Numbers 9:1-8

1 A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. In the first month of that year he said,

2 “Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time,

3 at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. Be sure to follow all my decrees and regulations concerning this celebration.”

4 So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover

5 in the wilderness of Sinai as twilight fell on the fourteenth day of the month. And they celebrated the festival there, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

6 But some of the men had been ceremonially defiled by touching a dead body, so they could not celebrate the Passover that day. They came to Moses and Aaron that day

7 and said, “We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But why should we be prevented from presenting the LORD ’s offering at the proper time with the rest of the Israelites?”

8 Moses answered, “Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the LORD .”

Numbers 9:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. The first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of March and April.
• [b]. This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late March, April, or early May.