Numbers 9

King James Version

Full text for Numbers Chapter 9

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,

2Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.

3In 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.

4And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.

5And 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.

6And 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:

7And 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?

8And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.

9And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

10Speak 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.

11The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, [and] eat it with unleavened bread and bitter [herbs].

12They 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.

13But 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.

14And 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.

16So it was alway: the cloud covered it [by day], and the appearance of fire by night.

17And 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.

18At 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.

19And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.

20And [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.

21And [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.

22Or [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.

23At 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Numbers 9 opens with the Israelites observing the Passover in the wilderness of Sinai as commanded by the Lord. When some men were ritually defiled and unable to participate, God instituted a secondary Passover for those unclean or on a distant journey, to be held a month later. The chapter concludes by detailing how the divine cloud and pillar of fire guided Israel's movements, dictating when they should journey or encamp according to the Lord's command.

Medium Summary

In the first month of the second year after the Exodus, the Lord commanded Moses to have the children of Israel observe the Passover at its appointed time in the wilderness of Sinai. The Israelites diligently followed this ordinance. However, certain men, defiled by a dead body, were unable to keep the Passover and sought guidance from Moses and Aaron. Moses inquired of the Lord, who then established a provision for a "second Passover." This allowed those who were unclean or on a distant journey to observe the feast on the fourteenth day of the second month, with strict adherence to its rites. The Lord also decreed that any clean person not on a journey who neglected the Passover would be cut off from their people. The chapter then shifts to describe the divine guidance of the Tabernacle: a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The Israelites' encampments and journeys were entirely dependent on the movement of this cloud, demonstrating their complete reliance on the Lord's direct command for all their travels.

Long Summary

Numbers chapter 9 opens with the Lord instructing Moses in the wilderness of Sinai to command the children of Israel to keep the Passover in the first month of the second year after their departure from Egypt. Moses conveyed this command, and the Israelites faithfully observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even, according to all the Lord's ordinances. A specific issue arose when certain men, defiled by contact with a dead body, were prevented from keeping the Passover at the appointed time and approached Moses and Aaron for a resolution. Moses, seeking divine counsel, presented their case before the Lord. In response, the Lord established a new ordinance, allowing those who were unclean by a dead body or on a journey afar off to observe the Passover on the fourteenth day of the second month. This "second Passover" was to be kept with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, with no part left until morning and no bone broken, mirroring the original Passover's rites. The Lord further stipulated that any clean individual not on a journey who neglected to keep the Passover would be cut off from their people, bearing their sin. Furthermore, a stranger sojourning among Israel could also keep the Passover according to the same ordinance, establishing one law for both native-born and sojourner. The latter part of the chapter describes the miraculous divine guidance provided to Israel. From the day the Tabernacle was erected, a cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night, serving as a constant visible sign of God's presence. The movement of this cloud dictated all of Israel's journeys and encampments. When the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites journeyed; where it abode, they pitched their tents. Their resting and traveling were solely at the commandment of the Lord, whether the cloud tarried for a few days, a month, or even a year. This system ensured that the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, moving or resting only as divinely directed through Moses.

Core Concepts

  • Passover ObservanceThe chapter begins with the Israelites observing the Passover in the wilderness of Sinai, fulfilling the Lord's command for this annual feast at its appointed time.
  • Second Passover OrdinanceGod institutes a special provision allowing those ritually unclean by a dead body or on a distant journey to observe the Passover a month later, on the fourteenth day of the second month.
  • Divine Guidance by Cloud and FireThe Lord's presence is manifested as a cloud covering the Tabernacle by day and an appearance of fire by night, serving as a constant visible sign for Israel.
  • Israel's Obedience to Divine CommandThe children of Israel consistently obeyed the Lord's commands, whether keeping the Passover or moving and resting according to the cloud's guidance.
  • Inclusion of StrangersThe ordinance for the Passover extends to strangers sojourning among Israel, establishing one law for both native-born and those who join the community.
  • Consequences of NeglectA severe penalty is prescribed for any clean person not on a journey who neglects to keep the Passover, stating they shall be cut off from their people.