Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah

Ibn Ezra on Numbers 15:2/אבן עזרא על במדבר ט״ו:ב׳

אכי תבואו אל ארץ מושבתיכם. נסמכה זאת הפרשה בעבור שנחלשו ויתאבלו לנחם הבנים להודיעם כי יבאו אל הארץ והנכון בעבור שנשאו קול כל העדה (וחטאו) ונסלח להם בעבור תפלת משה אמר וכי תשגו והעד ונסלח להם והוצרך להזכיר משפט מנחות כל עולה וזבח ובסוף והנפש אשר תעשה ביד רמה רמז למעשיהם והזכיר דבר המקושש כי עשה ביד רמה ומרוב חמלת השם על ישראל שם הציצית לזכר שלא יעשה האדם ביד רמה או שלא ישכח:

1WHEN YE ARE COME INTO THE LAND OF YOUR HABITATIONS. This chapter follows [the one dealing with the spies] in order to console the children by informing them that they would enter the land, for the Israelites grew weak and mourned.¹ However, the real reason that this chapter follows the one dealing with the spies, is because all the congregation shouted and sinned.² God forgave their sin because of the prayer of Moses.³ Scripture says, And when ye shall err (15:22).⁴ And they shall be forgiven (15:25) is proof of this.⁵ Scripture found it necessary to mention the law of the meal offering and of all burnt offerings and sacrifices.⁶ At the end,⁷ it states, But the soul that doeth aught with a high hand (v. 30). The latter alludes to Israel’s deeds.⁸ Scripture mentions the gatherer of wood (verses 32-34)⁹ because he acted with a high hand. God designated the fringes as a sign¹⁰ because of His great pity on Israel, so that a person will not act with a high hand or¹¹ forget.¹² issues. Thus in regard to the law concerning fringes, I.E. notes it is possible that Biblical rules require that the corners of garments be left unwoven so that their threads hang down to form fringes. He further notes that the law of fringes applies to pants. However, he then goes on to say that this interpretation is of no consequence, for the rabbis say that the fringes are specially prepared threads which are placed on the corner of any garment having four corners. Therefore pants are not included in the law of fringes.