17 And when H6310 the cloud H6051 was taken up H5927 from the tabernacle, H168 then after H310 that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 journeyed: H5265 and in the place H4725 where the cloud H6051 abode, H7931 there the children H1121 of Israel H3478 pitched their tents. H2583
And when the cloud H6051 was taken up H5927 from H5921 over the tabernacle, H4908 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went onward H5265 in all their journeys: H4550 But if the cloud H6051 were not taken up, H5927 then they journeyed H5265 not till the day H3117 that it was taken up. H5927 For the cloud H6051 of the LORD H3068 was upon the tabernacle H4908 by day, H3119 and fire H784 was on it by night, H3915 in the sight H5869 of all the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 throughout all their journeys. H4550
And they departed H5265 from the mount H2022 of the LORD H3068 three H7969 days' H3117 journey: H1870 and the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 went H5265 before H6440 them in the three H7969 days' H3117 journey, H1870 to search out H8446 a resting place H4496 for them. And the cloud H6051 of the LORD H3068 was upon them by day, H3119 when they went out H5265 of the camp. H4264
And it came to pass on the twentieth H6242 day of the second H8145 month, H2320 in the second H8145 year, H8141 that the cloud H6051 was taken up H5927 from off the tabernacle H4908 of the testimony. H5715 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 took H5265 their journeys H4550 out of the wilderness H4057 of Sinai; H5514 and the cloud H6051 rested H7931 in the wilderness H4057 of Paran. H6290
To him G5129 the porter G2377 openeth; G455 and G2532 the sheep G4263 hear G191 his G846 voice: G5456 and G2532 he calleth G2564 his own G2398 sheep G4263 by G2596 name, G3686 and G2532 leadeth G1806 them G846 out. G1806 And G2532 when G3752 he putteth forth G1544 his own G2398 sheep, G4263 he goeth G4198 before G1715 them, G846 and G2532 the sheep G4263 follow G190 him: G846 for G3754 they know G1492 his G846 voice. G5456 And G1161 a stranger G245 will they G190 not G3364 follow, G190 but G235 will flee G5343 from G575 him: G846 for G3754 they know G1492 not G3756 the voice G5456 of strangers. G245
[[To the chief Musician H5329 upon Shoshannimeduth, H7802 A Psalm H4210 of Asaph.]] H623 Give ear, H238 O Shepherd H7462 of Israel, H3478 thou that leadest H5090 Joseph H3130 like a flock; H6629 thou that dwellest H3427 between the cherubims, H3742 shine forth. H3313 Before H6440 Ephraim H669 and Benjamin H1144 and Manasseh H4519 stir up H5782 thy strength, H1369 and come H3212 and save H3444 us.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 9
Commentary on Numbers 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 9
Nu 9:1-5. The Passover Enjoined.
2-5. Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season, &c.—The date of this command to keep the passover in the wilderness was given shortly after the erection and consecration of the tabernacle and preceded the numbering of the people by a month. (Compare Nu 9:1 with Nu 1:1, 2). But it is narrated after that transaction in order to introduce the notice of a particular case, for which a law was provided to meet the occasion. This was the first observance of the passover since the exodus; and without a positive injunction, the Israelites were under no obligation to keep it till their settlement in the land of Canaan (Ex 12:25). The anniversary was kept on the exact day of the year on which they, twelve months before, had departed from Egypt; and it was marked by all the peculiar rites—the he lamb and the unleavened bread. The materials would be easily procured—the lambs from their numerous flocks and the meal for the unleavened bread, by the aid of Jethro, from the land of Midian, which was adjoining their camp (Ex 3:1). But their girded loins, their sandaled feet, and their staff in their hand, being mere circumstances attending a hurried departure and not essential to the rite, were not repeated. It is supposed to have been the only observance of the feast during their forty years' wandering; and Jewish writers say that, as none could eat the passover except they were circumcised (Ex 12:43, 44, 48), and circumcision was not practised in the wilderness [Jos 5:4-7], there could be no renewal of the paschal solemnity.
Nu 9:6-14. A Second Passover Allowed.
6, 7. there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man—To discharge the last offices to the remains of deceased relatives was imperative; and yet attendance on a funeral entailed ceremonial defilement, which led to exclusion from all society and from the camp for seven days. Some persons who were in this situation at the arrival of the first paschal anniversary, being painfully perplexed about the course of duty because they were temporarily disqualified at the proper season, and having no opportunity of supplying their want were liable to a total privation of all their privileges, laid their case before Moses. Jewish writers assert that these men were the persons who had carried out the dead bodies of Nadab and Abihu [Le 10:4, 5].
8-14. Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you—A solution of the difficulty was soon obtained, it being enacted, by divine authority, that to those who might be disqualified by the occurrence of a death in their family circle or unable by distance to keep the passover on the anniversary day, a special license was granted of observing it by themselves on the same day and hour of the following month, under a due attendance to all the solemn formalities. (See on 2Ch 30:2). But the observance was imperative on all who did not labor under these impediments.
14. if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover—Gentile converts, or proselytes, as they were afterwards called, were admitted, if circumcised, to the same privileges as native Israelites, and were liable to excommunication if they neglected the passover. But circumcision was an indispensable condition; and whoever did not submit to that rite, was prohibited, under the sternest penalties, from eating the passover.
Nu 9:15-23. A Cloud Guides the Israelites.
15. the cloud covered the tabernacle—The inspired historian here enters on an entirely new subject, which might properly have formed a separate chapter, beginning at this verse and ending at Nu 10:29 [Calmet]. The cloud was a visible token of God's special presence and guardian care of the Israelites (Ex 14:20; Ps 105:39). It was easily distinguishable from all other clouds by its peculiar form and its fixed position; for from the day of the completion of the tabernacle it rested by day as a dark, by night as a fiery, column on that part of the sanctuary which contained the ark of the testimony (Le 16:2).
17. when the cloud was taken up—that is, rose to a higher elevation, so as to be conspicuous at the remotest extremities of the camp. That was a signal for removal; and, accordingly, it is properly called (Nu 9:18) "the commandment of the Lord." It was a visible token of the presence of God; and from it, as a glorious throne, He gave the order. So that its motion regulated the commencement and termination of all the journeys of the Israelites. (See on Ex 14:19).
19. when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle, … then Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not—A desert life has its attractions, and constant movements create a passionate love of change. Many incidents show that the Israelites had strongly imbibed this nomad habit and were desirous of hastening to Canaan. But still the phases of the cloud indicated the command of God: and whatsoever irksomeness they might have felt in remaining long stationary in camp, "when the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle many days, they kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not." Happy for them had they always exhibited this spirit of obedience! and happy for all if, through the wilderness of this world, we implicitly follow the leadings of God's Providence and the directions of God's Word!