจื”ื: ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ ื“ืจืš ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื™ื™ื—ืก ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืืฆืœ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ืื—ื™ื ื•ืœื ืืœ ื”ื ื•ืœื“ ืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ื›ืŸ ืžืจื™ื ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื” ืื—ื•ืช ืื”ืจืŸ ื•ื˜ืขื ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ื›ืœืœ ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ื™ ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื ื›ื‘ื“ ืฉื•ื” ืืœื™ื• ื‘ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื• ืœื”ื’ื™ื“ ืฉืœื ืื™ื—ืจ ืื•ืชื• ืžืคื ื™ ืžืขืœืช ื—ื ืขืœื™ื•. ื•ื”ื ืจืื” ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ืฉื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื•ื ืชืืจ ืœืฉื ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืื— ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืœ ื™ืคืช ื›ื™ ื—ื ืงื˜ืŸ ืžื›ื•ืœืณ ืืขืดืค ืฉื”ืงื“ื™ืžื• ืœื• ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ื”ืชื•ืืจ ืœืžื“ื•ื‘ืจ ื‘ื• ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ื‘ืŸ ืืžื•ืฅ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื ื—ื ื ื™ืณ ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ื•ืจ ื”ื ื‘ื™ื:

alhatorah.org, modified:

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื, โ€œalso 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.

ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ the founding father of all the โ€œIvrimโ€: He was the founder of all the clans settling west of the river Euphrates, the region from which Avraham stemmed.

ย ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€œthe 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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ in our verse is an adjective that applies to Shem, [he was the โ€œgreat 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.


ST: My understanding differs from the translation and explanation in alhatorah.org. The translation there reads: โ€œPersonally, I believe that the word ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ 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' ืื‘ืŸ ื›ืกืคื™

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ืฉื ื™ ื”ื™ื—ื•ืกื™ื ื”ืืœื” ืœืฉึตื ื”ื•ื ืœืฉื‘ื—, ื”ืคืš ืฉื ื™ ื”ื™ื—ื•ืกื™ื ืฉื›ืชื•ืณ ื‘ื—ื. ื•ืื•ืœื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื™ื” ื›ื•ื ืช ื ื•ืชืŸ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืชื•ืืจ ืœื™ืคืช ื›ืืฉืจ ื”ืขื™ื“ื• ืขืœื™ื• ืขื“ื™ื ื ืืžื ื™ื, ืื ืฉื™ ื›ื ืกืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื”. ื•ืื™ืŸ ืชื™ืžื” ืžืืžืจื™ื ื• ืดื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืด, ื›ื™ ืื™ืŸ ื”ื›ืจื— ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืฆืจื•ืฃ ืœื—ึธื ื•ืฉึตื, ื›ืœ ืฉื›ืŸ ืฉื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืœื‘ืืจ ื–ื” ื›ื™ ืขื™ืงืจ ื”ื“ื‘ื•ืง ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืื“ื ื‘ืงื˜ืŸ ื•ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื•ื ืžืฆื“ ื”ื ืคืฉ, ื›ื™ ืดืœื ื‘ืฉื•ืงื™ ื”ืื™ืฉ ื™ืจืฆื”ืด (ืชื”ืœื™ื ืงืžืดื–:ื™ืณ), ื•ื›ืชื•ืณ ืดืืœ ืชื‘ื˜ ืืœ ืžืจืื”ื• ื•ืืœ ื’ื‘ื•ื” ืงื•ืžืชื• ื›ื™ ืžืืกืชื™ื•ืด (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื˜ืดื–:ื–ืณ), ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ื™ ืžืื•ืก ื”ื•ื ืœืฉื ืžืฆื“ ื ืคืฉื•, ื•ื”ื•ื ื™ืชืณ ื™ื•ื“ืข ื ืคืฉ ื›ืœ ื—ื™.

translation: modified chatgpt:
ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย 

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 (โ€œthe Giver of the Torahโ€) is that ย ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ 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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, 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.

R. Levi ben Gershomย (Ralbag; 1288- 1384)

ืจืœื‘ืดื’ ื‘ื™ืื•ืจ ื”ืžื™ืœื•ืช

ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจย โ€“ ื”ื ื™ืฉืจืืœ, ื›ื™ ื”ื ื ืงืจืื• ืขื‘ืจื™ื, ืืžืจ: ืณื”ืณ ืืœื”ื™ ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ืืณ (ืฉืžื•ืช ื–, ื˜ื–, ื•ืขื•ื“), ื•ื™ื™ื—ืกื•ึน ืœื”ื ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื ื”ื™ื•ืชืจ ื ื›ื‘ื“ื™ื ืžื–ืจืขื•.

ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ื™ื“ื•ืข ืฉื™ืคืช ื”ื™ื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ืœืคื™ ืฉื ื— ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ื›ืฉื”ื•ืœื™ื“, ื•ืœื–ื” ื”ื™ื” ืœื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉื‘ื‘ื ื™ื• ืžืื” ื•ืฉืชื™ื ืฉื ื” ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ, ื•ื”ื ื” ืžืฆืื ื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ืฉึตืื ื‘ืŸ ืžืืช ืฉื ื” ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ (ื™ื, ื™). ื•ืขื•ื“, ืฉื”ืชื•ืจื” ื”ืงื“ื™ืžื” ืœืกืคืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ื™ืคืช ืงื•ื“ื ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉึตืื. ื•ื”ื ื” ื™ื™ื—ืก ืฉึตืื ืืœ ื™ืคืช ืฉื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ืœื”ื™ื•ืชื ื™ื—ื“ ื˜ื•ื‘ื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉื ืชื‘ืืจ ื‘ืกื™ืคื•ืจ ื”ืงื•ื“ื (ื˜, ื›ื’), ื•ืœื–ื” ืœื ื™ื™ื—ืกื•ึน ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืื—ื™ ื—ื.

โ€œThe 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.

โ€œThe 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.

R. Eliyahu Mizrahiย (1450? - 1526)

ืžื–ืจื—ื™

ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ ื”ื™ื” ืฉื. ืœื ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื ื• ื“ืžืื™ ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื” ื“ืขื‘ืจ ื›ืœ ืื•ืดื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื”ืžืฉืคื—ื•ืช ื”ื™ื•ืฆืื•ืช ืžืžื ื• ื”ื•ื ื•ืžื›ื™ื•ืŸ ืฉืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื•ื ืฉื ื™ื—ื•ื™ื™ื‘ ืฉื™ื”ื™ืณ ืคื™ืณ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ: ื”ื™ื” ืฉื. ืคื™ืณ ืžืœืช ืื‘ื™ ื“ื‘ืง ืขื ื•ืœืฉื ืœื ืขื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื›ื™ ืœืžื” ื™ืชื™ื—ืกื• ืืœ ื‘ื ื• ื•ืœื ืืœื™ื• ืฉื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื”ื›ืœ ื•ืœืžื” ืœื ื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ื• ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืื™ื–ื” ืžื‘ื ื™ื• ื”ื•ื ื”ืžืชื™ื—ืกื™ื ืืœื™ื• ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ืื‘ืœ ืกืชื ื•ืœื ืคื™ืจืฉ ื•ืžื” ืชื•ืขืœืช ื‘ื–ื” ืื—ืจ ืฉืื™ืŸ ื ื–ื›ืจ:

ืฉื”ืจื™ ื‘ืŸ ืชืดืง ืฉื ื” ื”ื™ื” ื ื—. ื›ืฉื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืœื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ื“ืœื™ื›ื ืœืžื™ืžืจ ื›ืฉื›ืœื” ืœื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ื“ืื ื›ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ื• ืฉื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ ื ื— ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื‘ืขืช ื‘ื ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžื‘ื ื™ ืžืื” ืฉื ื” ื•ืื™ ืืคืฉืจ ื–ื” ืฉื”ืจื™ ืœื ื›ื‘ืฉ ื”ืงื‘ืดื” ืืช ืžืขื™ื™ื ื• ืฉืœ ื ื— ืžืœื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืขื“ ื‘ืŸ ื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ืืœื ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืœื ื™ื”ื ืฉื•ื ืื—ื“ ืžื‘ื ื™ื• ืจืื•ื™ ืœืขื•ื ืฉื™ืŸ ื‘ืขืช ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื›ื“ืœืขื™ืœ ื•ืขื•ื“ ื“ืื ื›ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืฉื‘ื‘ื ื™ื• ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” ืฉื ื” ื›ืฉื‘ื ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ. ื•ืืดื ื–ื” ืฉื”ืจื™ ืฉื ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” ืฉื ื” ืจืง ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ. ื•ืื ืชืืžืจ ืื›ืชื™ ืื™ืš ื™ื“ืข ืžื–ื” ืฉื™ืคืช ื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืฉื ื“ื™ืœืžื ืžื‘ืŸ ื—ืžืฉ ืžืื•ืช ื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ื ื— ืœื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ื•ืœื ื ื•ืœื“ ื™ืคืช ืขื“ ืื—ืจ ื’ืณ ืฉื ื™ื ืžืฉื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืœื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื– ื ื— ื‘ืŸ ืชืงืดื’ ืฉื ื” ื•ืฉื ื ื•ืœื“ ืื—ืจ ื‘ืณ ืฉื ื™ื ืžืฉื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ื ื— ืœื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื– ื ื— ื‘ืŸ ืชืงืดื‘ ืฉื ื” ืฉื ืžืฆื ื‘ื–ื” ืฉืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืงืณ ืฉื ื” ืฉื ืชื™ื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื•ื™ืคืช ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” ืฉื ื” ื‘ืฉืœืฉ ืฉื ื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ. ื™ืฉ ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืžืื—ืจ ืฉืกืชื ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื–ืžืŸ ืœื™ื“ืชื ืœืžื“ื ื• ืฉืœื ื ื•ืœื“ื• ืืœื ืฉื ื” ืื—ืจ ืฉื ื” ืขืœ ื”ืกื“ืจ ื”ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืดืง ื”ืฉื ื™ ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื ื”ืฉืœื™ืฉื™ ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื‘ ื•ืื—ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ื• ืฉื ื•ืœื“ ืฉื ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื‘ ื›ื“ืžืฉืžืข ืžืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืงืณ ืฉื ื” ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ืœืžื“ื ื• ืฉืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืื—ืจื•ืŸ ื•ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืžื ื• ื•ื‘ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ื‘ืคืณ ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื” ืืžืจื• ืฉืœืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ ื ื— ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ื”ื• ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ืืช ืฉื ื•ืืช ื—ื ื•ืืช ื™ืคืช ื•ืฉืœืฉื” ื‘ื ื™ ืชืจื— ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ื”ื• ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ืืช ืื‘ืจื ืืช ื ื—ื•ืจ ื•ืืช ื”ืจืŸ ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ืžื”ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืื—ื™ื• ืฉื ื” ืื—ืช:

โ€œThe 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 โ€œfather of all the sons of eber,โ€ the meaning of โ€œall the sons of eberโ€ must be, [the farther of all of those from] across the river, was Shem.This means: the word โ€œthe father ofโ€ refers to โ€œand to Shemโ€ and not to โ€œwas 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? โ€œall the sons of eberโ€, but generically, and it does not specify, and what would be the point of this if he is not named?

