Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 16:2/אבן עזרא על ויקרא ט״ז:ב׳
אאל הקדש. כנגד אהל מועד:
1INTO THE HOLY PLACE. In contrast to the tent of meeting.9 here refers to the place that is considered holy with regard to the tent of meeting, i.e., it is holier than the tent of meeting.
בכי בענן. הטעם שלא יכנס כי אם בקטרת שיעשה ענן ולא יראה הכבוד פן ימות. והנה טעמו לא אהיה נראה אליו כי אם בענן ויש אומרים כי פירוש כי בענן בעבור כי אני דר בענן על הכפורת כטעם ה׳ אמר לשכון בערפל:
2FOR I APPEAR IN THE CLOUD.10, which I.E. renders: for only with a cloud. It means Aaron shall only enter with incense. He shall produce smoke so that God’s glory will not be seen, and as a result he dies.11,: for only with a cloud may I be seen over the ark-cover. Note, the meaning of ki be-anan era’eh (for I appear in the cloud upon the ark-cover) is, I will not appear to him except through the agency of a cloud.12 means, I may only be seen through the smoke of the incense. There are those who say that the meaning of ki be-anan era’eh al ha-kapporet (for I appear in the cloud) is, because I dwell in a cloud upon the ark-covering.13 (v. 2). For I appear in the cloud is similar in meaning to The Lord hath said that He would dwell in the thick darkness (I Kings 8:12).