Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 8:4/אבן עזרא על במדבר ח׳:ד׳
אוזה מעשה המנורה. הזכיר שלא נראה כמוהו:
1AND THIS WAS THE WORK OF THE CANDLESTICK. Scripture teaches that no such menorah was ever seen.7
במקשה. פירשתיו:
2BEATEN. I have already explained the meaning of mikshah (beaten).8 means equal” (I.E. on Ex. 25:31, Vol. 2, p. 547). According to I.E. the various parts of the menorah were of equal size.
גירכה. הוא על הקנה שתעמוד עליו כי כן כתוב ירכה וקנה:
3THE BASE THEREOF. This refers to the shaft upon which it stood,9 for Scripture explicitly states, its base, and its shaft (Ex. 25:31).
דפרחה. ידוע ולא היה כח בחרש חכם לעשותה כן לולי שהשם הראה אותה למשה במראה הנבואה:
4THE FLOWERS THEREOF. The meaning of the word pirchah (flowers thereof) is well known.10 If God had not shown Moses the menorah in a prophetic vision, then no wise craftsman would have had the ability to make the menorah described in Scripture.
הכן עשה. שב אל משה והטעם בצווי וכן ועשית מנורת זהב:
5SO HE MADE. This refers to Moses. The meaning of made is, made by command.11 The same applies to And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold (Ex. 25:31).
ווטעם הסמך פרשת הלוים להורות כי אהרן יתעסק בהדלקת הנר ובשאר העבודות יעזרוהו הלוים ויעמדו לפניו לעשות מה שיצוה:
6The section dealing with the Levites follows the one dealing with the lighting of the menorah to teach us that Aaron shall occupy himself with the kindling of the lamps.12 However, the Levites shall assist him in the other services and shall stand before him to do all that he commands.13