[โ€œThe 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 Noahโ€™s 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 Noahโ€™s 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 donโ€™t 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 Noahโ€™s life], the second in the 101st year, the third in the 102nd year. And after weโ€™ve 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 โ€œthe 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]: โ€œAnd he bore Abram, and Nahor, and Haran.โ€ (Genesis 11:26). Each one of them was greater than his brother by one year.

R. Isaac Abarbanelย (1437-1509)

ืื‘ืจื‘ื ืืœ

ื•ืื•ืœื ืืžืจื• ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย ื›ืชื‘ ื”ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ืฉื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืื—ืจ ืกืคื•ืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื ื•ื–ื›ืจื• ื‘ืื—ืจื•ื ื” ืืžืจ ืืœ ืชื—ืฉื•ื‘ ืฉื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื–ื›ืจืชื™ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ื™ืคืช ื•ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืณ ื—ื ื•ืœื ื ื–ื›ืจื• ืขื“ื™ื ื” ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ื‘ื ื™ื ื•ืฉืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืืœื”ื™ ื•ืขื™ื•ื ื™ ืชืžื™ื“ ืœื ื ื–ื“ื•ื•ื’ ืœืืฉื” ืื™ืŸ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ ื›ืŸ ื›ื™ ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ืย ื•ืฉืืžืจื• ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจย ืื™ืŸ ื”ืจืฆื•ืŸ ืขืœ ืขื‘ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืœื— ื‘ืŸ ืืจืคื›ืฉืณ ื”ื ื–ื›ืจ ื‘ืคืจืฉื” ืืœื ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจย ื”ื ื”ืจ ืžืงื•ื ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ืื™ื ื• ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื›ื™ ืžื” ืฆื•ืจืš ื‘ืืžืจื• ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื. ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืฉื”ื™ื• ืœืฉื ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื—ืจื™ ืฉื–ื›ืจื” ื”ืชื•ืจืณ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื•ื’ื ืืžืจื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ ื”ื™ื ื‘ืืžืช ื”ื•ื“ืขื” ืฉืื™ืŸ ื‘ื” ืชื•ืขืœืณ ื•ืœืžื” ืœื ื–ื›ืจ ื—ืจืŸ ื•ืฉืืจ ื”ืืจืฆื•ืช ืฉื”ื ื’ืดื› ื‘ื ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืฉื ื›ืดืฉ ืฉื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื ืืžืจ ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ ืืœื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจย ื•ื”ื•ื ืขื‘ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืœื— ื‘ืืžืช. ื•ื”ื ืจืืณ ืœื™ ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืฉื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื”ื™ื• ืœืฉื ื‘ื ื™ืณ ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื ืจื‘ื™ืณ ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ืื—ื™ื ื™ืคืช ื•ื—ื ื•ื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืœื›ืŸ ืจืฆืชืณ ื”ืชื•ืจื” ืœื”ื’ื™ื“ ืžืชื›ื•ื ืณ ืฉื ื•ื™ื•ืฉืจ ืžื–ื’ื• ืฉืœื ื”ื™ืชื” ืื”ื‘ืชื• ืชืœื•ื™ื” ื‘ืื—ื“ ืžื‘ื ื™ื• ื•ืœื ืžื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื• ื›ืดื ื‘ืขื‘ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืœื— ื‘ืŸ ืืจืคื›ืฉื“ ื•ื‘ื›ืœ ื–ืจืขื• ื›ื™ ืื•ืชื• ืจืื” ืฆื“ื™ืง ืœืคื ื™ื• ื•ื‘ืจ ื—ื›ื™ื ื”ื•ื ืœื™ื” ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ืื•ื”ืœื™ื ื•ืžื“ืจืฉื•ืช ื›ืžื•ื”ื•. ื•ืฉื›ืžื• ื›ืŸ ืœื ื”ื™ืชื” ืื”ื‘ืชื• ืขื ื—ื ื•ืœื ืขื ื‘ื ื™ื• ืืœื ืขื ื™ืคืช ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ืžืขืœื” ื•ื”ืฉืœืžื•ืช ื•ื›ืืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืœืฉื ื‘ื ื™ื ืื—ืจื™ื ื›ื™ ืื ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืื— ื›ื™ ืื ื™ืคืช ื•ื”ื•ื ืืžืจื• ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจย ืจืดืœ ืœืฉื ื’ื ื›ืŸ ื™ื•ืœื“ื• ื‘ื ื™ื ื”ืจื‘ื” ื›ืžื• ืฉื™ื•ืœื“ื• ืœืฉืืจ ืื—ื™ื• ืื‘ืœ ืขื›ืดื– ืœื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ื• ื›ื™ ืื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจย ืฉืœื”ื ื”ื™ืชื” ืื”ื‘ืชื• ื›ืจื—ื ืื‘ ืขืœ ื‘ื ื™ื ื›ืืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืื‘ื™ื”ื ืฉืœ ืฉืืจ ื”ื‘ื ื™ื.

ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ืขื ื™ืŸ ื”ืื—ื™ื ื›ืืœื• ื”ื™ื” ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืชย ื‘ืœื‘ื“ ื•ื’ื ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย ื›ื™ ื”ืื— ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื™ืจื—ื ืขืœ ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืงื˜ื ื™ื ื›ืืœื• ื”ื ื‘ื ื™ื• ื•ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ืฉื ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืœ ื™ืคืช ื‘ืœื‘ื“ ื›ื™ ื›ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ืขื ื™ื ื• ื‘ืื”ื‘ืชื• ืื•ืชื• ื•ื›ืœ ื–ื” ืœืื•ืช ืฉืฉืืจ ื‘ื ื™ื• ื•ืฉืืจ ืื—ื™ื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ื ื—ืฉื‘ื™ื ืืฆืœื• ืœื›ืœื•ื ื•ืขื ืžื” ืฉืคื™ืจืฉืชื™ ื‘ืคืกื•ืณ ื–ื” ื”ื•ืชืจื” ื”ืฉืืœื” ื”ื–ืณ.

Indeed, it is said, โ€œAnd 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 โ€œto 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€œ 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 sonsโ€“therefore, the Torah wanted to tell Shemโ€™s 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, โ€œAnd 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 โ€œall 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 โ€œthe 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.)

R. Naftali Herz Wesselyย 1725-1805

ื ืคืชืœื™ ื”ืจืฅ ื•ื™ื™ื–ืœ

ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ืย โ€“ [ื›ืชื‘ ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ] ืดื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉึถืืึดื—ึตืจ [ืœื›ืชื•ื‘] ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื, ื•ึฐืกึดืคึตึผืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืžืžื ื• ื›ืื™ืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืœื• [ืœืฉึตืื] ื‘ื ื™ื, ืืžืจ ื‘ื›ืืŸ ืณื’ื ื”ื•ืืณโ  โ ืด. ืžืคื™ืณ ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ื–ืดืœ, ื•ืื™ื ื• ืจื•ืื” ื”ืฆื•ืจืš ื”ื–ื” ืื—ืจ ืฉืคืจื˜ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœื˜ืขื•ืช. ื’ื ืœื“ืขืชื™ ื™ืคืช [ื”ื•ื] ื”ืงื˜ืŸ, ื•ืฉื ื”ื‘ื›ื•ืจ ื›ืžื• ืฉืืคืจืฉ ื‘ืขื–ืดื” ื‘ืคืจืฉื” ื”ืกืžื•ื›ื”, ื•ึผื–ึฐื›ึธืจึธื ืžืŸ ื”ืฆืขื™ืจ ืืœ ื”ื‘ื›ื•ืจ ืœืคื™ ืฉืจื•ืฆื” ืœืคืจืฉ ื‘ืกืžื•ืš ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉืืณ ื‘ื ื™ื• ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื• ื”ื ื™ื—ื•ึน ื‘ืื—ืจื•ื ื”, ืฉื›ืŸ ื“ืจืš ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ื™ื ืœืคืจืฉ ื‘ืžื” ืฉืกื™ื™ื ื›ืžื• ืฉืคืจืฉื ื• ื‘ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืดืชื”ื• ื•ื‘ื”ื• ื•ื—ื•ืฉืšืด. ื•ืœื“ืขืชื™ ืืžืจ ืดื’ื ื”ื•ืืด ื›ืžื• ืดื•ื”ื‘ืœ ื”ื‘ื™ื ื’ื ื”ื•ืืด ืฉื”ื•ื ืœืจื‘ื•ืช, ืฉืžื ื—ืชื• ื”ื™ืชื” ื˜ื•ื‘ื” ืžืžื ื—ืช ืื—ื™ื•. ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืืŸ ืืขืคืดื™ ืฉืืžืจืชื™ ืœืš ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ื™ืคืช ื•ื—ื, ืฉื”ืงื™ืžื• ืžื‘ื ื™ื”ื ืฉึธื‚ืจื™ื ื•ืžืœื›ื™ื ื™ื•ืจืฉื™ ืืจืฆื•ืช, ืœืžืขืœื” ืžื”ืŸ ืฉึตืื, ื›ื™ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื ื›ื‘ื“ื•ืช ื™ื•ืชืจ ื‘ื™ืจื•ืฉืช ื”ืืจืฆื•ืช ื•ื”ืขืžื™ื“ ืžืœื›ื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื•ื ื›ื‘ื“ื™ื; ื•ื‘ื™ื•ืชืจ ืฉืžื—ืœืฆื™ื• ื™ืฆื ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ื–ืจืข ื”ืกื’ื•ืœื”, ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ืดืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจืด ื•ื›ืžื• ืฉืืคืจืฉ.

ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจย โ€“ ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื”ืžืžืœื›ื•ืช ืฉื‘ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ, ื•ื”ื•ื ื ื”ืจ ืคืจืช, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื• ื—ืฉื•ื‘ื™ื ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ื—ื ื•ื™ืคืช. ื›ื™ ืžืœื›ื™ื•ืช ื—ืœืง ื”ืขื•ืœื ืฉืžืขื‘ืจ ื ื”ืจ ืคืจืช ืขื“ ื”ืžื–ืจื— ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื•ืขืฆื•ืžื™ื ืžืžืœื›ื•ื™ื•ืช ืฉืœืคื ื™ ื ื”ืจ ืคืจืช, ื›ื™ ืฉื ื‘ื‘ืœ ื•ืคืจืก ื•ืืฉื•ืจ ื•ื”ื•ื“ื• ื•ืกื™ื ื. ื•ื›ืœ ืืœื” ื”ืชื™ืฉื‘ื• ืžื‘ื ื™ ืฉื, ื•ื›ืŸ ืืจื ื ื”ืจื™ื, ื•ืขื™ืœื, ื•ื”ืŸ ืืจืฆื•ืช ื—ืฉื•ื‘ื•ืช ื™ื•ืชืจ ืžืื•ืชืŸ ืฉืœืงื—ื• ื‘ื ื™ ื—ื ื•ื™ืคืช. ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื–ืจืข ื”ืกื’ื•ืœื” ืฉื”ืŸ ืคืจื™ ื”ืขื•ืœื. ื•ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ื–ืดืœ ืืžืจ ืดื˜ืขื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ, ืฉื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืžืงื•ื ื™ื—ื•ืก ืื‘ืจื”ื. ื•ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืขื‘ืจ ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื”ื–ื” ืฉื ื”ืื™ืฉ ืื‘ื™ ืคืœื’. ื›ื™ ืœืžื” ื™ื™ื—ืก ืื•ืชืŸ ืืœื™ื•?ืด [ืขื›ืดืœ]. ื•ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื.

ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ [ื›ืชื‘ ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ] ืดื”ื ืจืื” ืืœื™ ื›ื™ ืณื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืณ ืชื•ืืจ ืœืฉื... ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืชืืจ ืœืžื“ื•ื‘ืจ ื‘ื•, ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืณื™ืฉืขื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืืžื•ืฅ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืืณ, ืณื—ื ื ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ื•ืจ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืืณ, ืณืœื—ื•ื‘ื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืจืขื•ืืœ ื”ืžื“ื™ื ื™ ื—ื•ืชืŸ ืžืฉื”ืณ.ืด [ืขื›ืดืœ] ื’ื ื–ื” ืžืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ื–ืดืœ. ื•ื™ืคื” ื“ืงื“ืง ืืœื ืฉืืžืจ ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ืื— ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืœ ื™ืคืช, ื›ื™ ื—ื ืงื˜ืŸ ืžื›ื•ืœื ื•ืื [ืฉ]ื”ืงื“ื™ื ืื•ืชื•. ื•ื›ื‘ืจ ืืžืจื ื• ืฉืื™ื ื• ื ืจืื” ื›ืŸ, ืืœื ืฉื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉื‘ืื—ื™ื ื•ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื›ืคืฉื•ื˜ื•. ื•ื˜ืขื ืฉืงืจืื• ื›ืืŸ ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช, ืœื“ืขืชื™ ืœืคื™ ืฉืงืจืื• ืดืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจืด, ืœืคื™ ืฉื™ืฆืื• ืžื–ืจืขื• ืื ืฉื™ื ื—ื›ืžื™ื, ื™ืจืื™ ื”ืณ ื•ื—ื•ืฉื‘ื™ ืฉืžื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ื”ื. ื•ื”ื•ื ืฆื“ื™ืง ื•ืžื•ืจื” ื“ืจืš ืœื‘ื ื™ื•, ื›ื“ืจืš ืฉืคืจืฉื ื• ืดืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ืื”ืœ ื•ืžืงื ื”ืด, ื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืขื•ื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ื•ื”ื’ ื‘ืื—ื•ื” ืขื ืื—ื™ื• ื™ืคืช, ื•ืžืขืœืช ืฉึตืื ื”ื™ืชื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื™ืคืช, ื•ืงื‘ืœ ืžืžื ื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืžื•ืกืจ ื•ื—ื›ืžื”. ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื›ื™ ื’ื“ืœื” ืžืขืœืชื• ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื™ืคืช. ืื‘ืœ ื—ื ืœื ื ืฉืžืข ืœืขืฆืชื•, ื•ืœื ื ื”ื’ ื‘ื• ืื—ื•ื”, ื•ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืจืฉืขื™ื ื›ื ืขืŸ ื•ื‘ื ื™ื• ื•ื ืžืจื•ื“ ื‘ืŸ ื›ื•ืฉ, ื•ื”ืžืฆืจื™ื™ื ืฉื˜ืžืื• ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื‘ื”ื‘ืœื™ื”ื. ื•ืขืœ ื–ื” ืืžืจ ื’ืดื› ืดื™ืคืช ืืœื”ื™ื ืœื™ืคืช ื•ื™ืฉื›ื•ืŸ ื‘ืื”ืœื™ ืฉืืด, ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ื›ืจื•ืš ืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ืœื•ืžื“ ืžื“ืจื›ื™ื•.

โ€œTo Shem was born as well.โ€ [The Ramban wrote:] โ€œBecause [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, โ€˜as well.โ€™โ€ 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 โ€œa vacant void and darknessโ€ (Genesis 1:2).

And in my opinion, โ€œalsoโ€' is like ย โ€œAnd 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, Shemโ€™s descendants were superior to them, in acquisition of lands, and he established great and honorable kings. And most of all, that from [Shem]โ€™s loins came Abraham and the chosen seed, for he was โ€œthe father of all the sons of Eber,โ€ and as I will explain. ย 

โ€œThe 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, โ€œthe meaning of โ€œthe father of all the sons of Eber, that he is the father of all the inhabitants across the river, which is Abrahamโ€™s place of origin. And it is not plausible that โ€œeberโ€ 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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ย [The Ramban writes]: โ€œIt appears to me that the term โ€˜the elderโ€™ is an appellation for Shem... and likewise in every instance, the modifier is for the subject that is spoken of, ย like โ€˜Isaiah the son of Amoz, the prophetโ€™; โ€˜Hananiah the son of Azur, the prophet; and โ€˜Reuel the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses.โ€™โ€ 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 โ€œthe brother of Japhethโ€' is, in my opinion, because it called him โ€œ'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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ [ื›ืชื‘ ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ] ืดื”ื ืจืื” ืืœื™ ื›ื™ ืณื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืณ ืชื•ืืจ ืœืฉื... ื•ื›ืŸ ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืชืืจ ืœืžื“ื•ื‘ืจ ื‘ื•, ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืณื™ืฉืขื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืืžื•ืฅ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืืณ,4 ืณื—ื ื ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืขื–ื•ืจ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืืณ,5 ืณืœื—ื•ื‘ื‘ ื‘ืŸ ืจืขื•ืืœ ื”ืžื“ื™ื ื™ ื—ื•ืชืŸ ืžืฉื”ืณ.ืด6 [ืขื›ืดืœ] ื’ื ื–ื” ืžืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ื–ืดืœ. ื•ื™ืคื” ื“ืงื“ืง ืืœื ืฉืืžืจ ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ื”ืื— ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืœ ื™ืคืช, ื›ื™ ื—ื ืงื˜ืŸ ืžื›ื•ืœื ื•ืื [ืฉ]ื”ืงื“ื™ื ืื•ืชื•. ื•ื›ื‘ืจ ืืžืจื ื• ืฉืื™ื ื• ื ืจืื” ื›ืŸ, ืืœื ืฉื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉื‘ืื—ื™ื ื•ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื›ืคืฉื•ื˜ื•. ื•ื˜ืขื ืฉืงืจืื• ื›ืืŸ ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช, ืœื“ืขืชื™ ืœืคื™ ืฉืงืจืื• ืดืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจืด, ืœืคื™ ืฉื™ืฆืื• ืžื–ืจืขื• ืื ืฉื™ื ื—ื›ืžื™ื, ื™ืจืื™ ื”ืณ ื•ื—ื•ืฉื‘ื™ ืฉืžื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ื”ื. ื•ื”ื•ื ืฆื“ื™ืง ื•ืžื•ืจื” ื“ืจืš ืœื‘ื ื™ื•, ื›ื“ืจืš ืฉืคืจืฉื ื• ืดืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื™ื•ืฉื‘ ืื”ืœ ื•ืžืงื ื”ืด,7 ื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืขื•ื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ื•ื”ื’ ื‘ืื—ื•ื” ืขื ืื—ื™ื• ื™ืคืช, ื•ืžืขืœืช ืฉึตืื ื”ื™ืชื” ื’ื“ื•ืœื” ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื™ืคืช, ื•ืงื‘ืœ ืžืžื ื• ื“ื‘ืจื™ ืžื•ืกืจ ื•ื—ื›ืžื”. ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ื›ื™ ื’ื“ืœื” ืžืขืœืชื• ื‘ืขื™ื ื™ ื™ืคืช. ืื‘ืœ ื—ื ืœื ื ืฉืžืข ืœืขืฆืชื•, ื•ืœื ื ื”ื’ ื‘ื• ืื—ื•ื”, ื•ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืจืฉืขื™ื ื›ื ืขืŸ ื•ื‘ื ื™ื• ื•ื ืžืจื•ื“ ื‘ืŸ ื›ื•ืฉ, ื•ื”ืžืฆืจื™ื™ื ืฉื˜ืžืื• ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื‘ื”ื‘ืœื™ื”ื. ื•ืขืœ ื–ื” ืืžืจ ื’ืดื› ืดื™ืคืช ืืœื”ื™ื ืœื™ืคืช ื•ื™ืฉื›ื•ืŸ ื‘ืื”ืœื™ ืฉืืด,8 ื›ื™ ื”ื™ื” ื›ืจื•ืš ืื—ืจื™ื• ื•ืœื•ืžื“ ืžื“ืจื›ื™ื•.

