Numbers9
English Standard Version
1And the Lord to in the of , in the of the after they had of the of , ,
2Let the of the at its .
3On the of this , at , you shall it at its ; according to its and its you shall it.
4So the of that they should the .
5And they the in the month, on the of the , at , in the of ; according to that the Lord , the of .
6And there were certain were through touching a , so that they the on that , and they on that .
7And to him, We are through touching a . are we the Lord ’s at its the of ?
8And to them, , that I may the Lord will concerning you.
9The Lord to , ,
10 to the of , , of you or of your is through touching a , or is on a , he shall still the to the Lord.
11In the on the at they shall it. They shall it with and .
12They shall of the , any of its ; according to the for the they shall it.
13But if is and is on a to the , that shall be from his he did not the Lord ’s at its ; that shall his .
14And a among you and would the to the Lord, according to the of the and according to its , shall he . You shall have , both for the and for the .
15On the that the was , the the , the of the . And at it was the like the of .
16 it was : the it by day and the of by .
17And the the , the of , and in the the settled , the of .
18 the of the Lord the of , and the of the Lord they . As long the the , they remained in .
19Even when the the , the of the of the Lord and did .
20 the was a the , and according the of the Lord they remained in ; then according the of the Lord they .
21And the remained from until . And when the in the , they , if it continued for a and a , when the they .
22 it was two , a , a longer , that the the , there, the of remained in and did , but when it they .
23 the of the Lord they , and the of the Lord they . They the of the Lord, the of the Lord .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 9.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Of the Passover. (1–14). The removals of the Israelites. (15–23).
vv1-14
God gave particular orders for the keeping of this passover, and, for aught that appears, after this, they kept no passover till they came to Canaan, Jos 5:10. It early showed that the ceremonial institutions were not to continue always, as so soon after they were appointed, some were suffered to sleep for many years. But the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was not thus set aside in the first days of the Christian church, although those were days of greater difficulty and distress than Israel knew in the wilderness; nay, in the times of persecution, the Lord's Supper was celebrated more frequently than afterward. Israelites in the wilderness could not forget the deliverance out of Egypt. There was danger of this when they came to Canaan. Instructions were given concerning those who were ceremonially unclean, when they were to eat the passover. Those whose minds and consciences are defiled by sin, are unfit for communion with God, and cannot partake with comfort of the gospel passover, till they are cleansed by true repentance and faith. Observe with what trouble and concern these men complained that they were kept back from offering to the Lord. It should be a trouble to us, when by any occasion we are kept back from the solemnities of a sabbath or a sacrament. Observe the deliberation of Moses in resolving this case. Ministers must ask counsel of God's mouth, not determine according to their own fancy or affection, but according to the word of God to the best of their knowledge. And if, in difficult cases, time is taken to spread the matter before God by humble, believing prayer, the Holy Spirit assuredly will direct in the good and right way. God gave directions in this case, and in other similar cases, explanatory of the law of the passover. As those who, against their minds, are forced to absent themselves from God's ordinances, may expect the favours of God's grace under their affliction, so those who, of choice, absent themselves, may expect God's wrath for their sin. Be not deceived: God is not mocked.
vv15-23
This cloud was appointed to be the visible sign and symbol of God's presence with Israel. Thus we are taught to see God always near us, both night and day. As long as the cloud rested on the tabernacle, so long they continued in the same place. There is no time lost, while we are waiting God's time. When the cloud was taken up, they removed, however comfortably they were encamped. We are kept at uncertainty concerning the time of our putting off the earthly house of this tabernacle, that we may be always ready to remove at the command of the Lord. It is very safe and pleasant going when we see God before us, and resting where he appoints us to rest. The leading of this cloud is spoken of as signifying the guidance of the blessed Spirit. We are not now to expect such tokens of the Divine presence and guidance; but the promise is sure to all God's spiritual Israel, that he will guide them by his counsel. Ps 73:24, even unto death, Ps 48:14. All the children of God shall be led by the Spirit of God, Ro 8:14. He will direct the paths of those who in all their ways acknowledge him, Pr 3:6. At the commandment of the Lord, our hearts should always move and rest, saying, Father, thy will be done; dispose of me and mine as thou pleasest. What thou wilt, and where thou wilt; only let me be thine, and always in the way of my duty. In applying general precepts to particular circumstances, there should be good counsel and fervent prayer. When any undertaking is evidently wrong, or doubtfully right, and yet the mind leans that way, in such a case “the moving of the cloud,” as men sometimes miscall it, is generally no more than a temptation Satan is permitted to propose; and men fancy they are following the Lord, when they are following their own wayward inclinations. The record of his mercy will conduct us with unerring truth, through Christ, to everlasting peace. Follow the pillar of the cloud and of fire. Lay the BIBLE to heart, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
מִדְבָּר: a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
סִינַי: Sinai, mountain of Arabia
רִאשׁוֹן: first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
שֵׁנִי: properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
יָצָא: to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Cross References
Numbers 9Directly quotes and fulfills the command not to break any bone of the paschal lamb.
King Hezekiah implements this specific second-month Passover provision for those unclean or traveling.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The original Exodus ordinance forbidding the breaking of any bones of the Passover lamb.
The next recorded celebration of the Passover, occurring upon Israel's entry into Canaan.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Defines the seven-day uncleanness resulting from touching a dead body.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The original appearance of the pillar of cloud and fire to guide Israel.
Poetically describes the cloud spread for a covering and fire to give light.
Supported by JFB
Another instance where Moses brings a difficult legal case directly before the Lord.
The requirement of circumcision for strangers/proselytes to partake in the Passover.
Supported by JFB
The cloud first covering the Tabernacle when it was initially reared up.
Paul's typological application of the cloud as a spiritual baptism of the fathers.
Shows this command was chronologically prior to the census in chapter 1.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Establishes 'one law' for the homeborn and the stranger sojourning among them.
Spiritual application of God's guidance, leading His people by His counsel.
Supported by Matthew Henry