## Ibn Ezra on Leviticus Chapter 9

###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:1:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:1:1)

**ויהי ביום השמיני.** היה נראה לנו כי ביום השמיני שמיני לניסן כי המשכן הוקם באחד לחדש רק המעתיקים אמרו שהיה ראש חדש ניסן ובשבעת ימי המלואים היה משה מקים את המשכן בכל יום וסותרו כדי להרגיל בו וללמד:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE EIGHTH DAY. It would have appeared to us that the *eighth day* is the eighth day of Nisan, for the tabernacle was erected on the first day of the month.¹ However, the transmitters of tradition² said that the reference is to the first of Nisan.³ 7:1. Moses erected and took apart the tabernacle on each one of the seven days of consecration⁴ to train and teach.⁵ how to do it.

footnotes:
¹ See Ex. 40:2.
² The Rabbinic sages.
³ See Seder Olam
⁴ See I.E. on Ex. 40:2 (Vol. 2, p. 754).
⁵ The kohanim


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:1:2
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:1:2)

**קרא משה לאהרן ולבניו.** ויצאו מפתח אהל מועד או העדה נכנסה אל החצר:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THAT MOSES CALLED AARON AND HIS SONS. And they went out from the opening of the tent of meeting.⁶ left the opening of the tent of meeting where they had to stay during the seven days of consecration (Lev. 8:35) and went into the camp of Israel to meet the elders (Filwarg). On the other hand, the congregation entered the courtyard.⁷. During the seven days of consecration the *kohanim* and the elders were separated. On the eighth day Moses spoke to them as a group. Hence the two possibilities offered by I.E. as to how they met.

footnotes:
⁶ The kohanim
⁷ On the other hand, the elders may have entered the temple courtyard to meet the kohanim


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:2:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:2:1)

**עגל בן בקר.** בשבעת ימי המלואים היה פר חטאת גם איל לעולה ולא הזכיר עם עגל בן בקר אם הוא בן שנה והקרוב אלי שפר כמו עגל בלא זכר שנה:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
A BULL-CALF.⁸. During the seven days of consecration a bullock and also a ram were offered for a burnt offering.⁹ Scripture does not mention whether the bull-calf was “of the year.”¹⁰, which means less than a year old. Scripture reads, *egel ben bakar*. It does not read, *egel ben shanah* (a calf of the year). It appears to me that a bullock¹¹. and a bull-calf¹². are one and the same when the term “year”¹³ is unmentioned.¹⁴ and *par* refer to a bull over the age of one. Thus the bull offered during the seven days of consecration and the one offered on the eighth day were similar. They were both over a year old.

footnotes:
⁸ Hebrew, egel ben bakar
⁹ See Lev. 8:2,14,18.
¹⁰ Hebrew, ben shanah
¹¹ Hebrew, par
¹² Hebrew, egel
¹³ That is, “of the year.”
¹⁴ In other words, the terms egel


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:2:2
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:2:2)

**תמימים.** על העגל ועל האיל ופרי המלואים לחטא את המזבח וזה העגל לכפר על אהרן וכבר פירשתי זאת המלה:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
WITHOUT BLEMISH. This refers to the bull-calf and the ram.¹⁵ (without blemish). The bullocks of consecration¹⁶ were to purify the altar. This bull-calf was to atone (*le-khapper*) for Aaron.¹⁷, “Let this calf come and atone for the making of the calf.” However, I.E. explicitly rejects this interpretation in Ex. 31:18 (Vol. 2, p. 656). I have already explained this word.¹⁸. See I.E. on Lev. 1:4, *“Le-khapper alav*: To serve as a ransom for the punishment due to him.”

footnotes:
¹⁵ Hence Scripture employs the plural temimim
¹⁶ See Ex. 29:36.
¹⁷ For any sin or sins that Aaron may possibly have committed. Some interpret for making the golden calf (Weiser). See Sifra
¹⁸ The meaning of le-khapper


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:3:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:3:1)

**שעיר עזים לחטאת.** על הקהל ועגל שאין לו שנה תמימה וכן כבש לעולה:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
A HE-GOAT FOR A SIN-OFFERING. For the congregation. Also [for the congregation] a calf that has not reached the age of a complete year,¹⁹. and a lamb for a burnt offering.

footnotes:
¹⁹ For Scripture reads, bene shanah


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:4:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:4:1)

**ושור ואיל.** גדולים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND AN OX AND A RAM. Fully grown.²⁰ and *ayil*, not *par* and *keves*.

footnotes:
²⁰ For Scripture reads, shor


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:4:2
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:4:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:4:2)

