1)

Why do Tanim remove their udders?

1.

Rav Sadya Gaon: Snakes remove their udders to avoid nursing their young.

2.

Rashi: Tanim is cruel 1 . When it sees its child hungry, it removes its udder from its case in order to nurse it, lest its child see it covered and go away, and nurses it. Refer to 4:3:2:2.

3.

Ibn Ezra: Male Tanim take the females' udders to nurse their children. "Chaltzu" is like "v'Chaltzah Na'alo" (Devarim 25:9).


1

Ri Kara: "V'Rosh Pesanim Achzar" (Devarim 32:33). "Chaltzu" is like "v'Chaltzu Es ha'Avanim" (Vayikra 14:40).

2)

How were my nation like Ye'enim?

1.

Rav Sadya Gaon: The mothers of my nation became cross [like snakes that remove their udders to avoid nursing their young].

2.

Rashi: Even though Tanim is cruel, when it sees its child hungry, it removes its udder from its case in order to nurse it, lest its child see it covered and go away, and nurses it. My nation sees its children screaming for bread and does not give to them, for their own lives have precedence, due to hunger.

3.

Ibn Ezra #1: Men did not force their wives to nurse their children.

4.

Ibn Ezra #2: The enemy 1 took the breasts of women of Tziyon to nurse the enemy's children.

5.

Ri Kara: They were cruel to their young like Ye'enim (ostriches). Their breasts dried, so "Davak Leshon Yonek El Chiko ba'Tzama" (4). This caused my nation's appearances to darken.

6.

Rid: They appeared cruel. They were unable to nurse their infants, for their breasts dried due to hunger.


1

Palgei Mayim: The Midrash calls the enemy Taninim based on "ha'Tanim ha'Gadol" (Yechezkel 29:3).

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