Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 7:3/אבן עזרא על במדבר ז׳:ג׳
אצב. כמו ובצבים ובפרדים מין ממיני השוורים המושכים את העגלות ויש אומרים שהוא כטעם מלאות יותר מדאי מגזרת ואת בטנך צבה בדרך רחוקה:
1COVERED. The word tzav (covered) here is similar to the word tzabbim (Utters) in and in litters, and upon mules (Is. 66:20). The reference is to a type of ox that pulls wagons.11 (covered wagons) means wagons pulled by a tzav. This commentary renders Is. 66:20, and upon oxen and mules. Others say that eglot tzav (covered wagons) refers to a wagon that is overloaded and that tzav is connected to the word tzavah (swell) (Num. 5:21). However, this is farfetched.
בכבר בארתי בספר מאזנים שמ"ם שנים עשר דבק ומוכרת והטעם שנים ועשר ונסמך אל עשר לקצר כמו שלש עשרה וכן שלש אלה ובאה מלת שני עשר בחסרון מ"ם דרך קצרה:
2[AND TWELVE OXEN.] I have already explained in my work Moznayim12 that the mem in shenem asar (twelve) remains both in the absolute13). and in the construct.14 (twelve). When a word ending in a mem is connected to another word, the mem is dropped. Hence I.E.’s comment. The meaning of shenem asar (twelve) is two (shenayim) and ten (eser).15 is short for shenayim ve-asar, Hence the change in the vowel, shenem rather than shenayim. The word shenem is connected to aser for purposes of brevity. The same applies to shelosh elleh (these three) (Ex. 21:11).16 is in the construct with elleh. Otherwise the phrase would be written shalosh elleh. See I.E. on Ex. 21:11 (Vol. 2, p. 464). The phrase shene asar (twelve)17 without the mem is an abridged form.18 is short for shenem asar.
געל שני הנשאים. כמו לשני.
3FOR EVERY TWO OF THE PRINCES. Al shene ha-nesi’im means for every two of the princes.19 usually means on. I.E. points out that here it means for.
דאמר הכתוב וקרבנו כי כבר הזכיר המקריב והוי"ו יש לו טעם כאומר וזה קרבנו ואמר בשני הקריב את קרבנו כי כן דרך המקרא כמו ויאמר יצחק אל אברהם אביו ויאמר אבי בעבור שארכו לו הדברים וכן ויאמר המלך אחשורוש ויאמר לאסתר המלכה ולא הזכיר ביתר הנשיאים הקריב כי אחז דרך קצרה וכן לגלגלותם במספר ראובן ושמעון לבדם וכן רבים:
4[13. AND HIS OFFERING.] Scripture reads, and his offering because Scripture had already stated, And he that presented [his offering] (v. 12). The vav of ve-korbano (and his offering) means, and this was his offering. Scripture writes with regard to the second day, hikriv et korbano (he offered his offering)20. There is no reason to say he offered his offering. Scripture should have read, he offered. (v. 18), for this is the style of Scripture. Compare, And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said: ‘My father’ (Gen. 22:7). The word father is repeated because Scripture is being lengthy. Then spoke the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen (Esth. 7:5) is also similar.21 and spoke). Scripture does not mention the term hikriv (he presented) with regard to the other princes,22 for Scripture wanted to be brief. Similarly the term le-gulgelotam (by their poles) is used only in the numbering of Reuben23 and Simeon.24 There are many such examples.25