What are the connotations of "Avi Yoshev Ohel u'Mikneh"?
Rashi #1: It means that Yaval started the trend of shepherding sheep and living in tents in the desert - one month here, and one month there, in search of grazing-ground for the sheep.
Rashi #2: It means that he started the trend of building houses of idolatry. 1 Similarly, in the following Pasuk, Yuval was the founder of instruments with which they played music for Avodah Zarah. 2
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 "Semel ha'Kin'ah ha'Makneh" (Yechezkel 8:3). See Oznayim la'Torah in Pasuk 19, who queries all the other explanations in that Hevel was the first shepherd.
Though Rashi does not cite a source for this.
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 and to 4:4:0.3:1 .
