Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 14:16/אבן עזרא על במדבר י״ד:ט״ז
איכלת. שם כמו עד יבושת המים ואיננו לשון מדה כדרך הדרש:
1ABLE. The word yekholet (able) is a noun. It is similar to the word yevoshet (dried up) in until the waters were dried up (Gen. 8:7). It does not mean a measure as in the midrashic interpretation.23 to the word yakhil (held a measure). See Kings I 7:26. According to Krinsky the reference is to Midrash Tanhumah on our verse.
בוישחטם במדבר. הטעם ויהרגם ואמר וישחטם בעבור המדבר כי שם ירעו הצאן:
2THEREFORE HE HATH SLAIN THEM IN THE WILDERNESS. The meaning of va-yishchatem is, He hath slain them. Scripture employs the term va-yishchatem24 because sheep graze in the wilderness.