What is "Ro'eh Akarah Lo Seled"?
Rashi: This was the custom of Dor ha'Mabul. A man marries two women - one for Bi'ah, and one for children. He gives to the former a sterility potion, so she never gives birth. He feeds to her delicacies, bathes and adorns her, to beautify her. The latter he dresses in widow's clothing, and starves her. Our verse teaches that the sterile one, who will not give birth, he grazes her (treats her well).
Ibn Ezra: This is [breaking,] like "Tero'em b'Shevet Barzel." He breaks the barren, for she has no sons to help her.
What is "v'Almanah Lo Yeitiv"?
Rashi: The 'widow', whom he keeps for children, he does not benefit her. Malbim - he hates her and abandons her.
Ibn Ezra: A widow has no husband 1 .
He breaks the barren - is it a Chidush that he does not benefit widows?! Surely, he means that he breaks also a widow, who has no husband to benefit her. (PF)
