What is the meaning of "li'Kematzim"?
Rashi: It means that they stored the grain 'handful by handful.'
Targum Onkelos: They placed the grain into storehouses. 1
Seforno: Every stalk produced fistfuls (Targum Yonasan - a double handful) of grain.
Da'as Zekenim: Even a handful that remained in the granary, they took a fifth from it.
Ha'amek Davar: Every handful of ears was full of grain (after the chaff was removed), for [the ears] were full [of grain] and big.
Because storehouses in the form of a hole in the ground are called 'Kematzim' (like the word "Gumatz" - a hole (Koheles 10:8) [since a Gimel and a Kuf are interchangeable]). See Ramban, who elaborates.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'Va'Ta'as ha'Aretz' - As Targum translates; and yet, the translation does not diverge from the literal - 'it produced.'" What does Rashi mean?
Gur Aryeh: Targum explains - based on context - that "Va'Ta'as" means "they gathered," and "ha'Aretz" refers to "the inhabitants of the land" (hence, "the inhabitants of the land gathered"). Yet, "Va'Ta'as" retains its literal meaning, "it produced;" and it did so by the fistful.
Rashi writes: "Li'Kematzim - fistful by fistful (Kometz); [i.e.] they gathered by one hand after the other." What does Rashi mean?
Gur Aryeh: "Li'Kematzim" means fists or hands. It does not mean that they literally gathered the grain by hand; but rather, "one on top of the other" - that as soon as one person would deposit his grain in storage, the next one would place his own on top.
