Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 26:9/אבן עזרא על שמות כ״ו:ט׳
אחמש. בשו"א ופת"ח דרך קצרה, כמו שלש סאים (ברא' יח ו):
1FIVE. The word chamesh (five) is vocalized with a sheva34. and a pattach.35. I.E.’s point is that the word chamesh is in the construct. It is an abridged form,36, (vocalized with a kamatz beneath the chet), rather than chamesh (vocalized with a chataf pattach beneath the chet) ha-yeri’ot, for the construct indicates possession. Thus chayyat ha-sadeh (animals of the field) is short for chayyot shel hasadeh (animals of the field). However, since a number cannot be possessed, it is incorrect to say chamesh shel ha-yeri’ot. Thus chamesh ha-yeriyot is not short for chamesh shel ha-yeri’ot. Hence is not a true construct form. It is merely a quicker way of saying chamesh (vocalized with a kamatz beneath the chet) ha-yeri’ot. like the word shelosh37 is in the construct with se’im. (three) in shelosh se’im (three measures) (Gen. 18:6).38 (vocalized with a kamatz beneath the shin) ha-se’im rather than shelosh (vocalized with a sheva beneath the shin) se’im.
בוהנה כאשר כפל את היריעה הששית נשאר חציה בסוף על כן כתוב חצי היריעה העודפת (פ' יב), ואין צורך להזכיר, כי אורך היריעות לרוחב המשכן והנה רוחב המשכן עשר אמות, ותשע אמות היה גובה שני צדי המשכן, על כן כתוב והאמה מזה (פ' יג) לכסות המשכן:
2[AND SHALT DOUBLE OVER THE SIXTH CURTAIN IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE TENT.] Observe, when the sixth curtain was doubled,39 half of a curtain40 was left at the end.41 Hence Scripture states, the half curtain that remaineth over (v. 12). There is no need42 to mention that the length of the curtains was placed over the width of the tabernacle. Now the width of the tabernacle was ten cubits, and the height of its two sides was nine cubits.43 Scripture therefore states, And the cubit on the one side (v. 13) to cover the tabernacle.44