โ€œ[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 Shemโ€™s virtue was great in Japhetโ€™s regard, and he received words of morality and wisdom from him. Therefore, he is his โ€œgreaterโ€ 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, โ€œGod 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.

R. Yehuda Leib Frankfurter Spiraย (1743-1836)

ื”ืจื›ืกื™ื ืœื‘ืงืขื”

ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ืื™ืŸ ื“ืจืš ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื›ื ื•ืช ื”ื‘ื›ื•ืจ ืดื’ื“ื•ืœืด. ื’ื, ืื ื”ื•ื ื”ื‘ื›ื•ืจ, ืœืžื” ืžื ื” ืชืžื™ื“ ื—ื ืชื—ืœื” ืืฃ ืื—ืจ ืฉืงืœืงืœ. ืขืœ ื›ืŸ ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืœืคืจืฉ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ื•ื“ืข ื‘ื“ื•ืจื• ื‘ื›ื ื•ื™ ืดื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืด, ืขืœ ืฉื ืžืขืฉื™ื• ืื• ื—ื›ืžืชื•, ื›ืžื• ืฉื ื”ื•ื’ ื‘ื“ื•ืจื•ืช ืื—ืจื™ื, ื›ื’ื•ืŸ ืดืจืณ ืืœื™ืขื–ืจ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืด, ื•ื›ื™ื•ืฆื. ื•ื—ื ื”ื‘ื›ื•ืจ, ืœื›ืš ืžื ืื• ืœืคื ื™ ื™ืคืช, ื•ืฉื ืจืืฉื•ืŸ, ืœื—ืฉื™ื‘ื•ืชื• ื•ืœื›ื‘ื•ื“ ืื‘ืจื”ื ื•ื–ืจืขื•.

ึฟ

Japhet ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ ย It is not customary in Scripture to call the firstborn the โ€œelderโ€/โ€œeldestโ€ (ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ). 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 โ€œJaphet the Great,โ€ due to his actions or his wisdom, as is customary in other generations, like โ€œRabbi 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.

R. Yitzchak Shemuel Reggioย (Yashar; 1784-1855)

ืจ' ื™.ืฉ. ืจื™ื’ื™ื™ื•

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื โ€“ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉืื™ื—ืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื ื•ืกืคืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืžืžื ื• ื›ืื™ืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ื‘ื ื™ื ืืžืจ ื‘ื›ืืŸ ื’ื ื”ื•ื:

ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ โ€“ ื”ื•ื ืขื‘ืจ ื‘ืŸ ืฉืœื— ื”ื ื–ื›ืจ ื‘ืกืžื•ืš, ื•ืœื”ื™ื•ืชื• ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ืžืขืœื” ื›ื™ ื—ื–ืดืœ ืงื‘ืœื• ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ื‘ื™ื ื•ืฉื™ืขืงื‘ ืœืžื“ ื‘ื‘ื™ืชื• ื™ืดื“ ืฉื ื”, ืœื›ืŸ ืืœื™ื• ื™ื•ื—ืกื• ืื ืฉื™ ื”ืžืขืœื” ื•ื”ื–ืจืข ื”ื ื‘ื—ืจ, ื•ื‘ื›ืœ ืžืงื•ื ืฉื ืงืจืื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื‘ืฉื ืขื‘ืจื™ื™ื ื”ื›ื•ื ื” ืขืœ ืฉื ื•ืœื“ื• ืžืขื‘ืจ ืฉื”ื™ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ื“ื•ืจื•. ื•ื”ื ื” ื’ื ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ื ื— ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ื“ื•ืจื• ื”ื™ื”, ื›ืžื• ืฉื–ื›ืจื• ื—ื–ืดืœ ืžื“ืจืฉื• ืฉืœ ืฉื ื•ืขื‘ืจ, ืื•ืœื ืœื ื ืงืจืื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืขืœ ืฉืžื• ืื•ืœื™ ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ื‘ื ื™ื ืจื‘ื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ืจืืฉื™ ืื•ืžื•ืช ืื—ืจื•ืช, ื›ืžื• ืขื™ืœื ืืฉื•ืจ ื•ืืจื, ืื‘ืœ ืขื‘ืจ ืœื ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ื›ื™ ืื ืฉื ื™ ื‘ื ื™ื ืคืœื’ ื•ื™ืงื˜ืŸ, ืคืœื’ ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ื”ื–ืจืข ื”ื ื‘ื—ืจ, ื•ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืงื˜ืŸ ื–ื›ืจ ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืฉื ืชื™ืฉื‘ื• ื‘ืžื“ื™ื ื•ืช ืจื—ื•ืงื•ืช ืœืžื–ืจื— ืืดื™, ื•ืœืคื™ื›ืš ืœื ื™ื—ืฉื‘ื• ืขื•ื“ ืœืขื‘ืจื™ื™ื, ื•ื”ื ื” ืขื‘ืจ ื“ื•ืžื” ื‘ืžืขืœื” ืœืื‘ืจื”ื ืฉื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ื™ืฆื—ืง ื•ื™ืฉืžืขืืœ ื•ื’ื ืœื™ืฆื—ืง ืฉื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ื™ืขืงื‘ ื•ืขืฉื•, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื–ื›ื” ืœื”ื–ื›ืจ ืฉืžื• ืขืœ ื”ืื•ืžื” ื”ื ื‘ื—ืจืช:

ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื•ื ืชื•ืืจ ืœื™ืคืช, ื•ืขื ื™ื ื• ืฉื™ืคืช ื”ื™ื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื›ืœ ืื—ื™ื•:

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื 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 โ€œalso he.โ€

ย โ€“ ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ

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 โ€œHebrews,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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ gadolย is a modifier of Japheth, and its point is that Japheth was the oldest of all his brothers.

R. Yaakov Mecklenburgย (1785-1865)

ื”ื›ืชื‘ ื•ื”ืงื‘ืœื”

