## Ibn Ezra on Numbers Chapter 19

###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:2:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:2:1)

**זאת חקת.** גם זאת הפרשה במדבר סיני נאמרה כאשר צוה השם וישלחו מן המחנה ובפסח היו טמאי מתים. ונסמכה זאת הפרשה בעבור שהיא לכהן:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THIS IS THE STATUTE. This chapter was also¹ stated at Sinai. It was given when God commanded *that they put out of the camp…whosoever is unclean by the dead* (Num. 5:2). There were also people who were unclean by coming into contact with a dead body when Passover² arrived (Num. 9:6). This chapter is placed here³ because it relates to the *kohen*.⁴ played a major role in the ritual of the red heifer.

footnotes:
¹ Like the incident of Korah. See I.E. on Num 16:1.
² Celebrated by Israel in the second year after the Exodus.
³ Following the laws dealing with the tithes.
⁴ The kohen


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:2:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:2:2)

**פרה אדמה תמימה.** שלא תהיה קטנה. אמר הגאון כי מי נדה כמו הדבש שיזיק לבעל המרה האדומה ויועיל לבעל הלחה ואין צורך:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
A RED HEIFER, FAULTLESS. The heifer is not to be small.⁵ (cow), not of an *eglah* (heifer). The Gaon⁶ says that *the water of sprinkling* (v. 13)⁷ is similar to honey, which is injurious to the one who has red bile⁸ but stimulates the one who has phlegm.⁹ However, there is no need for this interpretation.

footnotes:
⁵ For the Bible speaks of a parah
⁶ Rabbi Saadiah Gaon.
⁷ Which cleansed the unclean but made the clean unclean.
⁸ In medieval medicine red bile was believed to cause a volatile nature. See I.E. on Ex. 23:25 (Vol. 2, p. 516).
⁹ An excess of phlegm. This causes a phlegmatic nature.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:3:1
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**והוציא אותה.** המוציא או בצווי וכן ושחט כי הוא לא ישחטנה והעד לפניו:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND SHE SHALL BE BROUGHT FORTH. Someone shall bring her forth.¹⁰ is: and he shall bring her forth. However, since Eleazar did not actually slaughter the cow, I.E. believes that he did not bring it out. Hence his comment. Or it means he shall have her brought forth by his command.¹¹ The same applies to *ve-shachat* (and she shall be slain),¹² for Eleazar did not slaughter the heifer. The word *le-fanav* (before his face) proves the latter.¹³

footnotes:
¹⁰ The literal meaning of ve-hotzi otah
¹¹ In other words, it means he shall command that it be brought out.
¹² Which literally means: and he shall slaughter it.
¹³ If Eleazar did the slaughtering, then what point would there be for Scripture to say “and he [Eleazar] shall slaughter it before his [Eleazar’s] face.”


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:5:1
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**ושרף את הפרה.** השורף והעד לעיניו:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND THE HEIFER SHALL BE BURNT IN HIS SIGHT. *Ve-saraf et ha-parah* (and the heifer shall be burnt)¹⁴ is: and he shall burn the cow. is to be rendered, and someone shall burn the heifer. The term *le’enav* (in his sight)¹⁵ proves the latter interpretation.

footnotes:
¹⁴ The literal meaning of ve-saraf et ha-parah
¹⁵ Eleazar’s sight.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:6:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:6:1)

**עץ ארז.** כמו למצורע ושם רמזתי סוד:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
CEDAR-WOOD. As in the case of a leper.¹⁶ I have hinted there at some secret.¹⁷

footnotes:
¹⁶ Cedar wood was used in cleansing a leper (Lev. 14:4).
¹⁷ I.E. points out that there is a connection between leprosy and death. Hence cedar is employed in cleansing someone who has been contaminated by contract with a leper or a dead body.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:7:1
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**וכבס בגדיו.** הכהן השורף:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THEN THE PRIEST SHALL WASH HIS CLOTHES. The *kohen* who burns it.¹⁸, the reference is to the cow. However, in view of the fact that the latter is stated in the next verse, some say that the reference is to the cedar. See Filwarg and Krinsky.

footnotes:
¹⁸ Prima facie


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:7:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:7:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:7:2)

