Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 31/אבן עזרא על במדבר ל״א
אהחלצו. חגרו חלוציכם:
1ARM YE MEN. The meaning of hechaletzu (arm ye men) is, gird your men of war.1. 38 reads gird your loins. See Job 38:3 and Is. 5:27. The word hechaletzu can also be rendered as strip. Hence I.E.’s comment (Meijler).
בנקמת ה'. היא נקמת בני ישראל בעבור עבודת כוכבים:
2TO EXECUTE THE LORD’S VENGEANCE. The reference is to Israel’s vengeance2. However, verse 3 states, to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian. Hence I.E.’s comment. because they were enticed3 into worshipping idols.
אוימסרו. כמו וינתנו וקרוב ממנו למסור מעל בה':
1SO WERE DELIVERED. Va-yimasseru means and they were delivered. The word li-mesor4 (to revolt so as to break faith). (to deliver) (v. 16) is close in meaning to it.
אוכלי הקדש. הארון:
1WITH THE HOLY VESSELS. The ark.
אויהרגו כל זכר. גדול בשנים:
1AND THEY SLEW EVERY MALE. Adult males.5
אואת צור. אבי כזבי:
1AND ZUR. The father of Cozbi.6
בבלעם בן בעור. י"א אחר ששב אל מקומו בא אל מדין כאשר שמע המגפה שהיתה בישראל בעצתו שב לקחת ממון מזקני מדין:
2BALAAM ALSO THE SON OF BEOR. Some say that after Balaam returned to his place,7 he went back to Midian as soon as he learned of the plague that struck Israel because of his advice. He came back to receive money from the elders of Midian.8. 106a.
אחילם. שם כלל והוא זהב וכסף ונחשת וברזל ובגדים:
1AND ALL THEIR GOODS. The word chelam (their goods) is a general term. It refers to gold, silver, copper, iron, and garments.
אואת כל עריהם במושבותם. כלל ופרט:
1AND ALL THEIR CITIES IN THE PLACES WHEREIN THEY DWELT. An all-inclusive term9 followed by a limiting term.10 (the places wherein they dwelt).
בטירותם. ארמוני המלכים:
2AND ALL THEIR ENCAMPMENTS. Tirotam (their encampments) means the palaces of the kings.11 means their palaces.
אויקחו את כל השלל ואת כל המלקוח. שם כלל לאדם ולבהמה:
1AND THEY TOOK ALL THE SPOIL, AND ALL THE PREY. Malko’ach (prey) is a general term for men and cattle.
אהשבי. פרט לאדם:
1THE CAPTIVES. Shevi (captive) is a specific term. It refers to humans.
בהשלל. הם הבגדים:
2THE SPOIL. Shalal (spoil) refers to garments.
אעל פקודי החיל. מגזרת יפקוד ה' כמו פקידי החיל וכן מלת קרואי כמו קריאי:
1WITH THE OFFICERS OF THE HOST. The word pekudai (officers of) is related to the word yifkod (set) in Let the Lord…set (Num. 27 :16).12 (the officers of the host) are those who are set over the host. It13. is similar to pekide he-chayil.14 Similarly, the word keru’e (the elect of) (Num. 1:16) means the same as keri’e (the elect of) (Num. 16:2).
בשרי האלפים ושרי המאות. הם מאה ושלשים ושנים:
2THE CAPTAINS OF THOUSANDS AND THE CAPTAINS OF HUNDREDS. They totaled one hundred and thirty-two.15
אהחייתם כל נקבה. הטעם אפי' אחת וכן אין כל ויתכן להיות כמשמעו כי כל נקבה החיו ורבים כן:
1HAVE YE SAVED ALL THE WOMEN ALIVE. The meaning of kol nekevah (all the women) is, even one woman.16 (all) sometimes means a part of. En kol (had nothing)17 does not always mean all things. (II Sam. 12:3)18 is similar. It is also possible that have ye saved all the women alive is to be taken literally, for they kept all the females alive. There are many such instances.19
אטף. שם כלל לקטן זכר או נקבה:
1THE LITTLE ONES. Taf (little ones) is a general term for male and female minors.
