Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 2:14/אבן עזרא על ויקרא ב׳:י״ד
אואם תקריב מנחת בכורים. רבים אמרו שמלת אם חיוב ולפי דעתי כי אין צורך כי החיוב הוא ראשית בכורים ולא הבכורים והרוצה להביא מנחה מבכורים נדבה יביא:
1AND IF THOU BRING A MEAL-OFFERING OF FIRSTFRUITS.23. To be understood here as the first grain. Many say that the word im (if) indicates an obligation.24 as when you bring a meal offering of the first grain. See Rashi: “Im here has the meaning of ki (when), for this offering is not optional.” Rashi believes that our verse deals with the omer (measure) of barley offered on the second day of Passover. This offering was obligatory. It was offered from the very first of the harvest. See Lev. 23:9-14. I believe that there is no need for this explanation, for there is an obligation to bring the first25 of the grain26 and not the first grain. One who wishes to bring a meal offering from the first grain27 as a free will offering may do so.28
באביב. נקרא כן בעבור שהוא ראשון והוא מגזרת אב:
2CORN IN THE EAR. Aviv (com in the ear) is so called because it is first.29 thus means the first grain. It is related to the word av (father).30
גגרש. טעמו ידוע וקרוב מגזרת גרסה נפשי ואם הוא בסמ״ך:
3GROATS. The meaning of geres (groats) is known. It is close to being related to the word garesah (breaketh) in My soul breaketh (Ps. 119:20).31 means broken grain. See Rashi: “geres means breaking or grinding.” The latter is so even though the word garesah is spelled with a samekh.32 is spelled with a sin.
דכרמל. כמו וכרמל בצקלונו:
4FRESH EAR. The word karmel (fresh ear) is related to the word karmel (fresh ears) in and fresh ears of corn in his sack (II Kings 4:42).