9:2This is the second Passover. The first was instituted in Egypt and recorded in Exodus 12. Passover and the Festival bow! of pitch whose smoke was visible during the day and whose fire could be seen at night. However, a bowl of pitch would not have lifted itself up and moved ahead of the people, and the Bible is clear that the cloud and fire moved in accordance with the will of God. The cloud and the fire were not merely natural phenomena; they were the vehicle of God’s presence and the visible evidence of his moving and directing his people.
Life Application Study BibleNumbersChapter 9
Numbers 9
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 214, 215
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
9Numbers 9
1over at the prescribed time, 2at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.* Be sure to follow all my decrees and regulations concerning this celebration.” 4So0 Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover Sin 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. 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 7and 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?” 8Moses answered, “Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the LORD.” 8This was the Lor’s reply to Moses. 10”Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people now or in future generations are ceremonially unclean at
of Unleavened Bread were an eight-day religious observance(Leviticus 23:5, 6) commemorating the Israelites’ escape fromslavery in Egypt by God's power.9:6-12 Several men came to Moses because of the predicamentthey faced: They were “ceremonially defiled” because of contactwith a dead body (or entering the home of a person who haddied), and this prevented them from participating in the Passovermeal. Notice that God did not adjust the requirements of thePassover, The standards of holiness were maintained, and themen were not allowed to participate. But God did make an excep-tion and allowed the men to celebrate the Passover at a later date
Passover time because of touching a dead body, or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they may still celebrate the LORD’s Passover. 11They must offer the Passover sacrifice one month later, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month.* They must eat the Passover lamb at that time with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. 1° They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover. I 13"But those who neglect to celebrate the Passover at the regular time, even though they are ceremonially clean and not away on a trip, will be cut off from the community of Israel. If they fail to present the LORD’s offering at the proper time, they will suffer the consequences of their guilt. 14And if foreigners living among you want to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, they must follow these same decrees and regulations. The same laws apply both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you.” 4. Receiving guidance for the journey
The Fiery Cloud
1515On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it.* But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire. ‘This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire. 17Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. 18In this way, they traveled and camped at the LORD’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. 19If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the LORD. 20Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the LORD commanded. Then at the LORD’s command they would break camp and move on. 21Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. 22Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. 23So they camped or traveled at the LORD’s command, and they did whatever the LORD told them through Moses.
Textual footnotes
- to purify them, 9:1 The first month of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar usually occurs within the months of March
- and April.
- 9:3 This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late March, April, or early May.
- 9:11 This day in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late April, May, or early June.
- 9:15 Hebrew covered
Life Application Notes 2 notes
9:23The Israelites traveled and camped as God guided. When you follow God’s guidance, you know you are where God wants you, whether you're moving or staying in one place. You are physically somewhere right now. Instead of praying, “God, what do you want me to do next?” ask, “God, what do you want me to do while I'm right here?” Direction from God is not just for your next big mave. He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now. Begin to understand God’s purpose for your life by discovering what he wants you to do now!
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This upheld the sacred requirements while allowing the men to participate in the feast—a duty for all Israelite men. Sometimes we face predicaments where the most obvious solution might Cause us to compromise God’s standards. Like Moses, we should Use wisdom and prayer to reach a workable solution. 9:14 God said regarding foreigners and the Passover, “They Must follow these same decrees and regulations.” This principle designed for foreigners doesn’t mean we mandate our religion to Our neighbors, but in our homes we should live out our convictions. When we have guests in our homes, whether visitors or family, we may be tempted to change or water down our Christian Practices. if family devotions, attending church, and mealtime Prayers are your practices, don’t change these when you have Quests. Holidays such as Christmas and Easter shoutd not be reduced to nothing more than society's expressions. Further, you Should maintain your family standards even when guests visit — for example, unmarried couples who are guests should not be allowed to sleep together. Maintain your Christian standards and Principles. You never know what influence you may have on the Quests in your home. 8:15-22 Apiliar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night Guided and protected the Israelites as they traveled across the wilderness. Some have said this pillar may have been a burning