Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 25:19/אבן עזרא על שמות כ״ה:י״ט
אכרוב. הנה הכרובים על דרך האורך על כן הבדים על רוחב הארון, ומערער אמר, כי לא יקרא צלע רק על דרך האורך, וראייתו ולצלע המשכן השנית (למטה כו כ), ותשובתו בצדו, וחמשה בריחים לקרשי צלע המשכן לירכתים (שם שם כז) ומהכפורת בעצמה עשו את הכרובים על שני קצות הארון:
1CHERUB. Observe! The cherubs were positioned175 on the long side of the ark.176 The staves were therefore placed to the width of the ark.177 (I Kings 8:8). This could only have happened if the staves were placed along the width of the ark. For the long side of the ark was placed in a north-south direction in the sanctuary (so that both cherubim would face the Holy of Holies) while the curtain that separated the temple proper from the sanctuary was on the eastern wall of the sanctuary (Meijler). There is someone who disagrees and says that side refers only to the long side.178 He offers proof from and for the second side of the tabernacle (Ex. 26:20).179 However, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle (Ex. 26:27), which is right next to the verse that he quotes, destroys his proof.180 The cherubim which were upon the two edges of the ark were made out of the ark cover itself