Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 8:21/אבן עזרא על במדבר ח׳:כ״א
אוטעם ויתחטאו. כי גם הם עשו:
1[AND THE LEVITES PURIFIED THEMSELVES.] Scripture tells us that they also performed [purification rituals].
בויכפר עליהם. וכבר כפר עליהם ויש אומרים כי בתחלה התחטאו ואחר כן סמכו ידיהם על הפרים ואיננו רחוק ואם כן יהיה פירוש והעמדת את הלוים וכבר העמדתם בתחלה:
2AND AARON MADE ATONEMENT FOR THEM. And Aaron had already made atonement for them.53 is a pluperfect that means had made atonement. Others say that the Levites first purified themselves and afterwards laid their hands on the bullocks.54 This interpretation is not far off the mark.55 (and made atonement). If this is so, then the meaning of And thou shalt set the Levites (v. 13) is: and you have already set the Levites56 at the beginning.57 (had atoned) is not a pluperfect.