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื โ€“ ื‘ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืฉื™ืื—ืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืฉื ื•ืกื™ืคืจ ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืช ืื—ื™ื• ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืžืžื ื• ื›ืืœื• ืœื ื”ื™ื• ืœื• ื‘ื ื™ื, ืืžืจ ื‘ื• ื’ื ื”ื•ื (ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ) ื•ืจื™ืดื ืืžืจ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืฉื ืขื•ืกืง ืชืžื™ื“ ื‘ืขื™ื•ื ื™ื ืืœื”ื™ื™ืณ ื”ื™ื” ืขื•ืœืณ ืขืœ ื”ื“ืขืช ืฉืœื ื ื–ื“ื•ื•ื’ ืœืืฉื” ื›ืœืœ. ืœื›ืŸ ืืžืจ ื‘ื• ื’ื ื”ื•ื, ื•ื™ืฉ ืžืŸ ื”ืžืคืจืฉื™ื ืฉืžื—ื‘ืจื™ื ืžืœื•ืช ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืœืžื” ืฉืื—ืจื™ื•, ื•ื”ืืชื ื— ื‘ืžืœืช ื”ื•ื ืœื ื™ืื‘ื” ื‘ื–ื”. ื•ืœืดื  ืื—ืจื™ ืฉื™ื“ืขื ื• ืžืงื‘ืœืช ืจื‘ื•ืชื™ื ื• ื›ื™ ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ืื—ื“ ืžืื ืฉื™ ืžืขืœื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื, ืขื“ ืฉืืžืจื• ื™ืขืงื‘ ืื‘ื™ื ื• ืœืžื“ ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืžื“ืจืฉื• ืฉืœ ืฉื ื•ืขื‘ืจ, ื•ืžืœื›ื™ ืฆื“ืง ืžืœืš ืฉืœื ื•ื”ื•ื ื›ื”ืŸ ืœืืœ ืขืœื™ื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ื ื— (ืขืดืฉ ืจืฉืดื™ ื•ื™ื‘ืดืข) ื•ืืžืจื• ืฉื ื‘ืžื“ืจืฉ ื’ืœื” ืฉื ืชื•ืจื” ืœืื‘ืจื”ื, ื•ื‘ืชื ื ื“ื‘ืดื (ื—ืดื ืคื™ืดื—) ืฉื ื”ืชื ื‘ื ืืจื‘ืข ืžืื•ืช ืฉื ื” ื‘ื›ืœ ืืจืฆื•ืช, ืื•ืžืจ ืœื™ ืœื‘ื™ ื›ื™ ื’ื ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื ื”ืขืœื™ื ืžืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืžืขืœืชื• ื•ื›ืœืœื• ื‘ืžืœืช, ื’ื ื”ื•ื, ื•ื–ื” ืžืœืช ื’ื ื›ืคื™ ืžื” ืฉื’ื“ืจื•ื” ื‘ืขืœื™ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื”ื•ื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช ื•ืจื‘ื•ื™, ืื ืœื”ื•ืกื™ืฃ ื ื•ืฉื ืขืœ ื ื•ืฉื, ืื• ื ืฉื•ื ืขืœ ื ืฉื•ื, ื’ื ื”ืฆืืŸ ื•ื”ื‘ืงืจ ืืœ ื™ืจืขื•, ื”ื•ื ืชื•ืกืคื•ืณ ื ื•ืฉื, ื•ื™ืื›ืœ ื’ื ืื›ืœ ืืช ื›ืกืคื™ื ื• ื”ื•ื ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช ื ืฉื•ื, ื•ืœืคื™ ืฉืขื™ืงืจ ื”ื•ืจืืชื• ื”ื•ื ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช ื•ืจื‘ื•ื™, ืœื›ืŸ ืื•ืžืจ ืื ื™ ืฉืœื ื™ืฉืžืฉ ื’ื ื›ืืŸ ืจืง ืœืžืœื” ื‘ืขืœืžื, ืื‘ืœ ื™ืฉืžืฉ ื’ื ืœืชื•ืืจ ื”ืฉื, ื•ื™ื•ืจื” ืขืœ ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช ื•ืจื‘ื•ื™ ืžืขืœื” ืฉื™ืฉื ื• ื‘ื“ื‘ืจ, ื•ื˜ืขื ื’ื ื™ืชืจื•ืŸ ืžืขืœื” (ืคืึธืจืฆื•ื’), ื•ืื—ืจ ืฉื”ืชื—ื™ืœ ืœื•ืžืจ ื•ืœืฉื ื™ืœื“ ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื•, ื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ื’ื ืฉื‘ื— ืขืฆืžื•, ืขื–ืดื ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืจืดืœ ื–ื” ื”ืื™ืฉ ืฉื ื”ื•ื ืžื•ืคืœื’ ื‘ื™ืชืจื•ืŸ ืžืขืœื•ืชื™ื• (ืขืจ ื“ืขืจ ืคืึธืจืฆื™ื’ืœื™ื›ืขืจ) ื‘ื›ืœ ืื ืฉื™ ื“ื•ืจื•, ื•ืขืœ ื›ื•ื ื” ื–ื• ื™ืฉ ืœืคืจืฉ ื’ื ื‘ืฉืช ืฉื ืืžืจ ื‘ื• (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ื“ืณ ื›ืดื•) ื•ืœืฉืช ื’ื ื”ื•ื, ื›ื™ ื’ื ืฉืช ื”ื™ื” ืžื•ืคืœื’ ื‘ื™ืชืจื•ืŸ ืžืขืœื”, ื›ืขื“ื•ืช ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืขืœื™ื• (ืฉื ื”ืณ ื’ืณ) ืฉื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ื“ืžื•ืชื• ื›ืฆืœืžื•, ืฉื›ืชื‘ ื‘ื• ื”ื’ืจืดื, ืืฃ ืฉื›ืœ ืžื™ืŸ ืื“ื ื”ื ื‘ืฆืœื, ืžืดืž ื‘ืขืฆื ืœื ื ื‘ืจืื• ื‘ืฆืœื ืจืง ืื“ื ื•ืฉืช, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื™ืฆื ื‘ืช ืงื•ืœ (ื‘ืดื‘ ื ืดื— ืืณ) ืื ื‘ื“ืžื•ืช ื“ื™ื•ืงื ื™ ื•ื›ื•ืณ, ืื‘ืœ ืžืื ื•ืฉ ื•ืื™ืœืš ืœื ื ื•ืœื“ื• ืขื•ื“ ื‘ื“ืžื•ืชื• ื•ืฆืœืžื• ืจืง ื›ืงื•ืฃ ื‘ืคื ื™ ืื“ื, ื•ืœื›ืŸ ื ืงืจืื• ื›ืœ ืื“ื ืื—ืจื™ื• ืื ืฉื™ื ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืจื‘ื™ื ืขืœ ืฉืžื•, ื•ื›ืŸ ื›ืฉืจื•ืฆื™ื ืœื’ื ื•ืช ืื“ื ืงื•ืจื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ืื ื•ืฉ, ืžื” ืื ื•ืฉ ื›ื™ ืชื–ื›ืจื ื• (ืชื”ืœื™ื ื—ืณ:ื”ืณ), ื•ืขืดืฉ ื‘ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ื•ืืžืจื• ื‘ืžืดืจ ืคื›ืดื’ ื‘ืขื•ืŸ ืงื•ืžื™ ืื‘ื ื›ื”ืŸ ื‘ืจื“ืœื ืื“ื ืฉืช ืื ื•ืฉ ื•ืฉืชืง (ืจืดืœ ืคืกืง ื‘ื• ืคืกืงื) ืืžืจ ืขืดื› ื‘ืฆืœื ื•ื‘ื“ืžื•ืช ืžื›ืืŸ ื•ืื™ืœืš ื ืชืงืœืงืœื• ื”ื“ื•ืจื•ืช ื•ื ื‘ืจืื• ืงื˜ื•ืจื•ืŸ (ืฉืื™ื ื ืืœื ื“ืžื•ืช ืื“ื, ืœื›ืŸ ืขืฉื” ื‘ื• ืคื™ืกืงื ื›ื™ ื‘ื• ื‘ืขืฆืžื• ื”ื™ื” ืคื™ืกืงื ื‘ืฆืœื), ื”ื ื” ืœื™ืชืจื•ืŸ ืžืขืœืช ืฉืช ื‘ืขืฆื ื”ืฆืœื ืืžืจ ืขืœื™ื• ื’ื ื”ื•ื - ื•ืืžืจ ืขื•ื“ ืžืžืขืœื•ืช ืฉื: ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ: ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ืœ ื”ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ื ืฉื”ื™ื• ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืžื“ืจืฉื• ืฉืœ ืขื‘ืจ, ื”ื•ื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืžืœืžื“ ื•ื”ืžื•ืจื” ืื•ืชื, ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืžืฉืชื“ืœ ืœื”ื‘ื™ื ื ื•ืœื”ื•ืจื•ืชื ื”ื™ื“ื™ืขื•ืช ื”ืืžืชื™ื•ืช; ื•ื”ืžืœืžื“ ื•ื”ืžื•ืจื” ื™ืงืจื ืื‘, ื›ืžื• (ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื™ื•ืดื“ ื•ืžื™ ืื‘ื™ื”ื ื•ื›ืžื• (ืžืœื›ื™ื ื‘ ื™ืดื‘) ืื‘ื™ ืื‘ื™ ืจื›ื‘ ื™ืฉืจืืœ. ื•ื”ืชืœืžื™ื“ื™ื ื ืงืจืื• ื‘ื ื™ื, ื›ื›ืชื•ื‘ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื, ื•ืขื‘ืจ ื‘ืžืงื•ื ื–ื” ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ืคืœื’ ื”ืžืคื•ืจืกื ืžืื“ ื‘ืžืขืœืชื•, ื›ืงื‘ืœืช ื—ื›ืžื™ื ื• ืฉื ื‘ื™ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื™ื”, ื•ืื‘ืจื”ื ื‘ืขืช ื‘ืจื—ื• ืžื ืžืจื•ื“ ืœืžื“ ืžืขื‘ืจ ื“ืจื›ื™ ื”ืณ ื•ืžื•ืกืจื™ื, ื”ื ื” ื‘ื‘ื™ืช ืžื“ืจืฉื• ื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื”ืžืœืžื“ ื•ื”ืžื•ืจื”, ื•ื”ื•ืกื™ืฃ ืœื•ืžืจ ืžืžืขืœื•ืช ืฉื, ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ: ืจืดืœ ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืœื• ืื—ื•ื” ื•ืงืจื‘ื•ืช ืขื ืฉืืจ ืื—ื™ื• ืจืง ืขื ื™ืคืช ืฉื”ื™ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ืžืขืœืณ ื•ื”ืฉืœืžื•ืช, ื›ืžื• ืฉืชื™ื‘ืดืข ืื—ื•ื™ ื“ื™ืคืช ืจื‘ื ื‘ื“ื—ืœืชื ื“ื”ืฉื, ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื•ื ืชื•ืืจ ืœื™ืคืช, ื›ื™ ืื ื”ื™ื” ืชื•ืืจ ืœืฉื, ืฆืจื™ืš ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื‘ืžืจื›ื ื˜ืคื—ื, ื•ื“ืœื ื›ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ.

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ื•ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื โ€“ This is because the account of Shemโ€™s 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, โ€œhe 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 โ€œhe too.โ€ And there are some among the commentators who attach the words โ€œhe tooโ€ to that which follows; but the etnah on the word โ€œheโ€ 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 deโ€™vei 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 โ€œhe too.โ€ And this word, โ€œalsoโ€, 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: โ€œalso the sheep and cattle should not grazeโ€ (Exodus 34:3, this is an addition of a subject; โ€œhe 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] โ€œalsoโ€ functions as a modifier of Shem, and it points to his additional qualities and the greatness of his stature, and the meaning of โ€œalsoโ€ is a superiority of virtue/stature (Vorzug). And after it started to say that โ€œto Shem were bornโ€, to inform about his genealogy, it also communicated praise of him; and on this account, it says, โ€œhe 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€œ'alsoโ€ about Seth, as it says about him, โ€œAnd 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 โ€œin his likeness, in his image,โ€ as the Vilna Gaon wrote about him. Even though every one of the human species is โ€œin 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 โ€ฆ. etc.

ืื ื‘ื“ืžื•ื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 โ€œmanโ€ (enosh), like, โ€œwhat is man (enosh), that You are mindful of him?โ€ (Psalm 8:5).

And see there, in the Ramban, and it says inย ื‘ืžืดืจ ืคื›ืดื’,

ื‘ืขื•ืŸ ืงื•ืžื™ ืื‘ื ื›ื”ืŸ ื‘ืจื“ืœื ืื“ื ืฉืช ืื ื•ืฉ ื•ืฉืชืง (ืจืดืœ ืคืกืง ื‘ื• ืคืกืงื)

He said: until here, โ€œin likeness and in imageโ€; from here on, the generations declined, and ืงื˜ื•ืจื•ืŸ 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 โ€œhe tooโ€-- and it says further the virtues of Shem: โ€œthe father of all the sons of Eber,โ€ that is, all of the students who studied in Eberโ€™s house of studyโ€“he 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 โ€œfather,โ€ like โ€œwho is their father?โ€ (1Sam 10:12) and like โ€œMy father, my father, the chariots of Israelโ€ (2Kings 2:12). And the students are called โ€œsons,โ€ as is written, โ€œthe 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, โ€œthe 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 ืจื‘ื ื‘ื“ื—ืœืชื ื“ื”ืฉื, that Japheth was great in the fear of God. ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ 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.

