Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 6:2/אבן עזרא על במדבר ו׳:ב׳
איפלא. יפריש או יעשה דבר פלא כי רוב העולם הולכים אחר תאותם:
1SHALL CLEARLY UTTER A VOW. The word yafli means to set aside. On the other hand, it might mean doing something out of the ordinary,1 is related to the word pele (wonder). for most people follow their lusts.2
בנדר נזיר. פירוש נדר להיות נזיר כי נזיר הוא תאר השם:
2THE VOW OF A NAZIRITE. Neder nazir means an oath to be a Nazirite, for the word nazir (Nazirite) is an adjective.3 modifies the person who takes the oath, for according to I.E. the meaning of neder nazir is to be a Nazirite person. See Weiser. The word ve-yenazeru (that they separate) (Lev. 22:13) is related to it.
גנזיר מגזירת וינזרו שירחיק מהתאות ועשה זה לעבודת השם כי היין משחית הדעת ועבודת השם ובפרשת כי תצא מחנה ארמוז לך סוד:
3[TO CONSECRATE HIMSELF UNTO THE LORD.]4. This literally means to separate himself unto the Lord. Hence I.E.’s comment. To distance himself from lust. He does this in order to serve God, for wine destroys reason and the proper service of God.5 means to separate (himself from wine) in order to serve God. I will hint at a secret in the chapter that opens with When thou goest forth in camp against thine enemies (Deut. 23:10).