Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:7/אבן עזרא על במדבר י״ט:ז׳
אוכבס בגדיו. הכהן השורף:
1THEN THE PRIEST SHALL WASH HIS CLOTHES. The kohen who burns it.18, the reference is to the cow. However, in view of the fact that the latter is stated in the next verse, some say that the reference is to the cedar. See Filwarg and Krinsky.
בוטמא הכהן. וכבר ישב טמא ויש אומרי' שיהיה טמא עד הערב שלא יאכל מן הקדשים:
2AND THE PRIEST SHALL BE UNCLEAN. The meaning of ve-tame ha-kohen (and the priest shall be unclean) is, and the kohen has already been unclean,19 has been made unclean by performing the ritual. According to this interpretation the vav prefixed to ve-tame means “and.” Hence the meaning of ve-tame ha-kohen is: and the kohen was unclean. or, as some say, the kohen shall be unclean.20 is a future form meaning: and he shall be unclean. The vav is a conversive vav. Until the even refers to the eating of sacred food.