An Answer to Rav Hirsch's Question

Vayikra 11:23 says, "But every winged creeping thing that hath four feet shall be an abomination unto you."

R' Hirsch asks, " We have already remarked on v. 20 on the difficulty of the fact that, as far as we know, no winged insect has less than six feet. The difficulty is greater inasmuch as in רבי in  ת"כ   , in explaining this verse says: אמ יש לו חמש הרי זה טהור. An explanation in accordance with the actual facts is very much to be desired."

The reader takes pause over the writer's humility in putting forth his question without even the window dressing of an attempted answer. He sounds almost as if he asking his readership for some assistance. Every day R' Hirsch answers our questions. We hope that the master will be pleased the following proposal from הרב אברהם קורמן

יש לארבה ארבע רגלים רגילות. אבל הנקראים "כרעים" הם נוספות ותלויים בגובה הגוף, למעלה מתליית שאר ארבע הרגלים.

בספרו "יציאת מצרים" עמ' 260

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