How will we explain the fact that this Parshah was said in Nisan of the second year, whereas the opening Parshah in Seifer Bamidbar was said in the month of Iyar?
Rashi, Ramban (citing the Sifri) and Seforno: This is due to the principle 'Ein Mukdam u'Me'uchar ba'Torah.' 1
The Torah does not necessarily follow the chronological order of events - wherever there is reason not to do so - Seforno.
Seeing as this Parshah was said in Nisan, why did Seifer Bamidbar not begin with it?
Rashi: Because this Parshah has a derogatory side to it, inasmuch as it deals with the only Korban Pesach that Yisrael brought 1 throughout the forty years that they traveled in the desert. 2
Ramban: Bearing in mind that the objective of Seifer Bamidbar is to record the Mitzvos that Yisrael were commanded in the desert, after concluding the issues concerning the Ohel Mo'ed and its establishment, the Torah discussed the four Degalim, the location of the Ohel Mo'ed and those who served in it, and the establishment of the Mishmaros regarding the carrying of the Mishkan, including the Korbanos of the Nesi'im who donated the wagons with which the Mishkan was transported throughout the forty years in the desert. And it concluded with the Korbanos of the Chanukas ha'Mizbe'ach which took place on Rosh Chodesh Nisan or afterwards. And it now goes back to remind Yisrael not to forget to bring the Korban Pesach.
Seforno: After arranging the camp into four flags and preparing them for battle, and purifying it from Tum'ah 3 and from Mamzerus, 4 the Torah relates four good things that, were it not for the sin of the Meraglim, would have meritted their entry into Eretz Yisrael without raising a sword; 5 1. the Chanukas ha'Mizbe'ach; 2. their Zerizus in inaugurating the Levi'im and in 3. fulfilling the Mitzvah of Korban Pesach and 4. their following Hashem in the desert, irrespective of the varied circumstances - sometimes their stay in a place was long, and sometimes short. 6
Da'as Zekenim: Seifer Vayikra discussed the Ohel Mo'ed, so the Torah follows with the Degalim and camping around the Mishkan.
Oznayim la'Torah: Refer to 9:2:151:4*.
See Sifsei Chachamim.
Ramban (citing Yevamos, 71b): This was due to the fact that they did not perform the B'ris Milah on the babies that were born in the desert - and the Milah of one's sons and Avadim is crucial to the Korban Pesach. Refer also to 9:2:3:3* & 9:2:3:4.
Seforno: See Devarim 23:15.
Seforno: via the Parshah of Sotah.
As Moshe will tell Yisro - See later, 10:29.
As we will see later in the Parshah in detail.
Why does the Torah mention that it was second year of their going out of Egypt?
Yerushalmi Rosh Hashanah, 1:1: Because (until the first Beis-Hamikdash was built) 1 they counted the years from Yetzi'as Mitzrayim.
Oznayim la'Torah: In praise of Yisrael, who kept the Mitzvah of Pesach without complaining that they were still in the desert and had not yet entered Eretz Yisrael - like Dasan and Aviram did during the uprising of Korach, 2
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that it was derogatory for Yisrael that they offered Korban Pesach only once in the Midbar. But this was due to an Oneis ? because the north wind did not blow, so they could not circumcise their sons, which is crucial to the Korban Pesach? Moreover, they were not commanded until after entering Eretz Yisrael ? Bo Sh'mos, 13:5?
Da'as Zekenim and Moshav Zekenim: Had they not sinned, they would have entered in the second year and brought the Korban Pesach every year.
Ramban: Refer to 9:2:3:3.
Oznayim la'Torah: They should have asked Hashem to grant them peermission to bring the Korban esach, like the Teme'im in Pasuk 6.
