מוֹלִ֣יךְ כֹּהֲנִ֣ים שׁוֹלָ֑ל וְאֵֽתָנִ֣ים יְסַלֵּֽף׃
Ia menuntun para pembesar ke dalam kebodohan, dan orang-orang yang perkasa dijungkirbalikkan-Nya.
Malbim
and verses 19 and 20 to the representative government of a republic.
Ramban
THE DAUGHTER OF POTI-PHERAH ‘KOHEIN’ (PRIEST OF) ON. He is indentical with Potiphar.80Above, 37:36. He was called Poti-phera81The word pera connotes “uncover and pull down.” See Ramban above, 39:19. because he had been emasculated on account of having purchased Joseph for sodomy. Thus the language of Rashi, and it is actually a Midrash of our Rabbis.82Bereshith Rabbah 86:3.
On account of this Midrash, Rashi was forced to say in explanation of kohein On83Rashi’s explanation of kohein On is found further in his commentary on 47:22. that “the term kohein always means one who ministers to Deity with the exception of this one, i.e., kohein On, which denotes one of high rank since he was the chief of the slaughterers of the king’s animals, and similarly, kohein Midian.”84Exodus 3:1. Meaning the chief of Midian. It could not mean “the priest” of Midian since Jethro had already abandoned idolatry.
But I say that according to the words of our Rabbis, [who said that Poti-phera is identical with Potiphar, and was called Poti-phera because of his emasculation, as explained above],85Ramban’s intent is to state that even though Potiphar is identical with Poti-phera, and Potiphar was an officer to the king, he later became a priest, so that kohein On does not mean, as Rashi explained, “one of high rank,” or “the chief of On,” but rather “the priest of On.” Potiphar was an officer of the king, and later when he became physically castrate, on account of which they called him “Poti-phera,” he was embarassed and retired from his office. He then entered a temple of idol-worship and became a priest therein, for such was the custom among the nobility, and it is possible that On was the name of his idol. Likewise, kohein Midian86Exodus 3:1. means “priest of Midian,” just as they said, concerning Jethro,87Sanhedrin 82b. that he used to fatten calves for the idols.
Now the truth of the matter is that the term k’hunah means ministry, but not to the Deity alone, for it is stated, And David’s sons were ‘kohanim,’88II Samuel 8:18. and in the book of Chronicles,89I Chronicles 18:17. in the same connection it says, And the sons of David were chiefs at the side of the king.90It is thus clear that kohanim in the book of Samuel means “chief ministers.” Similarly we find in the following verses: He leadeth ‘kohanim’ barefoot,91Job 12:19. referring to ministers of the king; ‘y’chahein pe’eir,’92Isaiah 61:10. Translated: “a priestly diadem.” (he has clothed him in splendor as a ministering priest), meaning that they will make him garments unlike those of the rest of the people, for glory and for splendor. Also similar is the verse [II Kings 10:11], And his familiar friends ‘v’kohanav’, meaning his chief ministers.
On account of this Midrash, Rashi was forced to say in explanation of kohein On83Rashi’s explanation of kohein On is found further in his commentary on 47:22. that “the term kohein always means one who ministers to Deity with the exception of this one, i.e., kohein On, which denotes one of high rank since he was the chief of the slaughterers of the king’s animals, and similarly, kohein Midian.”84Exodus 3:1. Meaning the chief of Midian. It could not mean “the priest” of Midian since Jethro had already abandoned idolatry.
But I say that according to the words of our Rabbis, [who said that Poti-phera is identical with Potiphar, and was called Poti-phera because of his emasculation, as explained above],85Ramban’s intent is to state that even though Potiphar is identical with Poti-phera, and Potiphar was an officer to the king, he later became a priest, so that kohein On does not mean, as Rashi explained, “one of high rank,” or “the chief of On,” but rather “the priest of On.” Potiphar was an officer of the king, and later when he became physically castrate, on account of which they called him “Poti-phera,” he was embarassed and retired from his office. He then entered a temple of idol-worship and became a priest therein, for such was the custom among the nobility, and it is possible that On was the name of his idol. Likewise, kohein Midian86Exodus 3:1. means “priest of Midian,” just as they said, concerning Jethro,87Sanhedrin 82b. that he used to fatten calves for the idols.
Now the truth of the matter is that the term k’hunah means ministry, but not to the Deity alone, for it is stated, And David’s sons were ‘kohanim,’88II Samuel 8:18. and in the book of Chronicles,89I Chronicles 18:17. in the same connection it says, And the sons of David were chiefs at the side of the king.90It is thus clear that kohanim in the book of Samuel means “chief ministers.” Similarly we find in the following verses: He leadeth ‘kohanim’ barefoot,91Job 12:19. referring to ministers of the king; ‘y’chahein pe’eir,’92Isaiah 61:10. Translated: “a priestly diadem.” (he has clothed him in splendor as a ministering priest), meaning that they will make him garments unlike those of the rest of the people, for glory and for splendor. Also similar is the verse [II Kings 10:11], And his familiar friends ‘v’kohanav’, meaning his chief ministers.