**ומנחה.** היא סלת לכל אחד ואחד:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND A MEAL-OFFERING. Of fine flour for each and every one.²¹. Hence I.E.’s comment.

footnotes:
²¹ For each sacrifice. Scripture employs the singular minchah


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:6:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:6:1)

וטעם **ויאמר משה.** כאשר הראיתיך. ואשאל אותה וטעמו כבר אמר להם משה זה הדבר עשו שיתנו שעיר ועגל וכבש ושור ואיל אז יראה לכם כבוד ה׳‎ והטעם על האש שיצא:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
[6. AND MOSES SAID.] *Va-yomer mosheh* (and Moses said) is to be understood in a manner similar to that of *va-eshal otah* (and I asked her) (Gen. 24:47). I have pointed out to you how the latter is to be interpreted.²² (and I asked her) is, I had already asked. See I.E. on Gen. 24:14 (Vol. 1, p. 236). The meaning of our clause is that Moses had already said to them, *This is the thing which the Lord commanded that ye should do*, namely, that you offer a he-goat (v. 3), a calf (v. 3), a lamb (v. 3), and an ox and a ram (v. 4);²³ before Israel *brought that which Moses commanded before the tent of meeting*. then the glory of God will then appear to them. The latter refers to the fire that came forth from the Lord.²⁴

footnotes:
²² According to I.E. the meaning of va-eshal otah
²³ What is recorded in verse 6 occurred before that which is recorded in verse 5. In other words, Moses told the Israelites, This is the thing that the Lord commanded…
²⁴ See verses 23 and 24.


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:7:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:7:1)

**וכפר בעדך ובעד העם.** שהיא מצוה שתכפר על נפשך ועל כל הקהל ובפר החטאת תכפר בעדך ואחר כך תעשה קרבן העם וכפר בעדם כי לא יוכל אדם לכפר על אחד עד היותו טהור מכל חטא:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND MAKE ATONEMENT FOR THYSELF, AND FOR THE PEOPLE. There is a divine command that you make atonement for yourself and for all of the people. You will atone for yourself with a sin offering bullock. Afterwards you will atone for the congregation by offering the people’s sacrifice, for a person cannot atone for another unless he has been purified from all sin.


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:8:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:8:1)

**אשר לו.** משלו היה וכן פר יום הכפורים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
WHICH WAS FOR HIMSELF. It came from his own property. So too the bullock of the Day of Atonement.²⁵. See Lev. 16:3.

footnotes:
²⁵ Offered by the kohen gadol


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:9:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:9:1)

**ואת הדם.** הנשאר יצק:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THE BLOOD. He poured out the blood which remained.


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:10:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:10:1)

**ואת החלב** המכסה. ואשר על הקרב ועל הכליות:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
BUT THE FAT. Which covered the innards, which was upon the innards, and which was on the kidneys.²⁶

footnotes:
²⁶ See I.E. on Lev. 8:16.


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:12:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:12:1)

**וימציאו.** מגזרת מצא שמצאו בשעת הצורך:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND…DELIVERED UNTO HIM The word *va-yamtzi’u* (and…delivered unto him) is related to the word *matza* (found). Aaron found the blood when it was needed.²⁷ is a *hifil*, meaning, and they caused it to be found.

footnotes:
²⁷ In other words, va-yamtzi’u


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:15:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:15:1)

**ויקרב את קרבן העם.** על המזבח:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND THE PEOPLE’S OFFERING WAS PRESENTED.²⁸ (literally, and he brought). Thus our clause literally reads, And he brought the people’s offering. On the altar.²⁹ to *el*. In this case I.E. reads, “to the altar.” In other words, Scripture first tells us that the people’s offering was brought to the altar and then goes on to tell us how Aaron and his sons dealt with it

footnotes:
²⁸ Hebrew, va-yakrev
²⁹ In other words, our clause tells us in general terms that Aaron brought the people’s offering on the altar. It then backtracks and describes the aforementioned in detail. Meijler suggests emending al


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:15:2
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:15:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:15:2)

**ויחטאהו כראשון.** הוא עגל החטאת:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND OFFERED IT FOR SIN, AS THE FIRST. This refers to the sin offering bull-calf.³⁰ means as the first sin offering.

footnotes:
³⁰ In other words, as the first


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:15:3
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:15:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:15:3)

וטעם **ויחטאו.** כפר בו החטאת:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
The meaning of *va-yechattehu* (and offered it for sin) is, to atone with it for the sin.³¹

footnotes:
³¹ See I.E. on Lev. 6:19.


