## Ibn Ezra on Numbers Chapter 26

###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:1:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:1:1)

**ויהי אחרי המגפה.** אמר השם אל משה ואל אלעזר על יד משה וכן ויצו משה וזקני ישראל אז ישיר משה ובני ישראל:

**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 AFTER THE PLAGUE.¹ God spoke to Moses. He also spoke to Eleazar via Moses.² *And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people*³ (Deut. 27:1) and *Then sang Moses and the children of Israel*⁴ (Ex. 15:1) are similar.

footnotes:
¹ This line concludes chapter 25, verse 19, and continues into chapter 26, verse 1.
² I.E.’s interpretation of: That the Lord spoke unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest…
³ Its meaning is: Moses commanded the elders, who then commanded Israel.
⁴ Its meaning is: Moses taught the song to the Israelites. See I.E. on Ex. 15:1 (Vol. 2, p. 291).


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:1:2
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וטעם **אחרי המגפה.** בעבור שאמר השם לאלה תחלק הארץ:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
Scripture states *after the plague* because God said, *Unto these*⁵ *the land shall be divided* (v. 53).

footnotes:
⁵ Those who survived the plague.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:3:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:3:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:3:1)

**וידבר משה ואלעזר הכהן.** במקום אביו ויתכן שהוא היה פה למשה כמו אהרן:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND MOSES AND ELEAZAR THE PRIEST SPOKE. In place of his father.⁶ It is possible that Eleazar served as Moses’ spokesman as Aaron did.⁷

footnotes:
⁶ Now that Aaron was dead, Eleazar spoke God’s word to the people.
⁷ He not only served as spokesman in this case but did so in all other cases.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:3:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:3:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:3:2)

**אתם.** כמו דברו לשלום:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
WITH THEM. *Otam* (with them)⁸ means them. Scripture should have read *ittam* (with them). Hence I.E.’s comment. is similar to *dabbero* (speak…unto him) in *speak peaceably unto him* (Gen. 37:4).⁹ is irregular, for it is a compound of *dabber* (speak) and *oto* (him). *Dabbero* literally means speak him. We thus sees that Scripture employs the term “him” with the meaning of “with him.” The same applies to the term *otam* (them). Scripture occasionally employs it with the meaning of “with them.”

footnotes:
⁸ Otam
⁹ Dabbero


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:4:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:4:1)

**מבן עשרים שנה.** והטעם שנשאו את חשבונם כאשר צוה ה' את משה:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
FROM TWENTY YEARS OLD AND UPWARD. This means that they took the sum of the people¹⁰ is short for: they took up the sum of the people from twenty years old and up. as God commanded Moses.

footnotes:
¹⁰ In other words, From twenty years old and upward


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:4:2
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וטעם **ובני ישראל היוצאים מארץ מצרים.** כי היו בספורים רבים מיוצאי מצרים והקרוב להיותם חצים והחל מראובן בספורים הראשונים במדבר סיני:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
[AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THAT CAME FORTH OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT.] Scripture states the aforementioned because there were many among those who were numbered who came out of Egypt.¹¹ They most likely came to about half the number of the Israelites. Scripture starts with Reuben in imitation of the manner in which the Israelites¹² were first numbered in the wilderness of Sinai.

footnotes:
¹¹ Those who were under the age of twenty when they left Egypt did not die in the wilderness.
¹² See Num. 1:20.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:9:1
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**אשר הצו.** כטעם כי ינצו אנשים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
WHO STROVE. The word *hitzu* (strove) is similar in meaning to the word *yinnatzu* (strive) in *And if men strive together* (Ex. 21:22).¹³ means strove.

footnotes:
¹³ In other words, hitzu


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:10:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:10:1)

**ואת קרח.** פירשתיו:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
WITH KORAH. I have already explained this.¹⁴

footnotes:
¹⁴ See I.E. on Num. 16:35.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:10:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:10:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:10:2)

**ויהיו לנס.** כמו ויהיו לאות לבני ישראל:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND THEY BECAME A SIGN.¹⁵. Compare, *that they may be a sign*¹⁶. *unto the children of Israel* (Num. 17:3).¹⁷ here means a sign. The word *nes* can mean banner or miracle. Hence I.E.’s comment.

