Citazione Commento su I Samuele 15:15

לוטש כל חרש נחשת וברזל, sharpener of copper and ironcraft; this description by the Torah, as opposed to the previous introduction of artisans as אבי, “father of, i.e. inventor of or discoverer of, maybe that his predecessors had already worked with these metals and had fashioned tools and vessels out of them. Tuval Kayin’s contribution may have been that he learned how to sharpen these tools so that they did not have to be replaced by new ones all the time. The word לטישה in this sense occurs in Samuel I 13,20. During the period described in Samuel, the Israelites had to travel to the land of the Philistines to have their agricultural tools sharpened, as they were not allowed to have weapons made of metal. The word חרש אבן is found in Exodus 31,6 where it describes the parallel art of working with stone. (compare Samuel I 15,15 and Joshua 8,7 where the word תפש appears in a related manner)

Moses may have wanted to rebut one possible argument namely that they did not need to take along all kinds of species, only the ones suitable as sacrifices. This is why Moses said: "we do not know what (species) we will be required to offer as sacrifices." Therefore, Moses said we have to take along even those species which ultimately will not be used as sacrifices. This is also why he added: "not a hoof will remain." This reference included such animals as horses, mules, camels and donkeys as they are all included in the term מקנה. When Moses appeared to imply that the Israelites would even use the last-mentioned species as sacrificial animals we must understand this comment as similar to the Talmud Avodah Zarah 24 interpreting Samuel I 15,15 to mean that when King Saul referred to certain types of animals saved by the people for sacrifices, the proceeds of the sale of certain animals were also included. The expression: "we will take from them to sacrifice" does not have to mean that the actual animals mentioned have to serve as offerings. The words ממנו נקח have to be translated as "from their proceeds we will take, etc."

"We do not place an animal [in the inns of idolaters, etc.]" What does it mean by "the best of their money"? This refers to "the best of their money" in the Jerusalem Talmud. The verse states: "And Saul said, 'They have brought them from Amalek'" (I Samuel 15:15). One cannot derive laws from Saul’s actions because, as Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said, "They were logs of sycamore wood." But isn’t it written: "And David purchased the threshing floor" (II Samuel 24:24)? He purchased it, but he did not offer sacrifices with it. And isn’t it written: "And Abner said to David, 'May the Lord your God accept you'" (II Samuel 3:36)? This refers to God accepting his prayer. And isn’t it written: "From the hand of a foreigner, you shall not offer as the bread of your God any of these" (Leviticus 22:25)? From "any of these," it implies that you cannot offer from such items, but you may purchase perfect animals from them and offer them. What does Rabbi Eliezer do with this? He interprets it to mean that you may purchase them with money and then offer them.