What is the nature of the numeral ashtei-asar (meaning 11) as in (BeMidbar 29:20, Parashat Pinchas):
וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי פָּרִים עַשְׁתֵּי-עָשָׂר
- What is the basic word? Is this using semichus, as in ashtaim of asar? If so, what does that mean? (I was thinking of some sort of contraction with shtayim, but that would be feminine.)
- Why does the the Torah sometimes use ashtei-asar and other times achad-asar as in (Bereshit 37:9, Parashat Vayeshev)?
וְהִנֵּה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהַיָּרֵחַ וְאַחַד עָשָׂר כּוֹכָבִים, מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לִי
- Does the basic word (i.e. עשתי) appear anywhere without the word asar (עשר) or esreh (עשרה)?
Answer
Radak cites an explanation that it's a contraction of על שתי, the number that is "on top of" two, i.e. one. However, he rejects this interpretation (as does Ibn Ezra, cited in msh210's answer). I have long wondered about the reason for the unique construction of this phrase.
A few minutes of searching got me to this document, which addresses the issue at length (pg. 7). Unfotunately I do not have the time to peruse it now, maybe someone else can summarize it here?
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