Numbers 9

Numbers 9:1-14

This chapter is, 1. Concerning the great ordinance of the passover; (1.) Orders given for the observance of it at the return of the year, ver. 1-2. (2.) Presyers added for their first were irreminently unclean, or otherwise disabled, ver. 6-14. 2. Concerning the pillar of the cloud, ver. 15-23.

1. 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, 2. Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. 3. In the fourteenth day of this month it is 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. 4. And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover. 5. And they keep 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. 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. 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? 8. And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you. 9. ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 10. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or 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 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 sloop among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD, according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, to shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.

We have here,

1. The second padover observed after their deliverance from Egypt; and it should seem, they celebrated it no more till they came to Canaan, because of their omission of circumcision, which in their removal might be dangerous. Moïes, at God’s command, consists, and the people, they him. If they with delight could thus run to celebrate the memorial of their deliverance, with what constancy and gladness should we approach the table of our Lord, to remember his greater deliverance of us from work than Egyptian bondage, even from the chains of sin, and from the powers of death and hell.

2. A safe brought before Moïes, v. 6. Some persons were defiled by a dead body, and therefore could not keep the padover, yet grieved to be excluded, where themselves were without blame: they consult Moïes, and Moïes carries the matter before the Lord. Learn hence, (1.) If ceremonial defilement excluded from the padover, how much more should moral impurity delay men from the table of the Lord. (2.) Even unforeseen and unavoidable impediments, that detain us from waiting upon God in his ordinances, will be a grief to us. (3.) In cases of confidence ministers should be consulted about the path of duty. (4.) Ministers must wait much upon God in prayer, and his word, that they may be directed into all truth themselves, and enabled to direct others also.

3. God relatives the question, and makes an order for future generations. Whenever are unclear, or on a journey afar-off, have a month more allowed them, when they may with the same ceremonies keep the feast, and it would be alike accepted: but if it was desired through neglect or contempt, the future must be cut off, either by excommunication from the visible church, or by God’s hand in secret judgment. Nor, (1.) They who are disappointed unavoidably from attending upon God, will be happy to seize the full returning opportunity of approaching his heads or table. (2.) Providential hindrances from the means of grace will not, if our hearts be right, deprive us of the grace of the means; God will amply supply our wants some other way. (3.) They who reject God’s ordinances, will be rejected by him. Habitual abhorter from the Lord’s table is the bare figs of a lost soul.

4. The circumcised stranger had the same right as the home-born Israelite. In Christ Jesus there is no difference between barbarian, Scythian, bond, or free: whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

5. ¶ 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 always 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 pinched 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 refted in the tents. 19. And when the cloud carried 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 carried 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 refted 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 Moïes.

Numbers 9:15-23

The miraculous pillar of the cloud refting on the tabernacle in the day of its erection: God gives them orders how to regulate their marches by the motions and guidance of it.

1. They were to reft as the cloud refted, whether the time were long or short. God’s time is the hell time: we may not run till he calls. Faith will beget patient waiting upon God. 2. When the cloud moved by day or night, they were to be always ready, and begin their march. Nor, (1.) That

we must have our tents struck by death is certain; the time when, uncertain: it becomes us therefore to be always prepared, that when God calls us out of the body, we may have nothing to do but to die. (2.) It will be comfortable to may true Israelite to see the cloud remove. This wilderness state is not our reft; we look for a more abiding manfion in the fides. (3.) They were not to stay or encamp on the march, but by the direction of their guide. We must not desire to chuse the place of our own abode; let God fix our habitation, and there contentedly let us pitch our tent.

How great was the favour thus visibly to have the presence of God among them, and to be under such a guardian and guide? Bleffed be God, their mercies are our own, as to their substance; God’s word, and spirit, and perspicaces, as this cloud, shall lead us in his holy ways, and keep us safely journeying heavenward. And whilst we yield ourselves up to him without reserve, we may confidently exercise faith in our safe arrival at the promised land of everlasting glory.