Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 35:1/אבן עזרא על שמות ל״ה:א׳
אוברוך אל עליון בעוז עמו נהל ביד ציר מראהו באור שמש יהל לצוהו בהר להכין לו אהל לשבתו ככתוב בסדר ויקהל
1Blessed is the most high God Who led his people with might; Through his messenger Whose face shined as the light of the sun. He commanded Moses1 38. The printed texts say, for commanding him. on the mountain To prepare a tent for his dwelling, as stated in The Torah portion Va-Yakhel.
בויקהל. טעם ויקהל שישמעו הכל מפיו דבר המשכן שיתנדבו, ופירוש אלה הדברים המשכן וכליו לעשות, ע"כ כתוב לעשות אותם, והנה הטעם שהשם צוני שתעשו מה שאומר לכם, והוא הזהיר אתכם, אעפ"י שמעשה שמים אתם חייבים לעשות, השמרו לכם שלא תעשו מעשה בשבת והעובר בפני עדים ימיתוהו בית דין, ובמקום אחר יפרש שהוא בסקילה:
2AND MOSES ASSEMBLED. Moses assembled the people so that all of them would hear, from him, the report about the tabernacle and would donate to its construction.2 Elleh ha-devarim (these are the words) is to be interpreted as referring to the making of the tabernacle and its vessels.3 (elleh ha-devarim) which the Lord hath commanded, that ye should do (la’asot) them. Now one cannot “do” words. Hence I.E. interprets devarim as things. He explains the verse as follows: These are the things which the Lord hath commanded that you make. So Sarim. However, Krinsky claims that I.E. explains our verse as meaning: These are the words regarding the construction of the tabernacle and its vessels which the Lord hath commanded that you make. According to this interpretation the word devarim means words as it usually does. Scripture therefore reads, that ye should do them. This is its meaning:4 God commanded me that you make what I will tell you.5 Now even though you are obligated to do heaven’s work, the Lord commanded you to be careful and not do any work on the Sabbath.6 One who violates this law before witnesses will be put to death by a court of law.7 Scripture explains elsewhere8 that he will be stoned.