Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 31:13/אבן עזרא על שמות ל״א:י״ג
אואתה. טעם אך, בעבור אשר צויתים ככתוב למעלה אולי חשבו כי יעשו כן בשבת אמר חכם מהחכמים הגדולים, ידוע כי שבת אחת שבת ד' א"כ מה טעם שבתותי והשיב בעבור כי שתא אלפי שני הוה עלמא הנה האלף השביעי שבת, גם שנת השמיטה שבת שבתות רבות בכל שנה ודע כי לא מצאנו מפורש במועדים שבת רק שכתובה, ומחלוקת יש בפי' ממחרת השבת והאמת דברי הקבלה רק צריכים תיקון כאשר אפרש במקומו ויום הכפורים נקרא שבת רק לישראל לא לשם:
1THOU. Since God commanded Israel to construct the tabernacle, Israel might think that they should occupy themselves with the construction of the tabernacle on the Sabbath. Hence Scripture states, Verily40 (but).ye shall keep My sabbaths. One of the great sages said that it is well-known that only one Sabbath is God’s Sabbath.41 Now, if this is so, then what is the meaning of My sabbaths?42. He answered that the world will exist for six thousand years.43 31a: “The world will last six thousand years, and one thousand years it will be waste.” The Talmud there explains that Psalm 92, A psalm, a song, for the Sabbath day, refers to the latter. This “Sabbath” is called the Lord’s because on this Sabbath, God’s name alone shall be exalted. Hence our verse speaks of My sabbaths, the reference being to the Sabbath and to the seventh millennium. The seventh millennium and also the Sabbatical year are thus Sabbaths. However, My sabbaths refers to the many Sabbaths of the year.44 Note that we do not find the term shabbat used with reference to the festivals.45. The term used is shabbaton46 38. See Meijler, Netter, and Weiser. The printed texts read: “Note that we do not find the term Sabbath used with reference to the festivals. We only find what is written.” (a solemn rest).47 There is a controversy48 regarding the meaning of from the morrow after the sabbath49 (Lev. 23:15).50 in Lev. 23:15 refers to the festival of Passover. According to the Boethusians the word Sabbath is to be taken literally. See Menachot 66a. The traditional interpretation is correct. However, as I will explain in its place, it requires interpretation.51 because the festival of Passover fell on a Sabbath the year this law was given. See I.E. on Lev. 23:11. The Day of Atonement is called Israel’s Sabbath,52 (the Day of Atonement) shall be unto you a sabbath of solemn rest (shabbat shabbaton). not God’s Sabbath.53.
בכי אות היא. בסוף אפרש מה היא האות:
2FOR IT IS A SIGN. I will explain at the end of the chapter what the Sabbath signifies.
גמקדשכם. בקדשכם השבת שקדשתי ולא עשיתי ביום השבת מלאכה:
3WHO SANCTIFY YOU. When you sanctify the Sabbath, which I sanctified, and refrain from doing any work on the Sabbath day.54, etc. that follows.