7 And those H1992 men H582 said H559 unto him, We are defiled H2931 by the dead body H5315 of a man: H120 wherefore are we kept back, H1639 that we may not offer H7126 an offering H7133 of the LORD H3068 in his appointed season H4150 among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel? H3478
That ye shall say, H559 It is the sacrifice H2077 of the LORD'S H3068 passover, H6453 who passed H6452 over the houses H1004 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 in Egypt, H4714 when he smote H5062 the Egyptians, H4714 and delivered H5337 our houses. H1004 And the people H5971 bowed the head H6915 and worshipped. H7812
For there were many H7227 in the congregation H6951 that were not sanctified: H6942 therefore the Levites H3881 had the charge of the killing H7821 of the passovers H6453 for every one that was not clean, H2889 to sanctify H6942 them unto the LORD. H3068 For a multitude H4768 of the people, H5971 even many H7227 of Ephraim, H669 and Manasseh, H4519 Issachar, H3485 and Zebulun, H2074 had not H3808 cleansed H2891 themselves, yet did they eat H398 the passover H6453 otherwise than it was written. H3789 But Hezekiah H3169 prayed H6419 for them, saying, H559 The good H2896 LORD H3068 pardon H3722 every one That prepareth H3559 his heart H3824 to seek H1875 God, H430 the LORD H3068 God H430 of his fathers, H1 though he be not cleansed according to the purification H2893 of the sanctuary. H6944
Purge out G1571 therefore G3767 the old G3820 leaven, G2219 that G2443 ye may be G5600 a new G3501 lump, G5445 as G2531 ye are G2075 unleavened. G106 For G1063 even G2532 Christ G5547 our G2257 passover G3957 is sacrificed G2380 for G5228 us: G2257 Therefore G5620 let us keep the feast, G1858 not G3361 with G1722 old G3820 leaven, G2219 neither G3366 with G1722 the leaven G2219 of malice G2549 and G2532 wickedness; G4189 but G235 with G1722 the unleavened G106 bread of sincerity G1505 and G2532 truth. G225
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 9
Commentary on Numbers 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 9
Nu 9:1-5. The Passover Enjoined.
2-5. Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season, &c.—The date of this command to keep the passover in the wilderness was given shortly after the erection and consecration of the tabernacle and preceded the numbering of the people by a month. (Compare Nu 9:1 with Nu 1:1, 2). But it is narrated after that transaction in order to introduce the notice of a particular case, for which a law was provided to meet the occasion. This was the first observance of the passover since the exodus; and without a positive injunction, the Israelites were under no obligation to keep it till their settlement in the land of Canaan (Ex 12:25). The anniversary was kept on the exact day of the year on which they, twelve months before, had departed from Egypt; and it was marked by all the peculiar rites—the he lamb and the unleavened bread. The materials would be easily procured—the lambs from their numerous flocks and the meal for the unleavened bread, by the aid of Jethro, from the land of Midian, which was adjoining their camp (Ex 3:1). But their girded loins, their sandaled feet, and their staff in their hand, being mere circumstances attending a hurried departure and not essential to the rite, were not repeated. It is supposed to have been the only observance of the feast during their forty years' wandering; and Jewish writers say that, as none could eat the passover except they were circumcised (Ex 12:43, 44, 48), and circumcision was not practised in the wilderness [Jos 5:4-7], there could be no renewal of the paschal solemnity.
Nu 9:6-14. A Second Passover Allowed.
6, 7. there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man—To discharge the last offices to the remains of deceased relatives was imperative; and yet attendance on a funeral entailed ceremonial defilement, which led to exclusion from all society and from the camp for seven days. Some persons who were in this situation at the arrival of the first paschal anniversary, being painfully perplexed about the course of duty because they were temporarily disqualified at the proper season, and having no opportunity of supplying their want were liable to a total privation of all their privileges, laid their case before Moses. Jewish writers assert that these men were the persons who had carried out the dead bodies of Nadab and Abihu [Le 10:4, 5].
8-14. Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you—A solution of the difficulty was soon obtained, it being enacted, by divine authority, that to those who might be disqualified by the occurrence of a death in their family circle or unable by distance to keep the passover on the anniversary day, a special license was granted of observing it by themselves on the same day and hour of the following month, under a due attendance to all the solemn formalities. (See on 2Ch 30:2). But the observance was imperative on all who did not labor under these impediments.
14. if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover—Gentile converts, or proselytes, as they were afterwards called, were admitted, if circumcised, to the same privileges as native Israelites, and were liable to excommunication if they neglected the passover. But circumcision was an indispensable condition; and whoever did not submit to that rite, was prohibited, under the sternest penalties, from eating the passover.
Nu 9:15-23. A Cloud Guides the Israelites.
15. the cloud covered the tabernacle—The inspired historian here enters on an entirely new subject, which might properly have formed a separate chapter, beginning at this verse and ending at Nu 10:29 [Calmet]. The cloud was a visible token of God's special presence and guardian care of the Israelites (Ex 14:20; Ps 105:39). It was easily distinguishable from all other clouds by its peculiar form and its fixed position; for from the day of the completion of the tabernacle it rested by day as a dark, by night as a fiery, column on that part of the sanctuary which contained the ark of the testimony (Le 16:2).
17. when the cloud was taken up—that is, rose to a higher elevation, so as to be conspicuous at the remotest extremities of the camp. That was a signal for removal; and, accordingly, it is properly called (Nu 9:18) "the commandment of the Lord." It was a visible token of the presence of God; and from it, as a glorious throne, He gave the order. So that its motion regulated the commencement and termination of all the journeys of the Israelites. (See on Ex 14:19).
19. when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle, … then Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not—A desert life has its attractions, and constant movements create a passionate love of change. Many incidents show that the Israelites had strongly imbibed this nomad habit and were desirous of hastening to Canaan. But still the phases of the cloud indicated the command of God: and whatsoever irksomeness they might have felt in remaining long stationary in camp, "when the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle many days, they kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not." Happy for them had they always exhibited this spirit of obedience! and happy for all if, through the wilderness of this world, we implicitly follow the leadings of God's Providence and the directions of God's Word!