What are the connotations of ?Avi Yoshev Ohel u?Mikneh??
Rashi #1: It means that he started the trend of shepherding sheep and living in tents in the desert - one month here, and one month there, in search of grazing-gr for the sheep.
Rashi #2: It means that he started the trend of building houses of idolatry. 1
Rashbam: It means that he started the trend of shepherding.
Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means that he started the trend of ?tent-dwelling and shepherding?.
?Rashi: ?Mikneh? has connotations of Avodah Zarah, as in Yechezkel, 8:3 ?Semel ha?Kin?ah ha?Makneh?. See Oznsyim la?Torah in Pasuk 19, who queries all the other explanations in that Hevel was the first shepherd.
What is the definition of ?Kinim ve?Ugav??
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'Father of those who dwell in tents with the flocks' - I.e. he was the first to do so." Why doesn't Rashi interpret in the literal sense, that he was their father or ancestor?
Gur Aryeh: Nomadic shepherding is such a common occupation that it is impossible that all shepherds would be his descendants. Rather, he was "father" in the sense of being the first.
Rashi writes: "... A month in this location, and a month in another, to find pasture for his sheep." Why specifically a month?
Gur Aryeh: The verse describes him as "Yoshev Ohel;" and this term (inhabiting) means no less than one month. 1 (Compare to Rashi to 12:9 regarding Avraham's arrival in Kena'an.)
Refer to 12:9:1.2:1 for a Halachic source.
Rashi writes: "... He built houses of idolatry. [The word 'Mikneh' should be interpreted] as in the verse, 'Semel ha'Kin'ah ha'Makneh' - 'the infuriating image of jealousy (i.e. idolatry)' (Yechezkel 8:3)." But our verse says "Mikneh;" whereas that verse says "Makneh," a word with a different meaning?
Mizrachi: Although the root of "Mikneh" (flocks) is Kuf-Nun-Hei, and that of "Kin'ah" (jealousy) is Kuf-Nun-Alef, the word "Makneh" in Yechezkel assumes an unusual structure, like a Hei verb. 1 The change of vowels at the beginning is of no concern. 2
Gur Aryeh #1: The letters Alef and Hei commonly interchange. 3 Also, "Miknah" (with a Chirik) can mean the concept of jealousy. 4
Gur Aryeh #2: Certainly, the simple meaning is that Yaval was a shepherd. Why does the Pasuk go out of its way to write "Yoshev Ohel u'Mikneh - who dwelt in tents with flocks," instead of simply, "Ro'eh Tzon - a shepherd"? The Torah's choice of expression often conveys an extra level of meaning. 5 Here, Chazal derive that Yaval's entire motive in shepherding was for idolatrous purposes.
Gur Aryeh #3: "Mikneh" means causes jealousy (Mekaneh); just as "Michshol" causes one to stumble (Machshil).
Mizrachi: E.g. The root "Pele" (with an Alef) in the causative is "Mafli;" while the root "Shakeh" (with a Hei) forms "Mashkeh." "Makneh" is in the same structure as "Mashkeh." This unusual form leads the Midrash to make this Derashah.
Mizrachi's text of Yechezkel evidently spelled "Makneh" with an Alef; this is the point that he focuses on while validating the Derashah. (Our text spells "Miknah" with a Hei, the same spelling as "Mikneh" of our verse.)
For another example, refer to 3:20:151:2.
In the same structure as the word "Mishpat," the concept of "justice."
For other examples, refer to 3:15:3.3:1; refer to 4:4:0.2:1.
