Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 31:3/אבן עזרא על במדבר ל״א:ג׳
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.