Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 25:18/אבן עזרא על במדבר כ״ה:י״ח
אכי צוררים הם לכם. כי הצרו לכם:
1FOR THEY HARASS YOU. Ki tzorerim41 is a present form. However, Scripture tells of what the Midianites did to the Israelites. Hence I.E.’s comment. hem lakhem (for they harass you) is to be rendered: for they harassed you.
בבנכליהם. במחשבתם הרעה מגזרת ויתנכלו אותו:
2BY THEIR WILES. Be-nikhlehem (by their wiles) means by their evil thoughts. Be-nikhlehem is related to the word va-yitnakkelu (they conspired) in they conspired against him (Gen. 37:18).42.
גועל דבר כזבי. ועוד כי יחשבו לעשות לכם רע בעבור כזבי אחותם:
3AND IN THE MATTER OF COZBI. Furthermore, they intend to harm you because of what happened to Cozbi their sister.