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,

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

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.

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

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.

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:

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?

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Passover Is Celebrated

The Lord spoke to Moses in the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Sinai in the first month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt [1:1]. He said, “Tell the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] to celebrate the Passover at the appointed time [Ex. 12:14–20; C commemorating the departure from Egypt]. That appointed time is the fourteenth day of this month ·at twilight [L between the two evenings]; they must obey all the rules about it.”

So Moses told the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] to celebrate the Passover, and they did; it was in the ·Desert [Wilderness] of Sinai ·at twilight [L between the two evenings] on the fourteenth day of the first month. The ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.

But some of the people could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were unclean [C in a ritual sense; 5:2] from touching a dead body. So they went to Moses and Aaron that day and said to Moses, “We are unclean because of touching a dead body. But why should we be kept from offering gifts to the Lord at this appointed time? Why can’t we join the other ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel]?”

Moses said to them, “Wait, and I will find out what the Lord says about you.”

Then the Lord said to Moses, 10 “Tell the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] this: ‘If you or your descendants become unclean [C in a ritual sense] because of a dead body, or if you are away on a trip during the Passover, you must still celebrate the Lord’s Passover. 11 But celebrate it at ·twilight [L between the two evenings] on the fourteenth day of the second month. Eat the lamb with bitter herbs [Ex. 12:8] and bread made without ·yeast [leaven]. 12 Don’t leave any of it until the next morning or break any of its bones [Ex. 12:46]. When you celebrate the Passover, follow all the rules [2 Chr. 30:1–27]. 13 Anyone who is clean and is not away on a trip but does not eat the Passover must be cut off from the people. That person did not give an offering to the Lord at the appointed time and must be punished for the sin.

14 “‘·Foreigners [Resident aliens] among you may celebrate the Lord’s Passover, but they must follow all the rules. You must have the same rules for ·foreigners [resident aliens] as you have for ·yourselves [L natives; citizens].’”

The Cloud Above the Tent

15 On the day the ·Holy Tent [Tabernacle], the Tent of the ·Agreement [Testimony; Treaty; Covenant], was set up, a cloud covered it. From dusk until dawn the cloud above the ·Tent [Tabernacle] looked like fire [Ex. 40:34–38]. 16 The cloud stayed above the ·Tent [Tabernacle], and at night it looked like fire. 17 When the cloud moved from its place over the Tent, the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] moved, and wherever the cloud stopped, the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] camped. 18 So the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] moved at the Lord’s command, and they camped at his command. While the cloud stayed over the ·Tent [Tabernacle], they remained camped. 19 Sometimes the cloud stayed over the ·Tent [Tabernacle] for a long time, but the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] obeyed the Lord and did not move. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over it only a few days. At the Lord’s command the people camped, and at his command they moved. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from dusk until dawn; when the cloud lifted the next morning, the people moved. When the cloud lifted, day or night, the people moved. 22 The cloud might stay over the ·Tent [Tabernacle] for two days, a month, or a year. As long as it stayed, the people camped, but when it lifted, they moved. 23 At the Lord’s command the people camped, and at his command they moved. They obeyed the Lord’s order that he commanded through Moses.

The Second Passover(A)

Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: “Let the children of Israel keep (B)the Passover at its appointed (C)time. On the fourteenth day of this month, [a]at twilight, you shall [b]keep it at its appointed time. According to all its [c]rites and ceremonies you shall keep it.” So Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover. And (D)they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, at twilight, in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did.

Now there were certain men who were (E)defiled by a human corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; (F)and they came before Moses and Aaron that day. And those men said to him, “We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the Lord at its appointed time among the children of Israel?”

And Moses said to them, “Stand still, that (G)I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your [d]posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the Lord’s Passover. 11 On (H)the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall (I)eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 (J)They shall leave none of it until morning, (K)nor break one of its bones. (L)According to all the [e]ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and ceases to keep the Passover, that same person (M)shall be cut off from among his people, because he (N)did not bring the offering of the Lord at its appointed time; that man shall (O)bear his sin.

14 ‘And if a stranger [f]dwells among you, and would keep the Lord’s Passover, he must do so according to the rite of the Passover and according to its ceremony; (P)you shall have one [g]ordinance, both for the stranger and the native of the land.’ ”

The Cloud and the Fire(Q)

15 Now (R)on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud (S)covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; (T)from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud (U)was [h]taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents. 18 At the [i]command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; (V)as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. 19 Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel (W)kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey. 20 So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the Lord they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the Lord they would journey. 21 So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel (X)would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 23 At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed; they (Y)kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 9:3 Lit. between the evenings
  2. Numbers 9:3 observe
  3. Numbers 9:3 statutes
  4. Numbers 9:10 descendants
  5. Numbers 9:12 statutes
  6. Numbers 9:14 As a resident alien
  7. Numbers 9:14 statute
  8. Numbers 9:17 lifted up
  9. Numbers 9:18 Lit. mouth

