What does the Pasuk mean when it writes, "and they gave birth," and in the following Pasuk, when it writes that "HaSh-m had closed all the wombs"?
Rashi, Targum Onkelus and Targum Yonasan 1 : It means that He opened all the orifices that He had previously closed. 2
Seforno: It mans literally that HaSh-m had shut their wombs to kill their offspring. 3
Ramban: The moment Avimelech took Sarah, HaSh-m closed his sexual organs, and he was unable to be intimate with Sarah. 4 Moreover, his wife and any of his maidservants who were pregnant were unable to give birth, for the prolonged period that Sarah was with Avimelech. 5 All this was reversed following Avraham's Tefilah.
According to the Ramban, Targum Onkelus and Targum Yonasan learn like the Seforno (Refer to 20:17:1:2.); and the Midrash that learns like Rashi learns the extra word 'all the orifices' from the double expression "Atzor Atzar."
As recorded above (Rashi to 20:9).
In keeping with His threat above in 20:7. (See Ramban, who grapples with this explanation.) But see Gur Aryeh (refer to 20:17:1.2:1.)
Which is what the Torah meant when it wrote earlier, "and I did not allow you to 'touch' her" (20:6).
As is implied by "Ki Atzor... Be'ad Kol Rechem."
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'And they gave birth' (va'Yeledu) - Their orifices were opened, and they were able to excrete what they needed to." What is difficult with the literal explanation?
Gur Aryeh: The verse specifies that Avimelech himself was healed, so it cannot literally refer to birth. Additionally, is it possible that every one of his maid-servants was set to give birth that very day? But refer to 20:17:1.2:1.
Rashi writes: "Their orifices were opened, and they were able to excrete what they needed to; that is what is meant by 'giving birth.'" If so, why does the verse specify the maidservants, and not the man-servants as well?
Gur Aryeh: It seems that there were two separate plagues. Avimelech (with his household) were stricken with sealed orifices (as Rashi to 20:9 explains). Avimelech's wife and maidservants are singled out, because the expectant among them suffered especially. Because the womb became sealed, they felt great pressure and painful contractions, even though it was not yet their time to give birth. When Avraham prayed, these pains were relieved (va'Yeledu). 1
If so, according to Gur Aryeh, the word va'Yeledu applies only to the expectant women, and not to Avimelech (thus differing from Rashi). (EK)
