Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 8:24/אבן עזרא על במדבר ח׳:כ״ד
אזאת אשר ללוים. והטעם זאת הקצבה ואין מבן שלשים שנה מכחיש זה הפסוק כי מבן שלשים שנה הוא לעבודת משא ומבן חמש ועשרים לעבודת האהל:
1THIS IS THAT WHICH PERTAINETH UNTO THE LEVITES. Its meaning is, this is the set time of service which pertains to the Levites.59 (this is) is short for zot ha-kitzvah (the set time of service). The verse reading from thirty years and upward (Num. 4:23)60. does not contradict our verse,61 24a, they begin their studies at the age of 25 and their service at the age of 30. See Rashi. for from thirty years and upward refers to the service of bearing burdens (Num. 4:24), while our verse, which reads from twenty and five years all and upward, refers to the service in the work of the tent of meeting.
בוטעם לצבא. להמנות עם צבא העובדים:
2The meaning of li-tzeva (to perform the service) is, to be counted among the host of workers.62 means a host. Hence I.E.’s interpretation.