A

B

Ibn Ezra on Exodus 19:2:3
[AND THERE ISRAEL ENCÆEED.] Scripture reads, and
there Israel encamped, after stating, they encamped in the
wilderness, because the heads of the fribes and the elders
camped before the mountain due to their respected positions.23
As I will explain,24 Israel stood around the mountain, in ac-
cordance with their status, on the day the Torah was given.
Scripture uses the singular form va-vichan (encamped) be-
cause they25 were few in number.