S.D. Luzzattoย (Shadal; 1800-1865)

ืฉื“ืดืœ

ื•ืœืฉื ื™ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ืย โ€“ ืืžืจ ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื–ื” ื‘ืฉื ืœืคื™ ืฉื”ื–ื›ื™ืจื• ื‘ืื—ืจื•ื ื” (ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ) ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืœื ื™ึตื—ึธืฉึตื‘ ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ื ื›ื‘ื“ ื›ืื—ื™ื•, ืื• ืฉืœื ื”ื™ื” ืžืจื•ื‘ื” ื‘ืื›ืœื•ืกื™ืŸ ื›ืžื•ื”ื. ื•ืœืคื™ ืฉืึดื—ึตืจ ืื•ืชื• ื”ื•ืกื™ืฃ ื‘ืฉื‘ื—ื• ื›ื™ ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื•ื’ื•ืณ.

ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจย โ€“ ื”ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื›ื“ืขืช ืจืฉืดื™ ื•ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ื•ืงืœืขืจื™ืงื•ืก ื•ืจืื–ื ืžื™ืœืจ ื•ื’ืขื–ืขื ื™ื•ืก ืฉื”ื˜ืขื ืื ืฉื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ, ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื”ืฉื•ื›ื ื™ื ืœืžื–ืจื—ื• ืฉืœ ืคืจืช, ื›ื˜ืขื ื‘ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ ื™ืฉื‘ื• ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื›ื ืžืขื•ืœื ืชืจื— ืื‘ื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื (ื™ื”ื•ืฉืข ื›ืดื“:ื‘ืณ)...

ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“ ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื›ื ื•ื™ ืœื™ืคืช, ื•ื”ื ื” ื›ื‘ืจ ื™ื“ืขื ื• ื›ื™ ืฉื ื•ื™ืคืช ืื—ื™ื, ื•ื”ื ื›ื•ืŸ ื›ืคื™ ืจืฉืดื™ ื›ื™ ื›ืืŸ ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ื‘ืžืœืช ืื— ืฉื•ื”, ื›ืžื• ืฉืžืขื•ืŸ ื•ืœื•ื™ ืื—ื™ื (ืœืžื˜ื” ืžืดื˜:ื”ืณ), ืื— ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืœืชื ื™ื (ืื™ื•ื‘ ืœืณ:ื›ืดื˜), ืื— ื”ื•ื ืœื‘ืขืœ ืžืฉื—ื™ืช (ืžืฉืœื™ ื™ืดื—:ื˜ืณ), ื•ื”ื˜ืขื ืฉื”ื™ื” ื ื›ื‘ื“ ื›ื™ืคืช ืฉื”ื™ื” ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ; ื•ื›ืœ ื–ื” ืืžื ื ืœื”ื‘ื–ื•ืช ืืช ื—ื ืฉื™ืฆืื• ืžืžื ื• ืžืฆืจื™ื ื•ื›ื ืขืŸ.

alhatorah.org, modified:

โ€œShem, 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 โ€œthe father of all the sons ofย eber., etc.โ€

โ€œ the father of all the sons ofย eberโ€ The correct explanation is that of Rashi, Nachmanides, Clericus,ย Rosenmueller, and Gesenius, that โ€œsons of eberโ€ means โ€œthe people from across the river,โ€ i.e., those who live east of the Euphratesโ€ฆ

ย ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœย โ€“

ย ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ 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 โ€œbrotherโ€ is โ€œequalโ€, like โ€œSimeon and Levi are brothersโ€ (Genesis 49:5); โ€œI have become a brother to jackalsโ€ (Job 30:29); โ€œ[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].

R. Samson Raphael Hirschย (1808-1888)

From sefaria.org

ืœืฉื ื™ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื. 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 ื™ืขื‘ืจ Obgleich ืขื‘ืจ Schems Urenkel war, und dessen Kinder ja gerade zuerst den Ausspruch Noachs ื•ื™ืฉื›ื•ืŸ ื‘ืื”ืœื™ ืฉื zu verwirklichen begannen, so war doch Schem zugleich deren geistiger Vater. Selbst ื™ืขืงื‘ lernte ja noch von Schem. DaรŸ 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 weiรŸ es oft keiner, was er dem ื–ื›ื•ืช seiner Vรคter und GroรŸvรคter 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 ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ 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, daรŸ auf lange hinaus Schem nicht als der ื’ื“ื•ืœ 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 muรŸ auf lange Zeit hinaus auf Anerkennung im groรŸen verzichten.

ืจืฉืดืจ ื”ื™ืจืฉ

ื•ืœืฉึตื ื™ืœื“ ื’ื ื”ื•ื โ€“ ื ื•ืœื“ื• ืฆืืฆืื™ื ื’ื ืœืฉึตื, ืฉื“ืจื›ื• ืขืชื™ื“ื” ืœื”ืชืงื™ื™ื ื”ืชื›ืœื™ืช ื”ืกื•ืคื™ืช ืฉืœ ื”ืื ื•ืฉื•ืช. ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืžื“ื’ื™ืฉ ื–ืืช ืžืฉืชื™ ื‘ื—ื™ื ื•ืช:

ื”ืื—ืช, ืฉึตื ื”ื™ื” ืดืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขึตื‘ึถืจืด. ื•ืขืœ ืืฃ ืฉืขึตื‘ึถืจ ื”ื™ื” ื ื™ื ื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉืœ ืฉึตื, ื•ืจืง ื‘ื ื™ื• ืฉืœ ืขึตื‘ึถืจ ื”ื—ืœื• ืœืžืžืฉ ืืช ืžืืžืจ ื ื— ืดื•ื™ืฉื›ืŸ ื‘ืื”ืœื™ ืฉึตืืด, ื‘ื›ืœ ื–ืืช, ื’ื ืฉึตื ื”ื™ื” ืื‘ื™ื”ื ื”ืจื•ื—ื ื™. ืื—ืจื™ ื”ื›ืœ, ื™ืขืงื‘ ื’ื ื”ื•ื ืœืžื“ ืชื•ืจื” ืžืฉึตื (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืจื‘ื” ืกื’, ื™). ืื ื—ื ื• ืจื•ืื™ื ืฉืื‘ืจื”ื ื™ืฆื ืžื‘ื™ืชื• ืฉืœ ืชืจื—, ื•ื‘ื ื™ ืื‘ืจื”ื ืงื™ื‘ืœื• ืžื™ื“ื™ื• ืืช ื”ืคืงื“ื•ืŸ ื”ื™ืงืจ ืฉื ืžืกืจ ืœื• ืœืžืขืŸ ื”ืื ื•ืฉื•ืช โ€“ ื•ื›ืœ ื–ื” ืœื ื”ื™ื” ืืคืฉืจื™ ืืœืžืœื ื–ื›ื•ืชื• ืฉืœ ืฉึตื. ื™ืชื›ืŸ ืžืฆื‘ ืฉืื“ื ืœื•ืขื’ ืขืœ ืื‘ื•ืชื™ื• ื•ื‘ื– ืœืžืกื•ืจืชื, ื•ืื™ืŸ ืขื•ืœื” ืขืœ ื“ืขืชื• ืฉื–ื›ื•ืชื ืฉืžื•ืจื” ื‘ื™ื“ื™ื• ืœื”ื•ืจื™ืฉ ืœื‘ื ื™ื• ืื—ืจื™ื•.

ืฉื ื™ืช, ืฉึตื ื”ื™ื” ืดืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืด, ื”ื™ื™ื ื• [ืขื™ื™ืŸ ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ืœืขื™ืœ ื˜, ื›ื“] ืฉื™ืคืช ื”ื™ื” ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ. ื™ื™ืขื•ื“ื• ืฉืœ ื™ืคืช ื”ื™ื” ืœืขื‘ื•ืจ ืœืคื ื™ ืฉึตื, ื•ืœื”ื›ืฉื™ืจ ืืช ืœื‘ื•ืช ื‘ื ื™ ื”ืื“ื ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ื›ืœื™ ืงื™ื‘ื•ืœ ืœืชื•ืจืช ืฉึตื. ื˜ื‘ืขื™ ื”ื“ื‘ืจ, ืฉืฉึตื ืœื ื”ื•ื›ืจ ืžื™ื“ ื›ึทึผืดื’ื“ื•ืœืด ืขืœ ื”ืืจืฅ [ืืœื ืฉื”ื—ืฉื™ื‘ื• ืืช ื™ืคืช ืœื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ืื—ื™ื]. ื”ืืžื ื•ื™ื•ืช ื•ื”ืžื“ืขื™ื ืฉืœ ื™ืคืช ื ื•ื—ื™ื ื™ื•ืชืจ ืœื”ืชืงื‘ืœ ื‘ืœื‘ื•ืช ื”ืื ืฉื™ื. ืืš ื”ืื•ืจ ื”ืฉึธืœึตื• ืฉืฉึตื ื”ื•ื ื ื•ืฉืื•, ื•ื”ืืžืช ืฉื”ื•ื ืžื‘ืฉืจ, ื”ืชื•ืจื”, ืฉืื•ืชื” ืืคืฉืจ ืจืง ืื• ืœื“ื—ื•ืช ืื• ืœืงื‘ืœ (ืื™ืŸ ื“ืจืš ืืžืฆืขื™ืช), ื–ืžืŸ ืจื‘ ืขื•ื“ ื™ืขื‘ื•ืจ ืขื“ ืฉื™ื–ื›ื• ืœื”ื›ืจื” ื›ืœืœื™ื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 fatherโ€ฆ

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.