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:20:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:20:1)

**וישימו את החלבים.** עם הכליות ויותרת הכבד כאשר הראיתיך:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND THEY PUT THE FAT. With the kidneys and the lobe of the liver, as I have shown you.³²

footnotes:
³² That Scripture is elliptical. See I.E. on verse 10 and on Lev. 8:26.


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:21:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:21:1)

**ואת החזות.** חזה השור גם חזה האיל:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND THE BREASTS. The breast of the ox and the breast of the ram.


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:21:2
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:21:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:21:2)

**ואת שוק הימין.** מזה ומזה ושוק סמוך אל הפאה או הצד:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND THE RIGHT THIGH.³³. From this one and that one.³⁴ The word *shok* (thigh) is connected to the word *ha-pe’ah* (corner), or *ha-tazad* (side).³⁵ or *shok ha-pe’ah ha-yamin*. In other words, *shok ha-yamin* is not to be rendered the *right thigh*, for *ha-yamin* (the right) is not an adjective describing *shok* (thigh). If *ha-yamin* (the right) were an adjective describing *shok* (thigh), our phrase would have read, *ha-shok ha-yamin*, rather than *shok ha-yamin*.

footnotes:
³³ Hebrew, shok ha-yamin
³⁴ From the ox and the ram.
³⁵ Our verse should be interpreted as if it read, shok ha-tzad ha-yamin


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:22:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:22:1)

**וישא אהרן את ידיו אל העם.** אל נכחם וקדמוננו העתיקו מכאן צורת נשיאות כפים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND AARON LIFTED UP HIS HANDS TOWARD³⁶ (literally, to). THE PEOPLE. Toward them.³⁷ means towards the people. We have followed the reading in *Vat. Ebr*. 38. The *Mikra’ot Gedolot* editions of I.E. read, *ra’a nikhecham*. The word *ra’a* has not been explained. It appears to be a copyist’s error. See Filwarg and Weiser. From here our ancients transmitted to us the form taken by the “raising of the hands.”³⁸ lift their hands when bestowing the priestly benediction. See *Sotah* 38a.

footnotes:
³⁶ Hebrew, el
³⁷ In other words, el ha-am
³⁸ According to the sages we learn here that the kohanim


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:22:2
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:22:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:22:2)

**וירד.** כאשר הראיתיך רבים וכבר ירד מעשות חטאת העם ועולתם והשלמים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND HE CAME DOWN. *Va-yered* (and he came down) is to be understood in accordance with what I have previously pointed out to you many times.³⁹ often introduces the pluperfect. See I.E. on verse 6. It means that Aaron had already come down⁴⁰ from offering the people’s sin offering, burnt offering, and peace offering.

footnotes:
³⁹ That the vav
⁴⁰ Before blessing the people.


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:22:3
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:22:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:22:3)

וטעם **וירד.** בעבור המזבח שהיה שלש אמות קומתו ואחר כן באו משה ואהרן אל אהל מועד ויתכן שבאו להתפלל על האש שתצא ובצאתם ברכו שניהם את העם:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
Scripture reads came down because the altar was three cubits in height.⁴¹ After this,⁴² Moses and Aaron came to the tent of meeting. It is likely that they came to pray that a fire would come forth. When they came out⁴³ both of them blessed the people.

footnotes:
⁴¹ See Ex. 27:1.
⁴² After the offering of the sacrifices and the blessing.
⁴³ Out of the tent of meeting.


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:24:1
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:24:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:24:1)

**את העולה.** עולת אהרן ועולת העם ועולת תמיד כי כן כ׳‎ מלבד עולת הבוקר:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THE BURNT-OFFERING. The burnt offering of Aaron, the burnt offering of the people, and the continual burnt offering,⁴⁴. for Scripture states, *beside the burnt-offering of the morning* (Num. 28:23).⁴⁵ (the festival offerings) *beside the burnt-offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt-offering*. Hence the burnt offering is to be offered every day. Thus the burnt offering in our verse also includes the continual burnt offering.

footnotes:
⁴⁴ Hebrew, olat tamid
⁴⁵ The full verse reads, Ye shall offer these


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:24:2
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:24:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:24:2)

**ואת החלבים.** מהעגל ואיל אהרן והשעיר והשור והאיל:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND THE FAT. From the bull-calf and the ram of Aaron, and the he-goat, the ox, and the ram


###### Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:24:3
[Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 9:24:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Leviticus/r/9:24:3)

**וירנו.** הרמת קול וכן ותעבו׳‎ הרנה במחנה:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THEY SHOUTED. *Va-yaronnu* (they shouted) means they raised their voices. Compare, *rinnah* (cry) in *And there went a cry throughout the host* (I Kings 22:36).