Numbers 9

The Israelites Celebrate Passover

1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai during the first month of the second year after they left Egypt.

2 Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the appointed time.

3 They must celebrate it on the fourteenth day of this month at twilight, following all the rules and instructions.

4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover.

5 They did exactly as the Lord commanded Moses, celebrating the Passover in the wilderness of Sinai on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight.

What If Someone Is Unclean or Traveling During Passover,

6 Some men were unclean because they had touched a dead body, so they could not celebrate Passover that day. They came to Moses and Aaron.

7 They said, we are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be left out from bringing the Lord’s offering at the appointed time with the rest of the Israelites,

8 Moses told them, wait here while I ask the Lord what to do.

9 The Lord told Moses.

10 Tell the Israelites, if anyone is unclean because of a dead body or if they are traveling far away during Passover, they may still celebrate it later.

11 They must celebrate it one month later, on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They must eat the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

12 They must not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must follow all the Passover rules.

13 But if someone is clean and not traveling yet refuses to celebrate Passover, they must be cut off from the people because they did not bring the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

14 If a foreigner living among you wants to celebrate Passover, they must follow the same rules. There is one law for both Israelites and foreigners.

God’s Presence as a Cloud and Fire

15 On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. At night, the cloud looked like fire and stayed over the Tabernacle.

16 It remained that way. During the day, the cloud covered it, and at night, it looked like fire.

17 Whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites set out. Wherever the cloud stopped, they set up camp.

18 The Israelites moved when the Lord told them to and camped when He told them to. As long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle, they stayed in camp.

19 If the cloud remained for a long time, they stayed where they were and obeyed the Lord’s command.

20 Sometimes, the cloud stayed only a few days. When it lifted, they moved. When it stopped, they camped.

21 Sometimes, it stayed only from evening until morning. When it lifted in the morning, they moved. Whether day or night, when the cloud lifted, they set out.

22 Whether it stayed two days, a month, or longer, they remained in camp until the cloud lifted. Then they moved.

23 They obeyed the Lord’s commands, camping and moving based on His instructions through Moses.