Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 23:18/אבן עזרא על במדבר כ״ג:י״ח
אוישא משלו. הוא כתועפת ראם כלביא יקום:
1AND HE TOOK UP HIS PARABLE. The reference is to like the lofty horns of the wild-ox (v. 22) and a people that riseth up as a lioness (v. 24).
בהאזינה עדי. מגזרת עד וכן לא שבתם עדי והטעם כפול. וי"ו בנו בעור נוסף כמו למעינו מים:
2GIVE EAR UNTO ME. The word adai (unto me) is related to the word ad (unto). The word adai (unto Me) in Yet have ye not returned unto Me (Amos 4:6) is similar. Scripture repeats itself.72 The vav in beno tzippor (son of Zippor) is superfluous.73 means son of, not his son. It is similar to the vav of le-mayeno (a fountain) in into a fountain of waters (Ps. 114:8).74 in this verse means a fountain of, not a fountain.
גוטעם לא איש אל. בעבור שאמר וקבנו לי משם וכבר אמר לא קבה אל:
3[GOD IS NOT A MAN.] Balaam said this in response to Balak’s request, and curse me them from thence (v. 13). However, Balaam had already told him, God hath not cursed (v. 8).75