Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 4:6/אבן עזרא על במדבר ד׳:ו׳
אונתנו עליו. על המסך ויש אומרים כי ישוב עליו אל מלת את שהוא את פרכת וכמוהו ותצפנו:
1AND SHALL PUT THEREON. On the cover.4 (and put thereon). However, parokhet is feminine. Thus our text should read aleha rather then alav. Hence I.E. notes than alav refers to the word masakh (covering/screen). Others say that the word alav (thereon) refers to the word et (v. 5), which precedes parokhet (the veil).5 (the sign of the accusative) serves both the masculine and the feminine. Hence I.E. believes that either a masculine or a feminine proportional pronoun may follow a word which has et in front of it (Filwarg). Thus the word alav can refer to et parokhet. Va-titzpeno (and hid him)6 (Josh. 2:6) is similar.7, for the reference is to the two spies sent by Joshua. Now hid him is preceded by et shene ha-anashim (the two men). However, since the word et is used both with the singular and the plural, a singular or a plural may follow a phrase preceded by et.
בופרשו בגד כליל תכלת. כלו תכלת:
2AND SHALL SPREAD OVER IT A CLOTH ALL OF BLUE. Kelil tekhelet means all of blue.
גמלמעלה. י"א על כסוי עור תחש והנכון בעיני שפירושו וכבר פרשו בגד כליל תכלת מלמעלה לפרכת המסך ואם לדרך כבוד יתכן גם הראשון ועור תחש מפני הגשם והאבק:
3OVER IT. Some say, over the covering of tachash (sealskin). However, it appears to me that its meaning is, and they had already spread a cloth all of blue over the screen covering.8 (and shall spread) is a pluperfect and is to be rendered, and they had already spread. According to this interpretation, the blue cover was placed on the ark, and the tachash (sealskin) covering was placed over the blue covering. If the blue cover was used in order to glorify the ark, then the first interpretation appears correct.9 The tachash covering served to protect [the ark] from the rain and the dust.10
דושמו בדיו. הנה יסירום עד שיכסו הארון ויש אומרים שמו בדיו על כתפות הנושאים:
4AND SHALL SET THE STAVES THEREOF. Note, they removed the staves until the ark was covered.11 Some say that they shall set the staves upon the shoulders of the bearers.12 is, they shall set the staves upon the bearers of the ark. Thus our verse does not imply that the staves were ever removed from the ark. See Tosafot Yoma 72a.