Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 3:45/אבן עזרא על במדבר ג׳:מ״ה
אקח את הלוים. פעם אחרת כאילו אמר כאשר תקח את הלוים יהיו העודפים פדיום ונסמכה מלת פדויי אל המספר וכמוהו רבים יש מכחישים אמרו מזה נלמוד כי פדיון כל בכור חמשה שקלים ואינו ראיה כי זאת מצוה בפני עצמה והאמת דברי קבלה:
1TAKE THE LEVITES. A second time.84 It is as if it stated, when you take the Levites, then those who are over and above will be redeemed.85 The word peduye (redemption of) is connected to the number.86. Now a word is usually not in the construct with a number. We thus say, shene chakahamim (two wise men), not chakhme shenaim (wise men of two) (Filwarg). Hence I.E.’s comment. There are many other such instances. The disputers say87 (there are those who dispute). This is a term usually applied to Karaites. However, in view of the fact that what the alleged disputers say is not in contradiction to tradition, it is hard to understand why I.E. refers to them as disputers. Indeed, Motot suggests changing the reading to yesh mefareshim (some interpret), and Vat. Ebr. 38 reads, Some say. Meijler suggest that the disputers also brought proof from this that (contrary to halakha) the first-born of Levites require redemption, for the first-born of the Levites did not exempt the first-born of Israel for all time. that here we learn that the redemption price of every first-born is five shekels. However, there is no proof here,88 for this commandment stands by itself.89 The truth is in keeping with tradition.90