R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlinย (Netziv; 1816-1893)

ื ืฆื™ืดื‘

ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ ื™ื—ืก ื–ื” ืื•ืžืจ ืคืจืฉื ื™, ื•ืžื”ื• ืดื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืด. ื•ื”ืขื ื™ืŸ, ืฉื‘ื ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘ ืœื”ื•ื“ื™ืข ื“ื–ืจืข ืฉื ื”ื™ื• ืœืฉื ื™ ืžื™ื ื™ื, ื”ืื—ื“, ื”ืื•ืžื” ื”ื ื‘ื—ืจืช ืฉื ืชื™ื™ื—ื“ื” ื‘ืฉืžื” ืณื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจืณ, ื›ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืดืื‘ืจื ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ืด (ืœื”ืœืŸ ื™ื“,ื™ื’), ื•ืขื ื™ืฉืจืืœ ื ืงืจืื• ืณืขื‘ืจื™ืืณ, ื•ื–ื” ื”ืžื™ืŸ ื”ื™ื” ืžื•ืคืœื’ ื•ื ืขืœื” ืžื‘ื ื™ ื™ืคืช. ื•ื”ืฉื ื™ ื”ื™ื• ื›ื›ืœ ืื•ืžื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœื ื‘ืขืจืš ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืคืช, ืื‘ืœ ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื™ื• ื‘ื ื™ ื™ืคืช ืžืฆื•ื™ื ื™ื ืžื‘ื ื™ ืฉื, ื•ืžืฉื•ื ื”ื›ื™ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืดืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืด. {ื•ื›ืŸ ืžื™ ืžื‘ื ื™ ื™ืฉืจืืœ ืฉื™ื•ืฆื ืžืชื•ืจืช ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ, ื ื›ืœืœ ื‘ืชื•ืš ื”ื’ืจื•ืขื™ื ืžื‘ื ื™ ื™ืคืช, ื•ืขื•ื“ ืœื—ืจืคื” ื”ื•ื ืœื• ืฉื”ื•ืฆื™ื ืขืฆืžื• ืžืžืขืœืชื•, ื•ืขื™ื™ืŸ ืžื” ืฉื›ืชื‘ืชื™ ื‘ืกืคืจ ืฉืžื•ืช (ื™ื’,ื™ื’) ื‘ื‘ืื•ืจ ื”ืžืงืจื ืดื•ืื ืœื ืชืคื“ื” ื•ืขืจืคืชื•ืด}.

ย ื•ื›ื™ื•ืฆื ื‘ื–ื” ื”ื™ื” ื‘ื‘ื ื™ ื™ื•ืกืฃ ืžื ืฉื” ื•ืืคืจื™ื, ื“ืืคืจื™ื ื”ื™ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืžื ืฉื” ื‘ืขื ื™ื ื™ ืืœืงื•ืช, ื•ืžื ืฉื” ื”ื™ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ื”ื•ื™ื•ืช ื”ืขื•ืœื, ื›ืืฉืจ ื™ื‘ื•ืืจ ื‘ืžืงื•ืžื• ื‘ืคืจืฉืช ื•ื™ื—ื™.

"Father of all the children of Eber, brother of Japheth the elder" โ€“ This identifying attribution says, โ€œexplain me!โ€ And what is ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืดโ€? The issue is, that Scripture comes to inform that Shemโ€™s seed were of two types.
One: ย the chosen nation, which was distinguished by the name โ€œsons of eberโ€ as it is written, โ€œAbram 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 โ€œthe brother of Japheth the greater (ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ).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, โ€œand 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." .

R. David Zvi Hoffmannย (1843 - 1941)

ืจื“ืดืฆ ื”ื•ืคืžืŸ

ื™ืœื“ ื’ืโ ึพื”ื•ื โ€“ ื›ืžื• ืœืขื™ืœ ื“ืณ:ื›ืดื• ืืฆืœ ืฉืช. ื›ืžื™ ืฉื ื•ืขื“ ืœื”ื™ื•ืช ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ, ืžื’ืขืช ืœื• ืœืฉื ืชืฉื•ืžืช ืœื‘ ืžื™ื•ื—ื“ืช. ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœโ ึพื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ โ€“ ืื™ืŸ ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืฉื ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ืžืžืฉ, ืฉื›ืŸ ืžื™ื“ ื ืืžืจ (ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื“) ืฉืฉืœื— ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ืขื‘ืจ. ืื‘ืœ ื”ื›ื•ื•ื ื” ืœื•ืžืจ ืฉืฉื ื”ื•ื ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ, ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื, ื•ื™ื—ื“ ืขื ื–ืืช ื™ื™ืืžืจ ืฉืืžื ื ื”ืขื‘ืจื™ื ืงืจื•ื‘ื™ื ื”ื ืœื›ืœ ื”ืขืžื™ื ื”ืžื•ื–ื›ืจื™ื ื›ืืŸ.

ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ ืœืคื™ ื˜ืขืžื™ ื”ืžืงืจื, ื•ื›ืŸ ื’ื ืœืคื™ ื”ืžื“ืจืฉ,1 ื”ืจื™ ืดื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืด ืžื•ืกื‘ ืขืœ ื™ืคืช, ื•ื›ืŸ ืžืฉืžืข ืœื”ืœืŸ ื™ืดื:ื™ืณ, ื•ื”ืฉื•ื•ื” ืœื”ืœืŸ ืžืดื“:ื™ืดื‘ ื•ืฉืžื•ืืœ ื ื™ืดื–:ื™ืดื’, ืฉื ื‘ืจื•ืจ ืฉื’ื“ื•ืœ ื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ืฉื ื™ื, ื•ื‘ื“ื•ืžื” ืœื›ืš ืœื”ืœืŸ ืžืดื—:ื™ืดื˜, ืฉื ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ืฉืœ ืดืื—ื™ื• ื”ืงื˜ืŸืด ื”ื•ื โ€” ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ื‘ืฉื ื™ื. ื•ืื›ืŸ, ืื™ ืืคืฉืจ ืœืคืจืฉ ื›ืืŸ ืื—ืจืช, ืฉื›ืŸ ืœื ืžืฆื™ื ื• ื‘ืฉื•ื ืžืงื•ื ืืœื ืฉื”ืื— ื”ืฆืขื™ืจ ื™ืชื™ื™ื—ืก ืืœ ื”ืžื‘ื•ื’ืจ ืžืžื ื•, ื•ืœื ืœื”ื™ืคืš (ืคืจื˜ ืœื™ื•ืฆื ืžืŸ ื”ื›ืœืœ ืื—ื“ โ€” ืืฆืœ ื ืฉื™ื ืดืžืจื™ื ื”ื ื‘ื™ืื” ืื—ื•ืช ืื”ืจืŸืด2). ืืš ื”ืฉื•ื•ื” ืชืจื’ื•ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ, ื”ืžืคืจืฉ ืืช ื”ืžืœื” ืดื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืด โ€” ืดืจื‘ื ื‘ื“ื—ืœืชื ื“ื”ืณโ  โ ืด, ื•ื–ืืช ืžืฉื•ื ืฉืœื“ืขืชื• ืฉื ื”ื•ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉื‘ืื—ื™ื, ื•ื›ืŸ ื’ื ื“ืขืช ื”ืจืžื‘ืดืŸ ื›ืืŸ.

โ€œwere 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.

โ€œfather 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.

โ€œthe brother of Japheth, the elderโ€ โ€“ according to the cantillation of the verse, and also according to the Midrash, โ€œhagadolโ€ 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 โ€œhis 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: โ€œMiriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister.โ€) However, contrast [my interpretation against] ]the Targum ย of Yonatan, who explains the word โ€œhagadolโ€-- โ€œgreater 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.

Baruch HaLevi Epsteinย (Torah Temimah; 1860 - 1942)

ืชื•ืจื” ืชืžื™ืžื”

ืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ ื™ืคืช ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืฉื‘ืื—ื™ื• ื”ื™ื”, [ื•ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืคืณ ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช) ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ื ื— ืืช ืฉื ืืช ื—ื ื•ืืช ื™ืคืช, ืžืœืžื“ ืฉื“ืจืš ื—ื›ืžืชื ื”ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื”ื•].1 (ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืกืดื˜:)

"The brother of Japheth, the eldestโ€ โ€“ Japheth was the eldest of his brothers [and it is written, โ€œAnd Noah bore Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, this teaches that they were ordered according to their wisdom (bSan 69b).]

ื’ื•ืจ ืืจื™ื”

