Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 40:35/אבן עזרא על שמות מ׳:ל״ה
אולא יכול משה. אז קראו השם שיכנס אל אהל והיה מדבר עם השם פנים אל פנים במקום שהיה נכנס כהן גדול פעם אחת בשנה עם ענן הקטרת כי משה בן בית הוא, והוצרכתי לומר ככה כי משה שם הלוחות בארון, ושם הכפורת ששם הכרובים על הארון ועליהם תמיד הכבוד והנה מה נעשה כאשר יורידו אהרן ובניו פרכת המסך מחוץ מקום הארון איך יגשו אליו, על כן אמרתי כי משה לבדו היה נכנס לפנים מהפרכת ואהרן ובניו יורידו המסך הנקרא פרכת, ומשה היה לוקח המסך ומכסה בו מיד את ארון העדות שלא יראוהו אהרן ובניו, ואמר הכתוב וכסו בו, כי היו עוזרים אותו ויש אומרים כי הכהנים מכסים הארון ואין פניהם לנכח הארון, ובעבור שמצא בו כתוב ואש תהיה לילה בו (פ' לח), ואמר לכל מסעיהם גם זה יורה, כי יש פעמים שיסע הענן בלילה, והנה לא מצאנו כתוב שנסעו בלילה והאומר זה יפרש או יומם ולילה יום אחד והנה מה יעשה במלת מסעיהם ולא אמר מחניהם, רק פירושו, או יומם ולילה, או יומם או לילה, כמו ומקלל אביו ואמו מות יומת (למעלה כא יז), והוצרכתי לי כל זה בעבור שראיתי כתוב בתפלת משה על דבר המרגלים, ובעמוד ענן אתה הולך לפניהם יומם, ובעמוד אש לילה (במד' יד יד):
1AND MOSES WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER. Then God called Moses and told him to enter the tent. Moses used to speak with God face to face in the place where the high priest entered once a year with a cloud of incense,114 because Moses was, as it were, a member of the house.115 I was forced to say this116 because Moses put the tablets in the ark. He similarly placed over the ark the covering with the cherubim on top. God’s glory was always upon them.117 Now what happened when Aaron and his sons took down the veil of the screen118 outside the place where the ark was kept?119. How did they approach it?120 I therefore say that Moses alone entered beyond the veil. Aaron and his sons then took down the screen, which is called the veil.121 (the veil of the screen) as the parokhet, that is, the screen. Moses used to take the screen and immediately cover the ark of the covenant with it so that Aaron and his sons would not see it. Scripture writes, and they shall cover the ark of testimony (Num. 4:5)122 because they assisted Moses. Others say that the priests covered the ark but did not face it.123 Scripture states, and there was fire therein by night, and then goes on to say, throughout all their journeys (v. 38). This124 also indicates that at times the cloud journeyed at night.125 Now we do not find it written that they journeyed at night.126 The one who says this127 explains or if it continued by day and by night (Num. 9:21) as referring to one day.128 (o yomam va-laylah), when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Now o yomam va-laylah can be translated in two ways: a) Or it continued by day and by night. b) Or it continued for a day or for a night. According to the latter translation our verse reads, “or if it continued by day or by night (o yomam va-laylah) when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.” Thus the verse teaches that Israel at times traveled at night. Hence those who maintain that Israel did not journey at night interpret o yomam va-laylah as referring to a 24-hour period, that is, a day and a night. This opinion interprets o yomam va-laylah as: or it continued by day and by night, that is, a full day consisting of a day and a night. Now what will they do with the phrase their journeys (v. 38)? Scripture does not read: throughout all their encampments.129 The latter implies that Israel journeyed at night. The correct meaning of or…by day and by night is: or day and night; or: or day or night.130), or day and night, or, or day or night.” This reading is a bit difficult. I.E. is trying to prove that Israel journeyed at night. Hence why mention the interpretation, or day and night (see note 122). Indeed, Vat. Ebr. 38 reads, “Its meaning is (u-pirusho), or day or night.” If we emend pirusho to pirush then our text reads, “The meaning of (u-pirush) Or…by day and by night is: or day or night.” This is probably the reading upon which our text is based, for pirusho seems to be a scribal error for pirush. It is similar to And he that curseth his father and his mother,131 (his father and his mother). shall surely be put to death (Ex. 21:17).132 sometimes has the meaning of or. Similarly, yomam va-laylah is not to be rendered day and night but rather day or night. I had to say this because I noticed that the prayer which Moses uttered on the occasion of the scouts states, and thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night (Num. 14:14).133 also refers to and in a pillar of fire by night.