Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 8:26/אבן עזרא על במדבר ח׳:כ״ו
אבמשמרותם. על הזקנים ונדבקה פרשת הפסח כי החנוכה היתה בחדש הראשון ואז נבדלו הלוים ובאה זאת הפרשה בעבור שהוא כתוב בפסח והיה כי תבאו אל הארץ והיה כי יביאך ה' צוה שהם חייבים גם במדבר:
1TO KEEP THE CHARGE. This command is directed to the elders.63 The section dealing with the Passover follows the section dealing with the consecration of the Levites because the dedication of the altar took place in the first month.64 The Levites were separated65 at that time.66 The section dealing with Passover67 is written here because, concerning the Passover, it was written, And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land (Ex. 12:25); And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land (Ex. 13:5).68 This chapter69 records that God commanded that they were obligated to offer the Passover sacrifice in the desert also.70