What is the meaning of "va'Ekerah Li"?
Rashi: This is an expression of trade, like "Asher Karisi Li" (Bereishis 50:5). Overseas, they call Mechirah (a sale) Kirah.
Rashi (3, citing Rav Hai Gaon): I fixed her redemption to be a small amount. (Refer to 3:2:2:3.)
Radak: The root is Karah (buying), like "v'Gam Mayim Tichru me'Itam" (Devarim 2:6). I.e. I acquired her for a wife. The Dagesh in the Kaf, is to beautify the pronunciation, like the Dagesh in the Kuf in "Mikedash Hashem" (Shemos 15:17).
What is the significance of "Chamishah Asar Kesef v'Chomer Se'orim v'Lesech Se'orim"?
Targum Yonasan: I redeemed them with My word on the 15th of Chodesh Nisan 1 , and gave money ? atonement for their Nefashos. I said that they will offer in front of Me an Omer 2 taken from barley. Rashi ? i.e. I did not exert them with great matters. The Gematriya of "Chamishah Asar Kesef" equals that of Nisan 3 .
Rashi citing Pesikta: "Chamishah Asar Kesef" is the 15th of Nisan. V'Chomer v'Lesech are 45 [more days], for Chomer is 30 Sa'im and Lesech is half of this. Rashi (3) ? the verse makes two calculations during the 50 days from Pesach until Shevu'os (refer to 3:3:1:1). After Chomer (30 days) the manna fell. After another Lesech (15 days), they came to Midbar Sinai, on Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
Rashi (3, citing Rav Hai Gaon): If one said 'my Erech is Alai (upon me to give)', if he is above 60, he pays "Chamishah Asar Kesef" (15 Shekalim). "Chomer Se'orim" applies to a man between 20 and 60 ? his Erech is 50 Shekalim, the same as the redemption of Beis Chomer (a field in which one sows a Chomer of barley). The redemption of Beis Lesech Se'orim is 25; 20 is the Erech of a man between five and 20, and five is the Erech of a boy from one month until five years.
Radak: "Chamishah Asar Kesef" - in the merit of 15 ? Avraham, Yitzchak and Yakov and 12 Shevatim. Also Chomer Se'orim v'Lesech Se'orim teaches 15 ? a Chomer is 10 Batim 4 , and a Lesech is half of this.
Radak citing Rav Sadya Gaon: Chomer v'Lesech are 15 (refer to 3:2:2:4), corresponding to Moshe, Aharon and Miryam and 12 Shevatim, who left Egypt.
Malbim: It is as if he bought her from her lover, and paid 15 silver [pieces] for her. This shows that he did not buy her for a wife with a Kesuvah of 50 "Kesef k'Mohar ha'Besulos" (Shemos 22:16), rather, like one who buys a Shifchah; her price is 30 Shekalim ? "Im Eved Yigach ha'Shor Oh Amah Kesef Sheloshim Yiten 5 " (Shemos 21:32). Similarly, the Erech of a woman between 20 and 60 is 30. He paid only half, for she is not special to him; she is also Mezanah. He gave to her Chomer Se'orim - half the normal ration of food. If an Oni passes through a town, we give to him at least a loaf worth a Pundiyon when four Sa'im [of wheat] sell for a Sela (one Se'ah; a Pundiyon, 1/48 of a Sela, buys a half Kav, 1/12 of a Se'ah). This is for one meal 6 . A Chomer (30 Sa'im) is 360 meals, enough for the entire year. he gives to her barley in place of wheat, to show her inferiority ? she eats animal food. This is for the day meal. For the night meal, he gives to her Lesech (half), for she goes out to be Mezanah, so she deserves only half 7 .
Malbim (3, according to the Nimshal): Hashem sold her in Galus for 15 silver pieces. In the days of Galus, His name is not complete; He uses only half the name 8 , i.e. Yud Kei; its Gematriya is 15. Her food is apportioned for one year at a time, every Rosh Hashanah; "u'Fachadta Laylah v'Yomam" (Devarim 28:66) refers to one who buys wheat for a year 9 [at a time]. She eats inferior barley.
Radak #2: Chomer and Lesech are [in all] 45, the number of days from when Yisrael left Egypt until they came to Midbar Sinai (on Rosh Chodesh Sivan) and received the Torah. There were 15 days left in Nisan, and 30 in Iyar. Barley is animal food, for most of the nation that left Egypt until they received the Torah were like animals ? "k'Sus k'Fered Ein Havin" (Tehilim 32:9). They worked "b'Chomer uvi'Levenim uv'Chol Avodah ba'Sadeh" (Shemos 1:14). After they received the Torah, their eyes were opened, and Ru'ach of Sechel dwelled on them; they understood and knew.
The volume of 43.2 eggs. (PF)
The Gematriya of "Chamishah Asar Kesef" is far more than that of Nisan! If Nisan is spelled without a Yud, its Gematriya equals that of Kesef (160); if it is spelled normally, its Gematriya equals Asar (10) plus the Gematriya of Kesef. (PF)
A Bas is three Sa'im. (PF)
This is a fine, whether the slave is worth millions or a Perutah. What is the source that it is the price? (PF)
Eruvin 82b: This is for two meals! Perhaps he gives double, for it is barley. One who feeds his wife via an intermediary, gives to her each week two Kavim of wheat, or four (twice as much) of barley. This is for inferior barley near Eretz Edom; elsewhere, the Shi'ur is less (Kesuvos 64b). However, the Mishnah's Shi'ur is for two meals per day, and it is only slightly more than Malbim's Shi'ur (three and a half Kavim per week) for one meal per day! Also, the Oni's loaf has only half (or two thirds) the amount of grain based on price, for half (or a third) of the price is the baker's wage (82b)! Perhaps he gives to her more, for she must toil and buy firewood to bake it. (PF)
Why does she deserve anything? The Zonim can feed her! Perhaps on the average, she finds Zonim only half the time. (PF)
"Ki Yad Al Kes Kah" (Shemos 17:16). Rashi there, from Midrash Tanchuma - He swore that neither His Name nor His Throne will be complete until the Name of Amalek is erased.
Our text in Menachos 103b says that "v'Hayu Chayecha Telu'im Lecha mi'Neged" refers to such a person. (He worries lest he not have money to buy grain next year.)
