Ibn Ezra: And This is the Blessing (V’zot Habrachah)
Abraham ibn Ezra offers a beautiful paraphrase of Moses’ final blessing for the Israelites as a whole – and perhaps for us.
Abraham ibn Ezra offers a beautiful paraphrase of Moses’ final blessing for the Israelites as a whole – and perhaps for us.
In Canaan, the Israelites must no longer do what is “right in their own eyes.” They must worship centrally. But wasn’t wilderness worship centralized too?
The Israelites constantly complain in the wilderness. In the aftermath of Korach’s rebellion, the people complain yet again. Rashbam explains their reason.
The twelve tribes are arrayed around the Mishkan. Each group has its own flags, with otot to distinguish them. What does otot mean?
The moment of the Exodus arrives. And the Israelites are unprepared. Rashi, Rashbam, and Yosef Bechor Shor have different messages for us.