Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 11:7/אבן עזרא על במדבר י״א:ז׳
אוהמן. ספר הכתוב חסרון דעת המתאוין כי המן היה כזרע גד והוא קל ללקוט והיה נראה כי הוא לבן ועוד כי יוכלו לאכלו כאשר היה גם לטחנו ברחים ולעשות עוגות או לדכותו ולבשלו בפרור ויש לו טעם נכבד כמו לשד השמן ועוד היה יורד על מקום נקי אחר שירחץ הטל את המקום:
1NOW THE MANNA. Scripture31 describes the stupidity of those who lusted, for the manna was like coriander seed, which is easy to pick, and it was easy to see, for it was white. Furthermore, they could eat it as it was. They could also grind it in mills and make cakes out of it. They could also beat it in mortars and cook it in pots. It had an especially good taste, for it tasted like [food] with the finest oil. Additionally, it came down after the dew had washed the place [upon which it fell]. It thus descended upon a clean place.
בכזרע גד. סמוך כמו נטע שעשועים:
2LIKE CORIANDER SEED. Zera (seed) is in the construct.32 rather than with a segol beneath the zayin. It is like the word neta (plant of)33 rather than with a segol beneath the nun. in the plant of His delight (Is. 5:7).
גגד י"א כסברתא וי"א חרדל מגזרת גדין ואנכי לא ידעתי:
3CORIANDER. Some identify this with kusbarta. Others say that it refers to mustard. They connect gad (coriander) with the word gidin (sinews).34 However, I do not know its meaning.