אאתם ושביכם. בעבור הכבוד השוכן בתוכם:
1YE AND YOUR CAPTIVES.20 Because of the glory which dwells among you.
אוכל מעשה עזים. כאשר פירשתי. והנה הבגד בעבור שנגע בחלל הוא טמא הטעם ועמכם כל בגד עד שתתחטאו או תהיה מלת תתחטאו יוצאה וכן והתאויתם לכם כי הגבול הוא הפעול:
1AND ALL WORK OF GOATS’ HAIR.21. Literally, goats’ work. Hence I.E.’s comments. This is to be interpreted in accordance with my earlier explanation.22 (goats) is to be rendered as goats’ hair.” In other words, “goats’ work” means a garment made out of goats’ hair. Observe, the garment23 is unclean because it touched a corpse. The meaning of our verse is, the garments shall be with you24 (and as to every garment) is, and with you all garments. I.E. reads our verse as follows: And all garments taken in spoil…[shall be with you outside of the camp] until you are purified. I.E. interprets thus because titchate’u is in the hitpa’el. Words in the hitpa’el are reflexive. until you are purified.25 (ye shall purify) as if written ad she-titchatu’e (until you are purified). On the other hand, titchate’u (ye shall purify) might be transitive.26 means ye shall purify, i.e., the garments. Ve-hitavvitem27. lakhem (and ye shall mark out) (Num. 34:10) is similar,28. for gevul (line)29 is the object.30 (and ye shall mark out) is transitive.
אויאמר אלעזר הכהן. כי חקת תורת הפרה לאלעזר נתנה ומשה אמר להם תתחטאו דרך כלל ואלעזר פירש להם:
1AND ELEAZAR THE PRIEST SAID. For the law regarding the cow31 was given to Eleazar.32 Moses told the people in a general manner, ye shall purify (v. 20). However, Eleazar explained it to them.33
אהבדיל. ידוע:
1THE TIN. The meaning of the bedil (tin) is known.34
אאך במי נדה יתחטא. היה נראה לנו כי הוא מי אפר הפרה כמו מי נדה לא זורק עליו וחז"ל אמרו כי טעמו בשיעור המים שתרחץ בהם האשה הנדה ודעתם רחבה מדעתינו:
1NEVERTHELESS IT SHALL BE PURIFIED WITH THE WATER OF SPRINKLING.35. It would have appeared to us that the reference is to the mixture of the water and tahe ashes of the cow,36 as in because the water of sprinkling37. was not dashed against him (Num. 19:13). However, our wise men of blessed memory say that its meaning is, in the amount of water in which a menstruant bathes.38 75b. Their mind is much greater than our minds.
אשא את ראש. פירשתיו:
1TAKE THE SUM. I have already explained the meaning of sa et rosh (take the sum).39
במלקוח. הבהמה:
2OF THE PREY. Malko’ach (the prey) refers to the cattle.
גהשבי. האדם ותחסר מלת ו' כמו שמש ירח:
3THAT WAS TAKEN. Ha-shevi (that was taken) refers to humans. A vav is missing,40 (the prey that was taken). I.E. says that this should be read as if written malko’ach ve-ha-shevi (the cattle and human captives). as in shemesh yare’ach (sun moon)41 (the sun and the moon). (Hab. 3:11).
דוראשי אבות העדה. הם הנשיאים:
4AND THE HEADS OF THE FATHERS’ HOUSES OF THE CONGREGATION. The reference is to the princes.42
אוחצית את המלקוח. שם כלל:
1AND DIVIDE THE PREY. Malko’ach (prey) is a general term.43
אאחד נפש. כמו נפש אחד:
1ONE SOUL. Echad nefesh means the same as nefesh echad (one soul).44 is the usual form. Hence I.E.’s comment.
