Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 25:22/אבן עזרא על שמות כ״ה:כ״ב
אונועדתי. לא אבין איך יכחיש זה הפסוק, פסוק וידבר ה' אליו מאהל מועד לאמר (ויקרא א א) כי אהל מועד שם כולל את המשכן ואת כל אשר בו ואין צורך למכריע:
1AND THERE I WILL MEET WITH THEE. I do not understand in what way this verse contradicts And the Lord called unto Moses, and spoke unto him out of the tent of meeting, saying (Lev. 1:1).187 (Ex. 25:22). However, another verse reads, and spoke unto him out of the tent of meeting, (that is, the tabernacle outside of the curtain) saying (Lev. 1:1). We thus find two verses contradicting each other. A third verse comes and reconciles them; viz., And when Moses went into the tent of meeting…then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the ark-cover (Num. 7:29). Moses entered the tabernacle and when he came to the entrance a Voice descended from heaven toward (the place) between the cherubim, and from thence it went forth and was heard by Moses in the tent of meeting.” For the phrase tent of meeting takes in the tabernacle and everything in it.188 There is no need for a clarifying189 verse.190
בוטעם וי"ו ואת כל אשר אצוה ככה הוא מלת ודברתי משרת בעבור אחרת כאילו כתוב ודברתי אתך מעל הכפרת מבין שני הכרובים, ולא הזכיר הדבר המדובר, והטעם שאדבר אתך להודיע סודי ולהשיב על שאלתך, ודברתי את כל אשר אצוה אותך אל בני ישראל, ויש לשאול למה הזכיר השם הארון בתחלה, כי כתוב את תבנית המשכן ואת תבנית כל כליו (למעלה פ' ט), ומנהג הלשון לבאר האחרון שהשלים בו, כמו ואתן ליצחק את יעקב ואת עשו, ואתן לעשו (יהושע כד ד), על כן החל ופירש כלי המשכן והחל מהנכבד ואחר כן השולחן והמנורה, ואחר כן ואת המשכן תעשה והנה משה כאשר הקהיל כל העדה החל לומר להם בתחלה המשכן והאהל ואחר כן הארון ואין צורך שילמוד אדם את משה, ויש לתמוה למה לא הזכיר מזבח הקטרת והתשובה בדרך משל, כי הכבוד לא ימוש על כן הארון דמות כסא, והנה מנורה ושולחן ערוך על כן לא הזכיר מזבח הקטרת רק אחר מזבח העולה, בעבור שיזהיר, לא תעלו עליו עולה ומנחה ונסך (למטה ל ט), ומשה הזכירו לבני ישראל אחר המנורה וכן במעשה:
2[OF ALL THINGS WHICH I WILL GIVE THEE IN COMMANDMENT UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.] The word et191 has no translatable meaning. It serves to connect a verb with the direct object. In this case, it connects ve-dibbarti (and I will speak) with what follows et. in and (ve-et) of all things which I will give thee in commandment has a vav placed before it192 before the word et. We might also note that Rashi’s Torah scrolls also read ve-et. Rashi considered this vav superfluous. for the following reason.193 our verse reads: and I will speak with thee from above the ark-cover, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. With the vav, our verse reads: and I will speak with thee from above the ark-cover, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of testimony, and of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. Hence I.E.’s comment. The word ve-dibbarti (and I will speak) is to be read as if written twice.194 Our verse is to be read as if written: and I will speak with thee from above the ark cover, from between the two cherubim. Scripture does not mention what will be spoken.195 did not have a vav before it. In the latter case, part 2 of the verse would go on to explain what God spoke to Moses about. Its meaning is, I will speak with you in order to inform you of My secret and to answer your questions.196 And I will speak to you of all the things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.197. We have reason to ask, why did God mention the ark first198 when Scripture reads, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture thereof (v. 9).199 The answer is that it is linguistic style to explain the last item with which one has closed.200 Compare, And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau; and I gave unto Esau mount Seir (Josh. 24:4).201 God therefore began with an explanation of the tabernacle’s furniture.202 God started with the most important piece of furniture203 and then went on to the explain the table and the menorah. After this, God said, Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle (Ex. 26:1). Now when Moses gathered the congregation he spoke to them about the tabernacle and the tent first.204 Then he told them about the ark. There was no need for anyone to teach Moses.205 There is reason to wonder why God didn’t mention the altar of incense.206 The answer by way of parable is:207 (v. 8). Hence it had to be suitably furnished. God’s glory did not depart [from the tabernacle].208 The ark was therefore in the form of a throne.209 Observe, a menorah and a prepared table [were placed in the sanctuary].210 God did not mention the altar of incense until He first mentioned the altar of the burnt offering, because God wanted to issue the command, You shall offer no…burnt-offering, nor meal-offering; and ye shall pour no drink-offering thereon (Ex. 30:9).211 Moses mentioned the incense altar to the children of Israel following the menorah.212 The incense altar was similarly constructed after the menorah.213