Números 9

La fecha de la Pascua

1 El SEÑOR le habló a Moisés en el desierto de Sinaí, en el primer mes del segundo año después de la salida de Egipto. Le dijo:

2 «Los israelitas celebrarán la Pascua en la fecha señalada.

3 La celebrarán al atardecer del día catorce del mes, que es la fecha señalada. La celebrarán ciñéndose a todos sus estatutos y preceptos».

4 Moisés mandó que los israelitas celebraran la Pascua,

5 y ellos la celebraron en el desierto de Sinaí, al atardecer del día catorce del mes primero. Los israelitas hicieron todo lo que el SEÑOR le había mandado a Moisés.

Casos excepcionales

6 Pero algunos no pudieron celebrar la Pascua en aquel día, pues estaban ritualmente impuros por haber tocado un cadáver. Ese mismo día se acercaron a Moisés y a Aarón,

7 y les dijeron:—Hemos tocado un cadáver, así que estamos impuros. Ahora bien, esa no es razón para que no presentemos nuestras ofrendas al SEÑOR en la fecha establecida, junto con los demás israelitas.

8 Moisés les respondió:—Esperen a que averigüe lo que el SEÑOR dispone con relación a ustedes.

9 Entonces el SEÑOR le ordenó a Moisés

10 que les dijera a los israelitas: «Cuando alguno de ustedes o de sus descendientes esté ritualmente impuro por haber tocado un cadáver, o se encuentre fuera del país, aun así podrá celebrar la Pascua del SEÑOR.

11 Solo que, en ese caso, la celebrará al atardecer del día catorce del mes segundo. Comerá el cordero con pan sin levadura y hierbas amargas,

12 y no dejará nada del cordero para el día siguiente ni le quebrará un solo hueso. Cuando celebre la Pascua, lo hará según las disposiciones al respecto.

13 »Si alguien deja de celebrar la Pascua no estando impuro ni fuera del país, será eliminado de su pueblo por no haber presentado sus ofrendas al SEÑOR en la fecha establecida. Así que sufrirá las consecuencias de su pecado.

14 »Si el extranjero que vive entre ustedes quiere celebrar la Pascua del SEÑOR, deberá hacerlo ciñéndose a sus estatutos y preceptos. Las mismas disposiciones se aplicarán tanto a nativos como a extranjeros».

La nube sobre el santuario

15 El día en que se armó el santuario, es decir, la Tienda del pacto, la nube lo cubrió, y durante toda la noche cobró apariencia de fuego.

16 Así sucedía siempre: de día la nube cubría el santuario, mientras que de noche cobraba apariencia de fuego.

17 Cada vez que la nube se levantaba de la Tienda, los israelitas se ponían en marcha; y donde la nube se detenía, allí acampaban.

18 Dependiendo de lo que el SEÑOR les indicara, los israelitas se ponían en marcha o acampaban; y todo el tiempo que la nube reposaba sobre el santuario, se quedaban allí.

19 No importaba que se quedara muchos días sobre el santuario; los israelitas obedecían el mandamiento del SEÑOR y no abandonaban el lugar.

20 Lo mismo ocurría cuando la nube reposaba poco tiempo sobre el santuario: cuando el SEÑOR así lo indicaba, los israelitas acampaban o se ponían en marcha.

21 A veces la nube se quedaba una sola noche; pero ya fuera de día o de noche, cuando la nube se levantaba, los israelitas se ponían en marcha.

22 Aunque la nube reposara sobre el santuario un par de días, un mes o más tiempo, los israelitas se quedaban en el campamento y no partían; pero cuando se levantaba, se ponían en marcha.

23 Cuando el SEÑOR así lo indicaba, los israelitas acampaban o se ponían en marcha. Así obedecían el mandamiento del SEÑOR, según lo que el SEÑOR les había dicho por medio de Moisés.