以 色 列 人 出 埃 及 地 以 後 , 第 二 年 正 月 , 耶 和 華 在 西 乃 的 曠 野 吩 咐 摩 西 說 :

以 色 列 人 應 當 在 所 定 的 日 期 守 逾 越 節 ,

就 是 本 月 十 四 日 黃 昏 的 時 候 , 你 們 要 在 所 定 的 日 期 守 這 節 , 要 按 這 節 的 律 例 典 章 而 守 。

於 是 摩 西 吩 咐 以 色 列 人 守 逾 越 節 。

他 們 就 在 西 乃 的 曠 野 , 正 月 十 四 日 黃 昏 的 時 候 , 守 逾 越 節 。 凡 耶 和 華 所 吩 咐 摩 西 的 , 以 色 列 人 都 照 樣 行 了 。

有 幾 個 人 因 死 屍 而 不 潔 淨 , 不 能 在 那 日 守 逾 越 節 。 當 日 他 們 到 摩 西 、 亞 倫 面 前 ,

說 : 我 們 雖 因 死 屍 而 不 潔 淨 , 為 何 被 阻 止 、 不 得 同 以 色 列 人 在 所 定 的 日 期 獻 耶 和 華 的 供 物 呢 ?

摩 西 對 他 們 說 : 你 們 暫 且 等 候 , 我 可 以 去 聽 耶 和 華 指 著 你 們 是 怎 樣 吩 咐 的 。

耶 和 華 對 摩 西 說 :

10 你 曉 諭 以 色 列 人 說 : 你 們 和 你 們 後 代 中 , 若 有 人 因 死 屍 而 不 潔 淨 , 或 在 遠 方 行 路 , 還 要 向 耶 和 華 守 逾 越 節 。

11 他 們 要 在 二 月 十 四 日 黃 昏 的 時 候 , 守 逾 越 節 。 要 用 無 酵 餅 與 苦 菜 , 和 逾 越 節 的 羊 羔 同 吃 。

12 一 點 不 可 留 到 早 晨 ; 羊 羔 的 骨 頭 一 根 也 不 可 折 斷 。 他 們 要 照 逾 越 節 的 一 切 律 例 而 守 。

13 那 潔 淨 而 不 行 路 的 人 若 推 辭 不 守 逾 越 節 , 那 人 要 從 民 中 剪 除 ; 因 為 他 在 所 定 的 日 期 不 獻 耶 和 華 的 供 物 , 應 該 擔 當 他 的 罪 。

14 若 有 外 人 寄 居 在 你 們 中 間 , 願 意 向 耶 和 華 守 逾 越 節 , 他 要 照 逾 越 節 的 律 例 典 章 行 , 不 管 是 寄 居 的 是 本 地 人 , 同 歸 一 例 。

15 立 起 帳 幕 的 那 日 , 有 雲 彩 遮 蓋 帳 幕 , 就 是 法 櫃 的 帳 幕 ; 從 晚 上 到 早 晨 , 雲 彩 在 其 上 , 形 狀 如 火 。

16 常 是 這 樣 , 雲 彩 遮 蓋 帳 幕 , 夜 間 形 狀 如 火 。

17 雲 彩 幾 時 從 帳 幕 收 上 去 , 以 色 列 人 就 幾 時 起 行 ; 雲 彩 在 那 裡 停 住 , 以 色 列 人 就 在 那 裡 安 營 。

18 以 色 列 人 遵 耶 和 華 的 吩 咐 起 行 , 也 遵 耶 和 華 的 吩 咐 安 營 。 雲 彩 在 帳 幕 上 停 住 幾 時 , 他 們 就 住 營 幾 時 。

19 雲 彩 在 帳 幕 上 停 留 許 多 日 子 , 以 色 列 人 就 守 耶 和 華 所 吩 咐 的 不 起 行 。

20 有 時 雲 彩 在 帳 幕 上 幾 天 , 他 們 就 照 耶 和 華 的 吩 咐 住 營 , 也 照 耶 和 華 的 吩 咐 起 行 。

21 有 時 從 晚 上 到 早 晨 , 有 這 雲 彩 在 帳 幕 上 ; 早 晨 雲 彩 收 上 去 , 他 們 就 起 行 。 有 時 晝 夜 雲 彩 停 在 帳 幕 上 , 收 上 去 的 時 候 , 他 們 就 起 行 。

22 雲 彩 停 留 在 帳 幕 上 , 無 論 是 兩 天 , 是 一 月 , 是 一 年 , 以 色 列 人 就 住 營 不 起 行 ; 但 雲 彩 收 上 去 , 他 們 就 起 行 。

23 他 們 遵 耶 和 華 的 吩 咐 安 營 , 也 遵 耶 和 華 的 吩 咐 起 行 。 他 們 守 耶 和 華 所 吩 咐 的 , 都 是 憑 耶 和 華 吩 咐 摩 西 的 。