Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 22:8/אבן עזרא על ויקרא כ״ב:ח׳
אוריקי מוח יפרשו הפסוק שהוא בספר יחזקאל והוא כל נבלה וטרפה מן העוף ומן הבהמה לא יאכלו הכהנים כל מה שנבלוהו וטרפוהו עופות או בהמות וזה הבל כי הנה בתורה כתוב כל נבלה וטרפה לא יאכל והטעם שאם יאכל לא ישמש:
1Those whose brains are empty explain the verse in Ezekiel, which reads, The priests shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself, or is torn, whether it be fowl or beast (Ezek. 44:31), as meaning that the priests shall not eat anything brought down or torn by animals or fowl.16). Deut. 44:21 prohibits an Israelite from eating meat which dies of itself (nevelah). Ezek 44:21 seems to limit the prohibition to eat nevalah and terefah only to kohanim. In order to harmonize Ezekiel and the Torah, there were those who claimed that Ezekiel spoke of an animal that has been properly slaughtered and then ripped apart and befouled by birds and beasts. In other words, the Torah prohibits any Israelite from eating the meat of any animal that has been ripped apart by an animal of prey, while Ezekiel adds that a kohen is also prohibited from eating kosher meat that has been befouled. It should be noted that according to this interpretation the word nevelah is not to be taken literally but means flesh which is as disgusting as meat that dies of itself (Filwarg). For other interpretations see Sarim and Meijler. However, this is nonsense, for the Torah states all that dies of itself or is torn he17. shall not eat.18 The meaning19 is if he eats20 he shall not minister.21 eats that which was torn or died of itself he is ritually unclean and shall not serve in the tabernacle or eat sacred food.