Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Numbers 1:16/אבן עזרא על במדבר א׳:ט״ז

אקרואי העדה. הטעם שהעדה לא יעשו דבר עד שיקראום:

1THESE WERE THE ELECT OF THE CONGREGATION. The meaning of keru’e ha-edah (the elect of the congregation)²⁵ is that the congregation does nothing unless they are called.

במטות אבותם. הטעם על השבטים והנה כל אחד נשיא שבט:

2THE TRIBES OF THEIR FATHERS. The meaning of mattot avotam is the tribes of their fathers. Thus each one²⁶ was prince of a tribe.

גראשי אלפי ישראל. כל אחד ראש על כל אלפי השבט כי יש שר לאלף:

3THEY WERE THE HEADS OF THE THOUSANDS OF ISRAEL. Each one was a leader over all the thousands that comprised a tribe, for there was also a chief over one thousand.²⁷ (chief). See Ex. 18:21, sarei alafim (rulers over thousands). Also see I Sam. 17:8, sar ha-elef (the captain of their thousand). Each one listed in verses 5-15 was the head of all the captains of the thousands of their respective tribes.