Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 19:21/אבן עזרא על שמות י״ט:כ״א
ארד העד בעם פן יהרסו. כל אחד מקום מעמדו, והם חושבים כי לכבודי יעשו כן מרוב תאותם לראות כבודי ע"כ אמר משה "לראות":
1GO DOWN, CHARGE THE PEOPLE, LEST THEY BREAK THROUGH. Each one from the place209 (break through), with a singular, ve-nafal (perish). I.E. explains the combination of the plural and the singular as referring to each one of the many. Hence his interpretation that what our verse says is: lest each one of them break through and perish. where he stands, thinking that they are rendering Me honor because of their great desire to gaze at My glory. Moses therefore said, to gaze.210
בומלת בעם. מושכת אחרת וכן הוא ונפל ממנו עם רב:
2[THE PEOPLE.] The term ba-am (the people)211 is to be read as if written twice. is to be read as if written twice. Our verse is to be read as if written: and shall fall from them, many people.212 Our text literally reads, and shall fall from them many (ve-nafal mi-mennu rav). According to I.E. this should be read as if written: and shall fall from them many people.