footnotes:
¹⁵ Hebrew, nes
¹⁶ Hebrew, ot
¹⁷ In other words, nes


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:11:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:11:1)

**ובני קרח לא מתו.** והעד שמואל ובניו ובני בניו שהם המשוררים והם הנקראים הקרחים לבני קרח מזמור גם בתורה כתיב משפחת הקרחי והזכיר הכתוב ובני קרח עם בני ראובן בעבור כי בני דתן ואבירם גדולים וקטנים מתו והנה רעת דתן ואבירם קשה מרעת קרח:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
NOTWITHSTANDING THE SONS OF KORAH DIED NOT. Samuel,¹⁸ his sons, and his grandsons who were singers¹⁹ and were called the Korahites²⁰ is proof of this.²¹ The Book of Psalms states, *For the leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah* (Ps. 49:1). The Torah also records the family of the Korahites (v. 58). Scripture mentions the sons of Korah with the sons of Reuben because the adult and the minor sons of Dathan and Abiram died. The wickedness of Dathan and Abiram was thus greater than the wickedness of Korah.²²

footnotes:
¹⁸ The prophet Samuel.
¹⁹ In the temple.
²⁰ See I Chron. 6:18-23.
²¹ That Korah’s children did not die.
²² Hence their children died. When Moses asked Dathan and Abiram to come to him, they refused and insulted Moses. We do not find the same with Korah (Num. 16:12-14).


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:12:1
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**הימיני.** אל תבקש דקדוק בשמות וכן מן פוני ומן לשפופם השופמי לימנה משפחת הימנה ואיננו הימיני כמו מן בריעה בריעי וחגי ושוני חסר יו"ד היחס או זה יו"ד היחס ושל השם חסר והוא הנכון ואחר ראובן שמעון וגד החונים עליו רק מנשה קודם אפרים ובמדבר סיני הפוך והנכון שזה בעבור מספרם כי בני אפרים יוסיפו על בני מנשה במדבר סיני שמונת אלפים ושלשת מאות ובערבות מואב יוסיפו בני מנשה על בני אפרים עשרים אלף ומאתים וכן זכר למשפחות חמשה בנים לבנימין והם בכר וגרא ונעמן וראש וארד:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THE JAMINITES. Do not seek grammatical consistency in names. Compare, *puvvah*²³ and *puni* (Punites) (v. 23).²⁴ rather than *puni* to be used for a member of Puvvah’s family. From *shefufam*²⁵ Scripture derives *shufami* (v. 39).²⁶ to be used. Scripture also reads: *of yimnah* (Imnah), *the family of yimnah* (v. 44), not *ha-yemini*²⁷. as it does in the case of *bri’ah*²⁸ and *beri’iy* (Beriites)²⁹ (v. 44); *Chaggi*³⁰ and *shuni* were sons of Gad. Scripture refers to members of their family by the terms *chaggi* and *shuni* rather than *chaggi’iy* or *shuni’iy*. and *shuni* (v. 15) lacking the *yod* gentile.³¹ On the other hand, the *yod* of *chaggi* and *shuni* might be the *yod* gentile and the *yod* of the proper name³² of the names of *chaggi* and *shuni*. is missing. The latter is correct. After Reuben, Scripture lists Simeon and Gad, who pitched next to Reuben.³³ However, Manasseh is mentioned before Ephraim.³⁴ The order is reversed in the wilderness of Sinai.³⁵ It appears that this is due to their number, for the sons of Ephraim were more numerous than the sons of Manasseh in the wilderness of Sinai by eight thousand and three hundred,³⁶., 35). and in the plains of Moab the sons of Manasseh numbered more than the sons of Ephraim by twenty thousand and two hundred.³⁷ No mention is made of the family of the following five sons of Benjamin: Becher, Gera, Naaman, Rosh, and Ard.³⁸

