Numbers 9

Numbers 9:1

H. The Passover, the Cloud, and the Silver Trumpets (9:110:10)9:1-14 God’s instructions to keep the Passover (vv. 12) preceded the events in chapter 1. Not all the events in Numbers are chronological. The Passover was kept on the fourteenth day of the first month. Special provision was made for those who were ceremonially defiled (perhaps involuntarily), through contact with a human corpse, or were away on a journey, to keep the Passover one month lateron the fourteenth day of the second month (vv. 6-12). But anyone else who failed to keep the Passover was cut off from among his people (v. 13). A stranger (Gentile) was permitted to keep the LORD’S Passover if he so desired, but on the same terms as the Jews (v. 14). 9:15-23 These verses anticipate the next chapters. They describe the glory cloud which covered the tabernaclethe cloud . . . by day and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud lifted off the tabernacle, the people of Israel were to break camp and march forward. When the cloud settled, the people were to stop and pitch their tents. The cloud was, of course, a symbol of God guiding His people. Although the Lord does not lead in such a visible way todaywe walk by faith, not by sightthe principle is still valid. Move when the Lord moves, and not before, because “darkness about going is light about staying.”