Números 9 Commentary

Chapter 9

Of the Passover. (1-14) The removals of the Israelites. (15-23)

Verses 1-14 God gave particular orders for the keeping of this passover, and, for aught that appears, after this, they kept no passover till they came to Canaan, ( Joshua 5:10 ) . It early showed that the ceremonial institutions were not to continue always, as so soon after they were appointed, some were suffered to sleep for many years. But the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was not thus set aside in the first days of the Christian church, although those were days of greater difficulty and distress than Israel knew in the wilderness; nay, in the times of persecution, the Lord's Supper was celebrated more frequently than afterward. Israelites in the wilderness could not forget the deliverance out of Egypt. There was danger of this when they came to Canaan. Instructions were given concerning those who were ceremonially unclean, when they were to eat the passover. Those whose minds and consciences are defiled by sin, are unfit for communion with God, and cannot partake with comfort of the gospel passover, till they are cleansed by true repentance and faith. Observe with what trouble and concern these men complained that they were kept back from offering to the Lord. It should be a trouble to us, when by any occasion we are kept back from the solemnities of a sabbath or a sacrament. Observe the deliberation of Moses in resolving this case. Ministers must ask counsel of God's mouth, not determine according to their own fancy or affection, but according to the word of God to the best of their knowledge. And if, in difficult cases, time is taken to spread the matter before God by humble, believing prayer, the Holy Spirit assuredly will direct in the good and right way. God gave directions in this case, and in other similar cases, explanatory of the law of the passover. As those who, against their minds, are forced to absent themselves from God's ordinances, may expect the favours of God's grace under their affliction, so those who, of choice, absent themselves, may expect God's wrath for their sin. Be not deceived: God is not mocked.

Verses 15-23 This cloud was appointed to be the visible sign and symbol of God's presence with Israel. Thus we are taught to see God always near us, both night and day. As long as the cloud rested on the tabernacle, so long they continued in the same place. There is no time lost, while we are waiting God's time. When the cloud was taken up, they removed, however comfortably they were encamped. We are kept at uncertainty concerning the time of our putting off the earthly house of this tabernacle, that we may be always ready to remove at the command of the Lord. It is very safe and pleasant going when we see God before us, and resting where he appoints us to rest. The leading of this cloud is spoken of as signifying the guidance of the blessed Spirit. We are not now to expect such tokens of the Divine presence and guidance; but the promise is sure to all God's spiritual Israel, that he will guide them by his counsel. #Ps. 73:24 |, even unto death, ( Psalms 48:14 ) . All the children of God shall be led by the Spirit of God, ( Romans 8:14 ) . He will direct the paths of those who in all their ways acknowledge him, ( Proverbs 3:6 ) . At the commandment of the Lord, our hearts should always move and rest, saying, Father, thy will be done; dispose of me and mine as thou pleasest. What thou wilt, and where thou wilt; only let me be thine, and always in the way of my duty. In applying general precepts to particular circumstances, there should be good counsel and fervent prayer. When any undertaking is evidently wrong, or doubtfully right, and yet the mind leans that way, in such a case "the moving of the cloud," as men sometimes miscall it, is generally no more than a temptation Satan is permitted to propose; and men fancy they are following the Lord, when they are following their own wayward inclinations. The record of his mercy will conduct us with unerring truth, through Christ, to everlasting peace. Follow the pillar of the cloud and of fire. Lay the BIBLE to heart, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 9

In this chapter the command for keeping the passover is repeated, and it was accordingly kept, Nu 9:1-5; but some persons being defiled and disqualified for observing it, Moses inquires of the Lord, on their solicitation, what should be done in such a case, Nu 9:6-8; when it was ordered to be kept by such, and those on journeys, on the fourteenth day of the second month, but not by others, who were to observe it according to its first appointment, Nu 9:9-14; and an account is given of the appearance of the cloud by day, and fire by night, upon the tabernacle, which directed the children of Israel when to journey, and when to pitch their tents, Nu 9:15-23.