footnotes:
²³ Puvvah the son of Issachar.
²⁴ We would expect puvvi
²⁵ The son of Benjamin.
²⁶ As the term for a member of his family. However, we would expect the term shefufami
²⁷ Which is the correct grammatical form for a member of the family of yimnah
²⁸ The son of Asher.
²⁹ The family of Beriah.
³⁰ Chaggi
³¹ These terms are thus irregular.
³² The yod
³³ And similarly the other tribes. In other words, Scripture does not list the tribes in the order of their births but by their banners. See Num. 10:11-28.
³⁴ In verses 28-34.
³⁵ In Num. 1:32-35.
³⁶ Hence they were there mentioned first. At the census taken in the wilderness of Sinai, Ephraim numbered 40,500 (Num. 1:33) and Manasseh numbered 32,200 (Ibid
³⁷ Hence they were mentioned first. See verses 34 and 37.
³⁸ See Gen. 46:21.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:38:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:38:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:38:1)

**לאחירם.** הוא אחי שפופם הוא מופים חופם הוא חופים ואלה ארד ונעמן הם בני בלע וי"א כי נעמן וארד מיורדי מצרים הם והם בני בלע בן בנימין:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
OF AHIRAM.³⁹ Ahiram⁴⁰ is the same as Ehi.⁴¹ Shephupham⁴² is the same as Muppim,⁴³ and Hupham⁴⁴ is the same as Huppim.⁴⁵ The Ard and Naaman mentioned in our verse are the sons of Bela.⁴⁶ Others say that Naaman and Ard⁴⁷ were among those who descended to Egypt and that they are the sons of Bela the son of Benjamin.⁴⁸

footnotes:
³⁹ There is a discrepancy between the sons of Benjamin as given in verses 38-40 and those given in Gen. 46:21. Hence I.E.’s comments.
⁴⁰ In our verse.
⁴¹ In Gen. 46:21.
⁴² In verse 39.
⁴³ In Gen. 46:21.
⁴⁴ In verse 39.
⁴⁵ In Gen. 46:21.
⁴⁶ Whereas the persons bearing the same names mentioned in Gen. 46:21 are the sons of Benjamin.
⁴⁷ Mentioned in our verse.
⁴⁸ In other words, they and the Naaman and Ard mentioned in Genesis are one and the same. However, Scripture omitted their father’s name in Genesis.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:42:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:42:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:42:1)

**לשוחם.** הוא חושים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
OF SHUHAM. He is the same as Hushim.⁴⁹

footnotes:
⁴⁹ Mentioned in Gen. 46:23. There is thus no discrepancy in the names of the son of Dan.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:42:2
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:42:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:42:2)

**אלה משפחות דן למשפחותם.** כי חושים נחלק למשפחות רבות:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THESE ARE THE FAMILIES OF DAN AFTER THEIR FAMILIES. For *hushim* was divided into many families.⁵⁰ follows *of Shuham* (also called Hushim).

footnotes:
⁵⁰ Hence the family of the Shuhamites


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:55:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:55:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:55:1)

**יחלק את הארץ.** הטעם כי בגורל יחלק הארץ למטות:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THE LAND SHALL BE DIVIDED. It means that the land shall be divided among the tribes by lot.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:56:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:56:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:56:1)

**על פי הגורל תחלק נחלתו בין רב למעט.** לפקודים:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
ACCORDING TO THE LOT SHALL THEIR INHERITANCE BE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE MORE AND THE FEWER. To those who were numbered.⁵¹

footnotes:
⁵¹ Those who were counted by Moses and Eleazar. See Num. 26:1,2.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:57:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:57:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:57:1)

**לגרשון.** החל מהבכור והזכיר בנו שהוא לבני ולא הזכיר שמעי ויתכן שלא היו לו בנים או היו לו ומתו בלא בנים. ואחר כן הזכיר החברוני שהוא בן קהת ולא הזכיר עוזיאל ואחר כן בני מררי ושב להזכיר בני יצהר ואחר כן בני עמרם ואיחר אותם בעבור שיבאר מה שאירע לבני בן עמרם:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
OF GERSHON. Scripture opens with the first-born.⁵² It mentions Gershon’s son Libni. It does not mention Shimei.⁵³ It is possible that he had no children. On the other hand, Shimei might have had children and they died childless. Scripture then mentions the children of Hebron the son of Kohath.⁵⁴ It does not name Uzziel.⁵⁵ It then mentions the sons of Merari⁵⁶. Mahli and Mushi were sons of Merari. See Ex. 6:19. and goes back and refers to the sons of Itzhar.⁵⁷ Then it mentions the sons of Amram.⁵⁸ Scripture places them last⁵⁹ because it goes on to explain what happened to the grandsons of Amram.⁶⁰

