Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 16:2/אבן עזרא על דברים ט״ז:ב׳
אצאן. לחיוב הפסח:
1OF THE FLOCK. To fulfill the obligation of the paschal sacrifice.
בובקר. לשלמים והעד ובקר שלשת אלפים אחר שאמר הכל לפסחים על כשבים ובני עזים וכן נתנו לפסחים חמשת אלפים ובקר חמש מאות והנה זכר הפסח קודם הבקר וכן אתה וביתך וי״א כי במצרים אמר כבש או עז ועתה בקר אם יוכל והראשון הוא הנכון:
2AND THE HERD. For peace offerings.20 The fact that Scripture says, and three thousand bullocks (II Chron. 35:7), after it says, all of them for the passover-offerings, with regard to the lambs and kids (Ibid.), is proof.21 refers to peace offerings, for Scripture implies that only the lambs and kids were offered as paschal sacrifices. II Chron. 35:7 states: And Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all of them for the passover-offerings, unto all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand. It similarly tells us that they gave (unto the Levite) for the passover-offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen (Ibid., v. 9). Scripture thus mentions the Passover offerings before it mentions the cattle.22 It similarly states, thou and thy household (Deut. 14:26).23. The former applies to the paschal offering and the latter to peace offerings. Some say that Scripture commanded that a lamb or a he-goat were to be offered in Egypt.24 However, Scripture now tells us if one is able to, he may offer cattle. However, the first interpretation is correct.25