Tyndale Open Study NotesNumbers 9

A year after Israel left Egypt, it was time for them to celebrate their second Passover in the Sinai wilderness. Those unable to celebrate at the set time could do so a month later.

• God told the Hebrews to celebrate Passover at the set time (see Exodus 12:6).

• at twilight: The Hebrew day starts at sunset.

When it was time to celebrate Passover, some men could not participate due to the rules in Leviticus 7:20–21. They wanted to follow the rules, but it seemed impossible for them.

Moses agreed to ask the Lord about this difficult case (compare 7:89).

God's solution to the problem was to allow a makeup ceremony one month later for two special cases (see also 2 Chronicles 30). Yet, he warned the Israelites not to neglect the Passover and to celebrate it according to the rules.

The Israelites could not break the bones of the Passover lamb (see Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20; John 19:32–36; compare John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). The apostle John mentioned this instruction when he wrote that they did not break the legs of Jesus when he was on the cross (John 19:36).

If a person refused to observe the required Passover, that person was to be cut off from the community. The Passover was a central act of worship that remembered God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt.

The phrase “cut off” can have more than one meaning in the Old Testament. It may refer to the death penalty. It may also mean banishment from the community (being removed from the people). The exact meaning in this case is not fully clear (see study note on Leviticus 7:20–21).

Foreigners who lived among the Hebrews and wanted to celebrate the Passover could do so by following the same laws, but circumcision was required for males who desired to eat the Passover meal (see also Exodus 12:48–49).

This passage is similar to Exodus 40:17, 34–38. It gives more details about how God used the pillar of cloud and fire to lead his people (see also Exodus 13:21–22). The Lord was faithful and clearly guided his people in the wilderness.

Even Israel's enemies saw the fiery cloud (14:14). This clearly represented God's glorious presence and the way he guided their movement.