**וטמא הכהן.** וכבר ישב טמא ויש אומרי' שיהיה טמא עד הערב שלא יאכל מן הקדשים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND THE PRIEST SHALL BE UNCLEAN. The meaning of *ve-tame ha-kohen* (and the priest shall be unclean) is, and the *kohen* has already been unclean,¹⁹ has been made unclean by performing the ritual. According to this interpretation the *vav* prefixed to *ve-tame* means “and.” Hence the meaning of *ve-tame ha-kohen* is: and the *kohen* was unclean. or, as some say, the *kohen* shall be unclean.²⁰ is a future form meaning: and he shall be unclean. The *vav* is a conversive *vav*. *Until the even* refers to the eating of sacred food.

footnotes:
¹⁹ The kohen
²⁰ In this case ve-tame


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:9:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:9:1)

**איש טהור.** איננו הכהן השורף:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
A MAN THAT IS CLEAN. The reference is not to the *kohen* who burns the cow.²¹ does this (Krinsky). According to the *Sifre* on this verse, any clean person, even if not a *kohen*, may gather the ashes of the red cow. However, I.E. seems to believe that this task was assigned to a *kohen*.

footnotes:
²¹ Another kohen


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:9:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:9:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:9:2)

**למי נדה.** פירושו רחוק כמו מנדיכם:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
A WATER OF SPRINKLING. The meaning of *niddah* (sprinkling) is distance.²² (water of sprinkling) means the water of the distant, i.e., the water to be used to purify the distant. Compare, *me-naddekhem*²³ comes from the same root as *niddah*. When one hates another person, he keeps his distance from him. (that hate you) (Is. 66:5).

footnotes:
²² The person who is unclean is distanced from the sanctuary. Thus me-niddah
²³ Me-naddekhem


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:10:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:10:1)

**וטמא עד הערב.** ואחר שאמר שיכבס את בגדיו אין צורך להזכיר שירחץ במים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND BE UNCLEAN UNTIL THE EVEN. Once Scripture states that the gatherer of the ashes shall wash his clothes there is no need to mention that he shall wash in water.²⁴

footnotes:
²⁴ For Scripture earlier linked the two. See verse 7.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:10:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:10:2)

**ולגר הגר בתוכם.** בעבור היות ארץ ישראל קדושה כי הכבוד שם:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND UNTO THE STRANGER THAT SOJOURNETH AMONG THEM. For the Land of Israel is holy because God’s glory is there.²⁵

footnotes:
²⁵ Hence even a stranger (a non-Jew) must abide by this rule.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:11:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:11:1)

**לכל נפש אדם.** יהודי או עובד כוכבים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
EVEN ANY MAN’S DEAD BODY. Be it the body of a Jew or a non-Jew.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:11:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:11:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:11:2)

**אדם.** ולא בהמה:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
MAN’S…BODY. Not the body of an animal.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:11:3
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:11:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:11:3)

**וטמא.** יהיה טמא והוא פועל עתיד כי הוי"ו השיבו ועל דעתי שהוא פועל עבר:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
SHALL BE UNCLEAN. The meaning of *ve-tame* is, shall be unclean. It is a future form, for the *vav* changes the verb²⁶, a third person perfect. from a perfect to an imperfect. However, I believe that *ve-tame* is in the past tense.²⁷ being conjunctive. Thus the meaning of *ve-tame* is: and he was unclean. The import of our verse thus is: and after being unclean for seven days he shall purify himself. See I.E. on verse 7 and the notes thereto.

footnotes:
²⁶ Tame
²⁷ Its vav


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:12:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:12:1)

**יתחטא בו.** יסור חטאו בו או כמו תחטאני באזוב ואטהר וידוע כי בסוד החשבון השלישי כמו השביעי:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THE SAME SHALL PURIFY HIMSELF THEREWITH. The meaning of *hu yitchate vo* (the same shall purify himself therewith) is, he shall remove his sin therewith.²⁸ means sin. Hence I.E.’s interpretation. On the other hand, the word *yitchate* (shall purify himself) is similar to the word *techatteni* (purge me) in *Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean* (Ps. 51:9).²⁹ means purify. Those who are acquainted with the secret of numbers know that the number three is like the number seven.³⁰

footnotes:
²⁸ That is, by undergoing this ritual he will remove the potentiality of entering the sanctuary in a state of impurity and thus sinning. The word chet
²⁹ In other words, yitchatta
³⁰ The number seven has mystical significance in that seven days make up a lunar quarter. The number three is close to half of the number 7. See I.E. on Gen. 34:25 and the notes thereto (Vol. 1, p. 330).


