1.
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
2.
Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.
Num 9:2 Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.
Ver. 2. Keep the passover. ] This passover; for they kept no more but this, till they came into the land of Canaan, Jos 5:10 Exo 12:25 because of their often and uncertain removes. The feast of tabernacles likewise was for many ages omitted; or at least not in due manner observed, as by dwelling in booths, reading the book of the law, &c., Neh 8:16-18 which a man would wonder at. But Vexatio dat intellectum: those Jews were newly returned from captivity.
3.
In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
Num 9:3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
Ver. 3. According to all the rites. ] It was a true saying of Socrates in Xenophon, Deum eo cultus genere coli velle, quem ipse instituerit that God must be worshipped in his own way only. Whereunto agreeth that of Cicero, Deum non superstitione coli velle, sed pietate.
4.
And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.
5.
And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
Num 9:5 And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
Ver. 5. And they kept the passover. ] See Trapp on " Exo 12:1 " &c
6.
And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:
Num 9:6 And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:
Ver. 6. They could not keep the passover. ] Because they were to be unclean seven days. Num 19:11 Now, among the very heathen, the sacrificers were to purify themselves some days before; they had their caena pura the night before, &c., a and having expiated the company, they cried, τις τηδε ; who is here? to which they made reply, πολλοι κα γαθοι γε παρεισιν , Many and good are here. b
a Demosth.
b Aristoph.
7.
And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?
Num 9:7 And those men said unto him, We [are] defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?
Ver. 7. And those men said unto him. ] Moses they knew was a meet man to resolve this case of conscience. He was a messenger, an interpreter, "one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness," Job 33:23 a merchant to sell oil and balm from Gilead, to cure consciences. Mat 25:9 Others may write cases, that is, covers of conscience; but resolve none. Conscience is a diamond, and will be wrought on by nothing but dust of diamond, such as contrition hath ground it to.
8.
And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.
Num 9:8 And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.
Ver. 8. Stand still and I will hear. ] Moses was but the echo of God’s voice; John Baptist, "the voice of one crying in the wilderness": St Paul "received of the Lord" what he delivered to the Church, 1Co 11:23 and took care that the faith of his hearers "might not be in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God." 1Co 2:4-5 Unwarranted doctrines come not cum gratia et privilegio.
9.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
10.
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.
Num 9:10 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or [be] in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.
Ver. 10. Or be in a journey afar off. ] This rendered a man unfit to partake; because either his head would be so taken up about his business then, or his mind so set upon home, that he would have little leisure or liberty to prepare for the passover.
11.
The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
Num 9:11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, [and] eat it with unleavened bread and bitter [herbs].
Ver. 11. With unleavened bread. ] Teaching them to "purge out the old leaven," that fusty, swelling, souring, spreading, corruption of nature and practice.
And bitter herbs. ] Directing them to true humiliation and bitterness for sin; without which there can be no sweetness in the blood of Christ.
12.
They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
Num 9:12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
Ver. 12. They shall leave none. ] The Lord in his infinite wisdom would hereby prevent all occasions of idolatry, which is easily admitted in the reservations of holy things, as in Popery at this day.
13.
But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
14.
And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
15.
And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
16.
So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
17.
And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
Num 9:17 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
Ver. 17. And when the cloud. ] This visible sign they had of God’s presence, for their motion or station by night or by day, through all their pilgrimage. "In all thy ways acknowledge God, and he shall direct thy paths." Pro 3:6 "When thou sittest in darkness, the Lord shall give thee light." Mic 7:8
18.
At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
19.
And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.
Num 9:19 And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.
Ver. 19. Kept the charge of the Lord. ] Or, His wateh - viz., to be ready at any hour to remove. So must we always watch and be in readiness, as not knowing whether at even, or at midnight, or cock crowing, or in the dawning, Christ will come. Mar 13:35
20.
And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
21.
And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
22.
Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
Num 9:22 Or [whether it were] two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
Ver. 22. When it was taken up they journeyed. ] In that wilderness of Arabia there were no beaten paths, no footsteps of passengers appeared; wherefore travellers there used to steer their course, as mariners at sea do, by a mathematical chart. But these Israelites went by a better direction. So do all saints. Heb 11:16
23.
At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Num 9:23 At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Ver. 23. At the commandment of the Lord. ] This signified that the saints are to rest, or go on, at the voice of Christ, Joh 10:3-4 and that "whatsoever they do in word or deed, to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus," Col 3:17 to seek and find all their perfection and defenee in him alone.