Additional characteristics of the Ramban’s commentary on the Torah:
The Secret Torah — “Al Derekh Ha-Emet”
When the Ramban prefaces an explanation with these words, his intent is to cite a commentary based on sod (literally, secret), the hidden, mystical elements of Jewish tradition. His Kabbalistic commentaries cannot be understood by a reader unschooled in fundamental Kabbalistic concepts.
Citation and Incorporation in the Commentary of the Ramban
Psychological Sensitivity
The Ramban explains the verses using an analysis of the motivations of the dominant personalities, based on his reasoned assessment of the characters and the situations in which they find themselves.
Serus Ha-Mikra
Another exegetical tool employed by the Ramban in his commentary is serus ha-mikra, the inversion or transposition of the verse. Sometimes, in order to understand the intent of the verse, one should read it as if the sequence of the words is different.
Abbreviation and Elaboration
When there is a certain lack of correlation between the initial description of an event and the later recapitulation of the same event, the Ramban explains the lack of correlation using the following rule: “It is the way of the verses to abbreviate it in one place and to elaborate in another place.”
There is no doubt that the Ramban is one of the most influential figures in terms of shaping the world of biblical exegesis and the Jewish worldview generally.