footnotes:
⁵² Of Levi. See Gen. 46:11.
⁵³ Gershon’s other son. See Ex. 6:17.
⁵⁴ Ex. 6:18.
⁵⁵ Son of Kohath. See Ex. 6:18.
⁵⁶ The family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites
⁵⁷ The Korahites. See Num. 16:1.
⁵⁸ Amram was Kohath’s first-born. See Ex. 6:18.
⁵⁹ Even though Amram was born before Hebron and Izhar.
⁶⁰ In verses 60 and 61.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:58:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:58:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:58:1)

**הקרחי.** הם בני קרח. והזכיר שם יוכבד בעבור כבוד בניה ולא הזכי' שם יולדת' דרך קצר' וכן אשריאל אשר ילדה:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
THE KORAHITES. They are the sons of Korah.⁶¹ Scripture mentions Jochebed out of respect to her sons. It does not speak of her mother, because Scripture is being brief.⁶² *Asriel, whom she bore*⁶³ (I Chron. 7:14) is similar.⁶⁴

footnotes:
⁶¹ For Korah was then dead.
⁶² Our verse literally reads: And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom she bore. Scripture does not identify the one who did the bearing, i.e., Jochebed’s mother.
⁶³ Translated literally.
⁶⁴ Here too Scripture omits the subject.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:62:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:62:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:62:1)

**ויהיו פקודיהם.** פקודי הלוים במספר הזה נוספו שבע מאות והתימה כי לא נוסף בהם רק שבע מאות והנה ישראל שמתו מי שהיה מבן עשרים שנה ומעלה היה מספרם בפעם האחרונה קרוב מהמספר הראשון כי הלוים לא נכנסו עם פקודי ישראל והעד אלעזר הכהן:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
AND THEY THAT WERE NUMBERED. The Levites. The Levites increased by seven hundred in this numbering.⁶⁵ It is amazing that the Levites increased by only seven hundred. Look! The Israelites from among whom all those above the age of twenty died⁶⁶ numbered about the same as they did during their first numbering.⁶⁷ [The small increase in the number of Levites is strange] for the Levites were not included in the numbering of Israel.⁶⁸ Eleazar the Kohen proves the latter.⁶⁹

footnotes:
⁶⁵ The first time the Levites were counted they numbered 22,300. See Num. 3:39 along with I.E.’s comment on it. Their number here is given as 23,000. The Levites thus increased by 700 in close to 40 years.
⁶⁶ By the time the census recorded in our chapter was taken. See verse 64.
⁶⁷ The number of Israelites at the first census came to 603,550 (Num. 1:46). They now numbered 601,730.
⁶⁸ By God’s decree only those above the age of 20 who were numbered in the wilderness of Sinai had died by the time of the second census. See verse 64 and Num. 14:29. This decree did not fall upon the Levites.
⁶⁹ Had the Levites been included in the numbering, Eleazar too would be dead, for he was most likely above the age of twenty when the first census was taken.


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:64:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:64:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:64:1)

**ובאלה לא היה איש.** זה הפסוק שב אל פקודי ישראל:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
BUT AMONG THESE THERE WAS NOT A MAN. This verse refers to the number of the children of Israel.⁷⁰ refers to the number of the children of Israel.

footnotes:
⁷⁰ The term these


###### Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:65:1
[Ibn Ezra on Numbers 26:65:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ibn%20Ezra%20on%20Numbers/r/26:65:1)

**כי אם כלב בן יפנה.** קודם יהושע כאשר אמר השם:

**Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004:**
SAVE CALEB THE SON OF JEPHUNNEH. Caleb is mentioned before Joshua,⁷¹ following God’s word.⁷²

footnotes:
⁷¹ Even though Joshua was more important.
⁷² God mentioned Caleb before Joshua in Num. 14:30.