Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 12:6/אבן עזרא על במדבר י״ב:ו׳
אשמעו נא. כמו עתה:
1HEAR NOW MY WORDS. The word na means now.34
בנביאכם. מי שיהיה מכם נביא ה':
2A PROPHET AMONG YOU. If there be a prophet of God among you.35, which literally means your prophet. In this case, our verse reads, if your prophet will be. However, this reading makes no sense within the context of our verse. Hence I.E. maintains that im yiheyeh nevi’akhem be rendered, if there be a prophet among you.
גבמראה. פירושו אם היה נביאכם שהוא נביא ה' כמו והנבואה עודד הנביא האהלה שרה אמו כסאך אלהים עולם:
3IN A VISION The meaning of im yiheyeh nevi’akhem Adonai36 (if there be a prophet among you, I the Lord) is, if there be a prophet, one who is a prophet of God among you.37 should be read as if written nevi’akhem nevi Adonai. Compare, ve-hanevu’ah oded ha-navi38 (even the prophecy, prophecy of Oded the prophet), for the word nevu’ah has a definite article prefixed to it and thus cannot be in the construct with oded. See I.E. on Gen. 2:9 (Vol. 1, p. 54). (even the prophecy of Oded the prophet (II Chron. 15:8); and ha-ohelah sarah immo (his mother Sarah’s tent) (Gen. 24:67);39 (the tent, tent of Sarah his mother). See I.E. on Gen. 24:67 (Vol. 1, p. 243). and kisakha Elohim olam40 (Thy Throne, Throne of God for ever). See I.E. on Gen. 24:67 (Vol. 1, p. 243). (Thy throne given of God is for ever) (Ps. 45:7).
דבמראה. במראות הלילה:
4IN A VISION. In the visions of the night.
הבחלום אדבר בו. כפול כדרך הנבואות:
5I DO SPEAK WITH HIM IN A DREAM. Scripture repeats itself as is its style in prophecies.41 repeats I…do make myself known unto him in a vision.