Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 10:12/אבן עזרא על שמות י׳:י״ב
אבארבה. אמר ר' משה הכהן, כי טעם בארבה, שארבה שם במטה, ואין זה נכון רק הטעם בארבה, בעבור שיבא:
1FOR THE LOCUSTS. Rabbi Moses Ha-Kohen says that ba-arbeh (for the locusts) indicates that Moses placed a locust on the rod.70 of ba-arbeh to mean with. Compare, the bet in be-tuppim u-vimcholot (with timbrels and with dances) (Jud. 11:34). Rabbi Moses interprets our verse as follows: Stretch out thy hand with the locust over the land of Egypt. However, this is incorrect. The correct interpretation of ba-arbeh is: so that the locusts would come.71 has the meaning of because. Compare, ish be-chet’o (each because of his own sin) (Deut. 24:16).