Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 11:31/אבן עזרא על במדבר י״א:ל״א
אורוח נסע. יום שני:
1AND THERE WENT FORTH A WIND. On the second day.132
בויגז. כרת כמו גזי נזרך ומגזרת וגז צאנך:
2AND BROUGHT ACROSS. The word va-gaz (brought across) means cut. It is similar to the word gazi (cut) in Cut off thy hair (Jer. 7:29). The word gez (cutting) in and the first of the cutting of thy sheep (Deut. 18:4)133 is related to it.
גוטעם ויגז. שהיו בשפת הים רבים כחול והנה גזז מהם ומלת ויגז מפעלי הכפל כמו ויחם בשר הילד:
3Scripture reads, and cut,134 because the quail on the shore of the sea135. were as numerous as the [grains of] sand. Thus God cut off some of the quail from them.136 Va-yagaz comes from a double root.137. It is like the word va-yacham138. (waxed warm) in and the flesh of the child waxed warm (II Kings 4:34).
דויטש. כמו ויפרוש והטעם כדבר נטוש אין כח בו לסור וכן והנם נטושים על פני כל הארץ:
4AND LET THEM FALL. The meaning of va-yittosh (and let them fall) is, and they spread. The quail were spread [all around the camp] and did not have the strength to fly away.139 Compare, they were spread (netushim) abroad all over the ground (I Sam. 30:16).
הסביבות המחנה. בלבד גם הטעם שהיה כאמתים בכל מקום גבוה או שפל:
5ROUND ABOUT THE CAMP. Only.140 In addition to being spread about the camp, the quail were always about two cubits above the high and low ground.