אאחד אחוז. כמו והאחוז אחוז ושניהם דבקים כאשר פירשתי:
1ONE DRAWN. Achuz (drawn) is similar to ve-ha’achuz achuz (and proportionally) (I Chron. 24:6).45, slightly different from what I.E. quotes. As I have explained,46 they are connected.47 is to be interpreted as one word (Filwarg). Some interpret: verse 28 and 30 are connected to each other. See Weiser.
במכל הבהמה. כמו גמלים והנה לא לקח אלעזר מהם חלק אולי היו מעטים ועל כן לא נזכר המספר שהביאו ולא המספר שלקחו הלוים:
2EVEN OF ALL THE CATTLE. Camels.48 seems to add something new. Since cattle, flock, asses are clearly mentioned in our verse, I.E. reasons that even of all the cattle refers to camels. Look, Eleazar did not take a portion from them.49 Perhaps they were few. Hence neither the number which they brought nor the amount which the Levites took is mentioned.50
איתר הבז. חוץ מאשר אכלו על כן אמר יתר והזכיר מספרם כי היה מספר רב ולא שמענו שלל כמוהו גם כן הזכיר המכס כי גם הוא רב ומלת מכם מפועלי הכפל על משקל וממר ליולדתו והוא מגזרת תכסו על השה והטעם חלק:
1OVER AND ABOVE THE BOOTY.51 Aside from what they consumed. Scripture therefore reads yeter (above).52 The Torah mentions the amount of spoil because it consisted of a vast number. We never heard of a similar amount of spoil.53 Scripture also mentions the tribute,54 for it too was very great. The word mekhes (tribute) (v. 37) comes from a double root.55. It is vocalized like the word memer (bitterness)56. in and bitterness to her that bore him (Prov. 17:25). Mekhes is related to the word takhossu (ye shall make your count) in ye shall make your count for the lamb (Ex. 12:4). The meaning of mekhes (tribute) is a portion.
אואמר מן האדם ומן הבהמה. שם כלל:
1[BOTH OF MAN AND OF BEAST.] Scripture states both of man and of beast. Man57. It takes in males and females, adults and children. and beast58. It takes in cattle, asses, and camels. are general terms.
אהפקדים. פירשתיו:
1THE OFFICERS59.. I have already explained this term.60
אאשר בידינו. בעבור היותם ברשותם וכן ולקחת בידך עשרה אנשים:
1THAT ARE UNDER OUR CHARGE. Asher be-yadenu61 means that they were in their62 charge. Compare, yadekh (in your hands) in And take with thee ten loaves63 in your hands64 (I Kings 14:3).65
אונקרב. במחשבה או בפה:
1AND WE HAVE BROUGHT. In thought or by mouth.66 (and we brought) is a perfect. Hence its meaning must be, we dedicated.
באצעדה. היא על הזרוע כי כן כתוב:
2ARMLETS. Etzadah (armlet) is an ornament placed on the arm. This is explicitly stated in Scripture.67
גוצמיד. ליד:
3AND BRACELETS. A tzamid (bracelet) is an ornament placed on the wrist.68
דטבעת. באצבע:
4SIGNET-RINGS. Taba’at (signet ring) refers to an ornament placed on the finger.69
העגיל. באזנים כי כן כתוב אולי נקרא כן בעבור היותו עגול:
5EAR-RINGS. Agil is an earring. This is clearly stated in Scripture.70 This ornament is possibly so called because it is round (agul).
ווכומז. כחביריו:
6GIRDLES. Kumaz (girdles) is similar to its neighboring objects.71 is a type of ornament.
אכל כלי מעשה. הגיד הכ' שלא היה בהם כלי שבור:
1EVEN ALL THE WROUGHT JEWELS.72. I.E. renders this as articles fit for use. Scripture tells us that there was no broken object among them.
אאנשי הצבא בזזו איש לו. הזכיר הכתוב זה להודיע כי זהב רב וכלי מעשה בזזו כל אחד:
1FOR THE MEN OF WAR HAD TAKEN BOOTY, EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. Scripture mentions this to inform us that each one of the men of war took a vast amount of gold and wrought articles.