Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 23:39/אבן עזרא על ויקרא כ״ג:ל״ט

אוטעם אך. בעבור שהזכיר בפרשה שהיא קודם זאת ענוי הנפש אסר להתענות בחג הסכות כי בו כתובות ושמחת ושמחתם והיית אך שמח:

1[HOWBEIT.] Scripture reads howbeit because it mentioned the affliction of the soul in the preceding section. The Torah prohibited fasting on the festival of Sukkot, for Scripture reads with regard to this festival, And thou shalt rejoice (Deut. 16:14)…and thou shalt be altogether joyful (Deut. 16:15).

בבאספכם את תבואת הארץ. שדות וכרמים:

2WHEN YE HAVE GATHERED IN THE FRUITS OF THE LAND. From the fields and vineyards.

גתחגו. מפעלי הכפל וטעם על הזבחים:

3YE SHALL KEEP THE FEAST. Tachoggu (ye shall keep the feast) comes from a double root.²³⁷. The reference is to the sacrifices.²³⁸

דביום הראשון שבתון. שם ויחסר יהיה לכם ואילו הי׳‎ שם התאר היה ה״א תחת בי״ת:

4ON THE FIRST DAY SHALL BE A SOLEMN REST.²³⁹ Shabbaton (a solemn rest) is a noun. The words “shall be unto you” are missing.²⁴⁰ should be read as if written: On the first day shall be a solemn rest unto you. If shabbaton were an adjective, the word yom (day) would have a heh rather than a bet prefixed to it.²⁴¹ (on the first day…a solemn rest). If shabbaton were an adjective, then our verse would read ha-yom ha-rishon shabbaton (the first day a solemn rest).