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:13:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:13:1)

**כי מי נדה.** יש מפרשים כמו אך במי נדה יתחטא:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
BECAUSE THE WATER OF SPRINKLING. Some say that that *me niddah* (the water of sprinkling) has the same meaning as *me niddah* (water of sprinkling) in *it shall be purified with the water of sprinkling* (Num. 31:23).³¹

footnotes:
³¹ In other words, both refer to water mixed with the ashes of the red heifer. Num. 31:23 deals with the purification of utensils captured from non-Jews. I.E. prefaces these remarks with “some say” because, according to the rabbis, Num. 31:23 refers to water in which a menstruant immerses herself.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:13:2
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**לא זורק עליו.** על המים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
WAS NOT DASHED. The word *zorak* (dashed) refers to the water.³² is singular and *me* (water of) is plural.

footnotes:
³² Even though zorak


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:13:3
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:13:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:13:3)

**עוד.** תמיד כמו עוד כל ימי הארץ:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
IS YET. The word *od* (is yet) means continuously.³³ Compare, *od* (while) in *While the earth remaineth* (Gen. 8:22).

footnotes:
³³ He is continuously unclean until sprinkled.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:14:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:14:1)

**באהל.** והבית כאהל רק הזכיר הכתוב האהל בעבור היות ישראל באהלים וכן אשר ישחט שור או כשב ועז במחנה:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
IN A TENT. A house has the same law as a tent. Scripture mentions a tent because Israel then lived in tents. *That killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp* (Lev. 17:3) is similar.³⁴

footnotes:
³⁴ The law laid down in Lev. 17:3 applies equally to a town. Scripture speaks of a camp because Israel then lived in tents in a camp.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:14:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:14:2)

**וכל אשר באהל.** מבגד:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND EVERY THING THAT IS IN THE TENT. Garments.³⁵

footnotes:
³⁵ For the next verse deals with vessels.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:15:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:15:1)

**צמיד פתיל.** שנים פתילים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
COVERING CLOSE-BOUND. Two coverings.³⁶ (close bound). According to I.E. each one of these terms refers to a covering. The *tzamid* goes over the opening, while the petil goes round about the above covering and the rim of the utensil (Krinsky). Others claim that I.E. believes that the cover is made of two parts. See Krinsky, Filwarg, and Weiser.

footnotes:
³⁶ Scripture reads, tzamid, petil


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:16:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:16:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:16:1)

**או בקבר.** של אדם:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
OR A GRAVE. Of a human being.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:17:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:17:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:17:1)

ו. **לקחו לטמא.** הנה פירוש איך יתחטא:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND FOR THE UNCLEAN THEY SHALL TAKE. See, Scripture explains how one who comes into contact with the dead shall purge himself.³⁷. However, it did not describe the procedure. Now it does.

footnotes:
³⁷ Earlier, in verse 12, Scripture had said, the same shall purify himself therewith


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:18:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:18:1)

**איש טהור.** והקרוב להיותו כהן:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
A CLEAN PERSON. The reference is most probably to a *kohen*.³⁸ are acquainted with the laws of purification.

footnotes:
³⁸ For kohanim


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:20:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:20:1)

**ואיש אשר יטמא.** וכבר הזכיר כל הנוגע במת בנפש ונכרתה ועתה הזהיר על העצם ועל הקבר:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
BUT THE MAN THAT SHALL BE UNCLEAN. Scripture has already mentioned, *Whosoever toucheth the dead…that soul shall be cut off from Israel* (v. 13). It now warns the one who touches a bone or a grave [not to defile the sanctuary].


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:21:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:21:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:21:1)

**יטמא עד הערב.** ולא יטהר עד אשר ירחץ:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
SHALL BE UNCLEAN UNTIL EVEN. And shall not become clean until he washes.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:22:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:22:1)

**וכל אשר יגע בו הטמא יטמא.** שהוא טמא מת או עצם או קבר:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND WHATSOEVER THE UNCLEAN PERSON TOUCHETH SHALL BE UNCLEAN. The reference is to one who has become unclean by touching a dead body, a bone, or a grave.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:22:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 19:22:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/19:22:2)

**תטמא עד הערב.** ותרחץ:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
SHALL BE UNCLEAN UNTIL EVEN. And washes.³⁹

footnotes:
³⁹ Verse 7.