R. Judah Loew of Pragueย (Maharal; ย ~1520 - 1609)

ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ โ€“ ื”ื ื”ืจ ื”ื™ื” ืฉื. ื“ืื™ืŸ ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ืฉื”ื•ื ืดืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจืด ืฉื”ื•ื ื‘ืŸ ื‘ื ื•, ื›ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืจืณ ืคืกื•ืง ื›ื“) ืดื•ืฉืœื— ื”ื•ืœื™ื“ ืืช ืขื‘ืจืด (ืงื•ืฉื™ืช ื”ืจืืดื), ื“ืžืื™ ืฉื ื ืขื‘ืจ ื“ื ืงื˜, ืฉื”ื•ื ืื—ื“ ืžื‘ื ื™ ืฉื, ืžืฉืืจ ื™ื•ืฆืื™ ื—ืœืฆื™ื• ืฉืœ ืฉื, ืฉื™ืืžืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืณืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจืณ โ€“ ืžืฉื™ืืžืจ ืฉื”ื•ื ืณืื‘ื™ ื‘ื ื™ ืืจืคื›ืฉื“ืณ, ืื• ืฉืืจ ืฉื”ื ืžื™ื•ืฆืื™ ื—ืœืฆื™ื• ืฉืœ ืฉื. ื•ืžื” ืฉื”ื•ืกื™ืฃ ืณื”ื™ื” ืฉืืณ, ืฉืœื ืชืืžืจ ืดื•ืœืฉื ื™ืœื“ืด ืคื™ืจื•ืฉื• ื“ื ื•ืœื“ ืœื• ื‘ืŸ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื•ืชื• ื‘ืŸ ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจ ื”ื ื”ืจ, ื“ื–ื” ืื™ื ื•, ื“ื”ื•ื™ ืœื”ื–ื›ื™ืจ ืืช ื”ื ื•ืœื“ ืงื•ื“ื ื•ืื—ืจ ื›ืš ื™ืืžืจ ืดืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจืด, ื•ืขื•ื“ โ€“ ื“ืœื ื™ื“ืขื ื• ืžื™ ื”ื•ื ืื•ืชื• ื”ื ื•ืœื“, ืฉืœื ื”ื–ื›ื™ืจื• ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘, ืืœื ืดืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ืขื‘ืจืด ืงืื™ ืขืœ ืฉื, ื•ืœืฉื•ืŸ ืดื™ืœื“ืด ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ ื‘ืœืฉื•ืŸ ื™ื—ื™ื“ โ€“ ืจืฆื” ืœื•ืžืจ ื™ืœื“ ื–ืจืข โ€“ ืขื“ ืฉื”ื™ื” ืื‘ื™ ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ ื”ื ื”ืจ: ืฉื”ืจื™ ื‘ืŸ ืชืดืง ืฉื ื” ื•ื›ื•ืณ. ืคื™ืจื•ืฉ ื“ืื™ืŸ ืœื•ืžืจ ื“ื”ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืจืณ ืœืขื™ืœ ื”, ืœื‘) ืดื•ื™ื”ื™ ื ื— ืชืดืง ืฉื ื”ืด ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ื›ืฉืคืกืง ืœื”ื•ืœื™ื“ (ื”ืขืจืช ื”ืจืืดื), ื“ืื ื›ืŸ ื™ื”ื™ื” ื”ืงื˜ืŸ ืฉื‘ื‘ื ื™ื• ื›ืฉื‘ื ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื‘ืŸ ืงืณ ืฉื ื”, ื•ื–ื” ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ, ื“ื”ื ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” โ€“ ืฉื ืชื™ื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ (ืœื”ืœืŸ ื™ื, ื™). ื•ืื™ืŸ ืœื•ืžืจ ื“ื—ื ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ืชืดืง, ื•ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืชืงืดื‘, ื•ื™ืคืช ื‘ืŸ ืชืงืดื’, ื•ืฉื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื™ืคืช (ืงื•ืฉื™ืช ื”ืจืืดื), ื“ื•ื“ืื™ ืื• ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืื• ืฉื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ, ืื‘ืœ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ื—ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื–ื” ืœื ื™ืชื›ืŸ, ื“ื”ื ื›ืืŸ ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืดืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœืด, ื•ืกืชืžื ื›ืชื™ื‘, ื“ืžืฉืžืข ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ื›ืœ ื”ื‘ื ื™ื, ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ืœื ื›ืชื™ื‘ ืณืื—ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžืžื ื•ืณ. ื•ื”ืจืืดื ืชื™ืจืฅ ื“ื•ื“ืื™ ื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ืกืชื ื›ืชื‘ ืœืš ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชื™ื•, ืื ื›ืŸ ืœื ื”ื™ื• ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื ื–ื” ืžื–ื” ืจืง ืฉื ื” ืžื—ื‘ื™ืจื•, ื•ืžื›ื™ื•ืŸ ื“ื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” โ€“ ืฉื ืชื™ื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ, ืื ื›ืŸ ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ืชืงืดื‘, ื•ืžืžื™ืœื ืœืžื“ื ื• ื›ื™ ื™ืคืช ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ โ€“ ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืดืง, ื•ืื—ืจื™ื• ื—ื ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื, ื•ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืงื˜ืŸ โ€“ ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื‘. ื•ื›ืŸ ืืžืจื™ื ืŸ ื‘ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ (ืกื˜ ืขืดื‘) ื“ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื”ื™ื” ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื—ื‘ืจื™ื• ืฉื ื”. ื•ื”ืืžืช ืฉื›ืš ืื™ืชื ื‘ื’ืžืจื ื‘ืคืจืง ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื” (ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืกื˜ ืขืดื‘), ืืœื ืฉืื ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ื“ื”ื ื“ืงืืžืจ ืฉื ืณืฉื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื—ื ืฉื ื” ื•ื—ื ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื™ืคืช ืฉื ื”ืณ ื–ื”ื• ื‘ืืฉืจ ื”ื™ื™ื ื• ืกื•ื‘ืจื™ื ื“ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื”ื• ืชื ื ื“ืจืš ืชื•ืœื“ื•ืชืŸ, ืื– ืืžืจื™ื ืŸ ื“ื›ืœ ืื—ื“ ื•ืื—ื“ ื’ื“ื•ืœ ืžื—ื‘ื™ืจื• ืฉื ื” ื›ืžืฉืžืขื•ืช ื”ื›ืชื•ื‘, ืื‘ืœ ืœืคื™ ื”ืžืกืงื ื ื“ื—ืฉื™ื‘ ืœื”ื• ื“ืจืš ื—ื›ืžืชืŸ, ื•ื”ื ื“ื›ืชื™ื‘ (ืจืณ ืœืขื™ืœ ื”, ืœื‘) ืดื•ื™ื”ื™ ื ื— ื‘ืŸ ืชืดืง ื•ื™ื•ืœื“ ืืช ืฉื ื•ืืช ื—ื ื•ืืช ื™ืคืชืด, ื•ืฉื ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ืชืงืดื‘ ืœื ื—, ื•ื™ืคืช ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืŸ ืชืดืง, ืฉืคื™ืจ ืžืฆื™ื ื• ืœืžื™ืžืจ ื“ื—ื ื ื•ืœื“ ืื—ืจ ืฉื, ื•ืœื ื™ื“ืขื ื• ืžืชื™. ื•ื›ืŸ [ื ืจืื”] ืžื“ื‘ืจื™ ืจืฉืดื™, ื“ื›ืชื‘ ืจืฉืดื™ ืœืžืขืœื” (ื˜, ื›ื”) ืณืืจื•ืจ ื‘ื ืš ื”ืจื‘ื™ืขื™ ืฉื™ื”ื™ื” ืžืฉืžืฉ ื–ืจืขื ืฉืœ ืืœื• ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ืืณ, ืžืฉืžืข ื“ืืœื• ื‘ืณ ื”ื ื”ื’ื“ื•ืœื™ื, ื•ื›ืš ื”ื™ื”; ื“ื™ืคืช ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืดืง, ื•ืฉื ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื‘, ื•ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืจืดื‘ ืœื ื— ื”ื™ื” ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืžืื” ืฉื ื”, ื•ื–ื” ืดืฉื ืชื™ื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœืด:

ืฉืคืชื™ ื—ื›ืžื™ื

ื ืžืฆื ืฉื”ื’ื“ื•ืœ ื‘ื‘ื ื™ื• ื”ื™ืณ ื‘ืŸ ืงืณ ืฉื ื”. ื•ืืดืช ื•ืžื” ื”ื•ื›ื—ื” ื–ื• ื“ืœืžื ื—ื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืงืณ ืฉื ื” ื›ืฉื‘ื ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื•ืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืงืณ ื‘ืณ ืฉื ื” ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื•ื™ืคืช ื”ื™ื” ื‘ืŸ ืงืณ ื’ืณ ืื• ืืจื‘ืข ืฉื ื” ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ื•ื™ืดืœ ืžืฉื•ื ื“ื‘ื“ื•ืจื•ืช ื”ืจืืฉื•ื ื™ื ื›ืœ ื‘ื ื™ื ืฉื”ื•ืœื™ื“ื• ื”ื™ื• ืžื•ืœื™ื“ื™ืŸ ืฉื ื” ืื—ืจ ืฉื ื” ื›ื“ืืžืจื™ื ืŸ ื‘ืคืจืง ื‘ืŸ ืกื•ืจืจ ื•ืžื•ืจื” (ืกื ื”ื“ืจื™ืŸ ืกื˜:) ื•ืื—ืจ ืฉื”ื•ื“ื™ืขื ื• ืฉื ื•ืœื“ ืฉื ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื‘ ืฉื”ื•ื ืฉื ืชื™ื ืื—ืจ ื”ืžื‘ื•ืœ ืœืžื“ื ื• ืฉืฉื ื”ื™ื” ื”ืื—ืจื•ืŸ ื›ื™ ื™ืคืช ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืงืดื ื•ื—ื ื ื•ืœื“ ื‘ืฉื ืช ืชืดืง ืœื—ื™ื™ ื ื— ื•ืงืดืœ:

Judges 3:9

ย ื•ึทื™ึผึดื–ึฐืขึฒืงื•ึผ ื‘ึฐื ึตื™-ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ืึถืœ-ื”', ื•ึทื™ึผึธืงึถื ื”' ืžื•ึนืฉืึดื™ืขึท ืœึดื‘ึฐื ึตื™ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืจึธืึตืœ ื•ึทื™ึผึนืฉืึดื™ืขึตื--ืึตืช ืขึธืชึฐื ึดื™ืึตืœ ื‘ึผึถืŸ-ืงึฐื ึทื–, ืึฒื—ึดื™ ื›ึธืœึตื‘ ื”ึทืงึผึธื˜ึนืŸ ืžึดืžึผึถื ึผื•ึผ

Kind of funny: ืžึดืžึผึถื ึผื•ึผ clarifies that we are dealing with a relative modifier. ย But it remains uncertain whether the referent is Caleb or Kenaz. ย 

ืžึดืžึผึถื ึผื•ึผ

ย Seems inserted in order to disambiguate? But it doesnโ€™t disambiguate?

ICC

P. 219

[1]ย Caveat: The Beta Israel holiday of Sigd occurs on 29th Cheshvan. There is a popular belief that the name of the month, โ€œMarcheshvanโ€ incorporates the word mar, โ€œbitter,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 โ€œื”ืชื™ื™ื—ืกื•ืชื” ื”ืžืคื•ืจืฉืช ืฉืœ ืคืจืฉื ื•ืช ื”ืžืงืจื ื”ืžืกื•ืจืชื™ืช ืœืฉืืœื” ื”ืžื—ื•ื™ื‘ื•ืช ืœื˜ืขืžื™ ื”ืžืงืจืโ€, and notes that the Talmud interprets the verse in accordance with the teโ€™amim: b.San 69 a-b.

[3]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".

[4]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

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