1The passover is commanded again. 6The case of some that were unclean. 9A second passover is allowed for such, and for the absent at the first. 15The cloud guideth the removals and encampments of the Israelites.
1AND the LORD 1spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, 2in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
1 Other, had spoken (and so likewise in the sequel of this text to verse 7), namely, before the numbering of the Israelites, written in Num. 1:1, which happened in the second month of the second year, but this account is now inserted after this by reason of the unclean and traveling persons, who could not keep the Passover in the first month and were therefore remitted to the second month. See verse 11.
2 Called Nisan by the Hebrews, Neh. 2:1; Esther 3:7, other, Abib. See Exod. 13 on verse 4 and 23:15. It agrees for the most part with our March.
2Let the children of Israel also keep the 3passovera at his 4appointed season.
3 See of this word Exod. 12 on verse 11 and Lev. 23 on verse 5.
a Exod. 21:1, etc.; Lev. 23:5; Num. 28:16; Deut. 16:2.
4 See Exod. 12:6.
3In the fourteenth day of this month, 5at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the 6ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
5 See concerning this expression Exod. 12 on verse 6.
6 Whereof see Exodus 12; 23; Leviticus 23.
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.
6¶And there were certain 7men, who were 8defiled by 9the dead body of a man, that they 10could not keep the passover 11on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:
7 Under the Hebrew word men, women are likewise comprehended in this passage, as Gen. 39:11, 14.
8 Namely, according to the ceremonial law, meaning, the spiritual uncleanness. Understand therefore such as were unclean for having touched a dead body, or had gone into an house where was a dead body, or had accompanied the dead body to the grave. See Lev. 21:1, 11.
9 Hebr. soul; see Lev. 19 on verse 28. Also in the next verse.
10 See Lev. 7:20 where the unclean persons are forbidden to eat of the thank offerings.
11 That is, upon the ordinary and appointed day.
7And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we 12kept back, that we may not offer 13an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?
12 Or, abridged, or held back.
13 Understand hereby the passover lamb, which is so called here and in verse 13 and Exod. 12:27, partly because the slaying thereof was done by and according to God’s special command to keep their deliverance out of Egypt in continual remembrance, and to offer thanksgiving to God for it, Exod. 12:27; partly because that slaying has been a type pointing to the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 5:7.
8And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.
9¶And 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 14eat it with unleavened bread and 15bitter herbs.
14 Namely, the Passover. See this manner of speaking likewise in Deut. 16:7; 2 Chron. 30:18; John 18:28, and understand thereby the Passover lamb, which is called a passing by, for the reasons given in Lev. 23 on verse 5. The same manner of speech is to kill the Passover, Exod. 12:21; Deut. 16:2, 6; thou shalt roast it, Deut. 16:7.
15 Hebr. bitternesses.
12They shall leave none of itb unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
b Exod. 12:46; John 19:33, 36.
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 16from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, 17that man shall bear his sin.
16 See Gen. 17 on verse 14.
17 See Lev. 5 on verse 1.
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 18the manner thereof, so shall he do: yec shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
18 See Lev. 5 on verse 10.
c Exod. 12:49.
15¶And ond the day that the tabernacle was reared up the 19cloud covered 20the tabernacle, namely, the tent 21of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
d Exod. 40:34.
19 Whereof see Exod. 13 on verse 21.
20 That is, not properly over the court, but somewhat over the holy place, especially over the most holy, where was the ark of the testimony.
21 See Num. 1 on verse 50.
16So it was alway: the cloud 22covered 23it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
22 Namely, by day. See Exod. 13:21 and is to be gathered likewise from the previous verse.
23 That is, the tabernacle.
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 24commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: ase long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
24 That is, thus they did according to the precept of the LORD; understand, according as God made it known by the cloud, which was a token of His presence, whether the same was lifted up or stood still. For, that (precept) was unto the Israelites instead of a command of the LORD, according to which they were to spend in traveling or to remain at rest.
e 1 Cor. 10:1.
19And when the cloud 25tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel 26kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.
25 Hebr. prolonged.
26 That is, they diligently attended the exercise of the entire worship service in the tabernacle. Compare Lev. 8:35; Num. 3:7. They likewise observed what the LORD was doing: namely, whether He was lifting up the cloud or caused it to rest, according to which they were either to journey or to stay.
20And so it was, when the cloud was a 27few 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.
27 Hebr. days of number, that is, few. See the like expression in Gen. 34:30 and the annotation.
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 28a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, thef children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
28 Hebr. days. This word placed by itself signifies sometimes some or many days, see Gen. 4 on verse 3, or a complete year, see Lev. 25 on verse 29.
f Exod. 40:36, 37.
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 29the hand of Moses.
29 That is, through the ministry of Moses. See Exod. 4 on verse 13 and Lev. 8 on verse 36.