1 The passover is again commanded
6 A second passover for the unclean or absent
15 The cloud directs the removals and encampments of the Israelites

A.M. 2514, B.C. 1490. Abib. in the first month. The fourteen first verses of this chapter evidently refer to a time previous to the commencement of this book; but as there is no evidence of a transposition, it is better to conclude with Houbigant, that 'it is enough to know, that these books contain an account of things transacted in the days of Moses, though not in their regular or chronological order.' Nu 1:1 Ex 40:2

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

keep Ex 12:1-3

his appointed Nu 28:16 Ex 12:6,14 Le 23:5 De 16:1,2 Jos 5:10 2Ch 35:1 Ezr 6:19 Mr 14:12 Lu 22:7 1Co 5:7,8

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.

the fourteenth 2Ch 30:2,15

at even. Heb. between the two evenings Ex 12:6 Heb 9:26

according to all the rites Nu 9:11,12 Ex 12:7-11

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.

they kept Jos 5:10

according Nu 8:20 29:40 Ge 6:22 7:5 Ex 39:32,42 De 1:3 4:5 Mt 28:20 Joh 15:14 Ac 26:19 Heb 3:5 11:8

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:

defiled Nu 5:2 6:6,7 19:11,16,18 Le 21:11 Joh 18:28

they came Nu 15:33 27:2,5 Ex 18:15,19,26 Le 24:11

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?

we may not offer Nu 9:2 Ex 12:27 De 16:2 2Ch 30:17-19 1Co 5:7,8

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

stand Ex 14:13 2Ch 20:17

I will Nu 27:5 Ps 25:14 85:8 Pr 3:5,6 Eze 2:7 3:17 Joh 7:17 17:8 Ac 20:27 1Co 4:4 11:23 Heb 3:5,6

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.

be unclean Nu 9:6,7 Ro 15:8-19 16:25,26 1Co 6:9-11 Eph 2:1,2,12,13 3:6-9

yet he shall keep Mt 5:24 1Co 11:28

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

fourteenth Nu 9:3 Ex 12:2-14,43-49 2Ch 30:2-15 Joh 19:36

and eat it Ex 12:8

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.

shall leave Ex 12:10

break any bone. In the East, Belon says, he 'met with shepherds who were roasting sheep whole, which they sold to travellers stuck upon sticks of willow tree. The entrails were taken out, and the body again sewed up.' Ex 12:46 Joh 19:36

according Nu 9:3 Ex 12:43

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.

forbeareth Nu 15:30,31 19:13 Ge 17:14 Ex 12:15 Le 17:4,10,14-16 Heb 2:3 6:6 10:26-29 12:25

because Nu 9:2,3,7

bear his sin Nu 5:31 Le 20:20 22:9 Eze 23:49 Heb 9:28

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.

Ex 12:48,49 Le 19:10 22:25 24:22 De 29:11 31:12 Isa 56:3-7 Eph 2:19-22

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.

on the day Ex 40:2,18

the cloud Nu 14:14 Ex 14:19,20,24 33:9,10 40:34 Ne 9:12,19 Ps 78:14 105:39 Isa 4:5 Eze 10:3,4 1Co 10:1

at even Ex 13:21 40:38

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

Nu 9:18-22 Ex 13:21,22 40:38 De 1:33 Ne 9:12,19 Ps 78:14 105:39 Isa 4:5,6 1Co 10:1 2Co 5:19 Re 21:3

This cloud not only enlightened the Israelites, but also protected them, and was a continual pledge of God's presence and protection. To this manifestation of the Divine glory, the prophet Isaiah alludes, when he says, The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night. God is the director, protector, and glory of his church.

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.

when the cloud Nu 10:11,33,34 Ex 40:36-38 Ps 80:1,2 Isa 49:10 Joh 10:3-5,9

and in the Ex 33:14,15 Ps 32:8 73:24 Joh 10:3,4,9

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.

and at the Nu 9:20 10:13 Ex 17:1 2Jo 1:6

as long as 1Co 10:1

There is no time lost, while we are waiting God's time. It is as acceptable a piece of submission to the will of God, to sit still contentedly when our lot requires it, as to work for him when we are called to it.

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.

tarried long. Heb. prolonged. Kept the Nu 1:52,53 3:8 Zec 3:7

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.

abode. Heb. was

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.

abode Nu 9:17 1:54 8:20 23:21,22 Ex 39:42 40:16,36,37 De 1:6,7 2:3,4 Ps 32:8 48:14 73:24 77:20 107:7 143:10 Pr 3:5,6 Ac 1:4

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.

they kept Nu 9:19 Ge 26:5 Jos 22:3 Eze 44:8 Zec 3:7

Some of the Levites may have been appointed to watch the moving of the pillar, and to give timely notice to the camp of its beginning to stir; and this is called 'keeping the charge of the Lord.' It is uncomfortable staying when God is departed, but very safe and pleasant going, when we see God go before us, and resting where he appoints us to rest.