Números 9
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Números 9
NJB (MT versing) The Passover The Second Passover Other Events and Instructions (9:1-10:10) The Second Passover Date of the Passover 9:1-8 9:1-8 9:1-8 9:1-5 9:1 9:2-3 9:4-5 Individual Cases 9:6-7 9:6-8 9:8 9:9-14 9:9-14 9:9-14 9:9-13 9:9-13 9:14 9:14 The Cloud On the Tabernacle The Cloud and the Fire The Fiery Cloud The Cloud 9:15-23 9:15-23 9:15-23 9:15-23 9:15-16 9:17-23 Etc.
Números 9:1-8
9:1 "in the wilderness of Sinai" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE WILDERNESSES OF THE EXODUS and SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LOCATION OF MT. SINAI. ▣ "the first month of the second year" They are going to observe their second Passover (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PASSOVER). It is described in detail in Exodus 12. It mentions that they will celebrate it in exactly the same way, however, one wonders how they did this because they were living in tents at this time. See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CALENDARS. 9:2 "let the sons of Israel observe" Literally this is "do" (BDB 793, KB 889), which occurs often in Num. 9:2-5. Here, it is a Qal IMPERFECT but used in a JUSSIVE sense. This may also be true of the two Qal IMPERFECTS in 9:3. ▣ "Passover" The Passover feast described in Lev. 23:5-6 had become an eight-day feast as it was combined with the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread. 9:3 "at twilight" Literally this is "between the evenings," cf. Num. 9:5,11. There has been much discussion about this difficult Hebrew phrase (i.e., Exod. 12:6). The Jews seem to interpret it as being sometime between the heat and cool of the day. That is why they offered the evening sacrifice in the Temple at 3 p.m. Others assume it is between sunset and dark, while still others believe it is from the moment the sun begins to go below the horizon until it goes completely behind the horizon (cf. Deut. 16:6). For the Hebrews twilight was the beginning of a new day (cf. Genesis 1). ▣ "statutes. . .ordinances" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. 9:6-14 Some of the men came to Moses to ask what those who were ceremonially unclean could do to fulfill the Passover requirements. This question would also apply to later periods when some Israelites would be (1) in exile or (2) too far away from the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. It is interesting that God makes an exception for these cases and allows them to fulfill the Passover exactly one month later (compare Num. 9:1 with 9:11). 9:8 "Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you" This is a very important passage because we realize that Moses was not just giving his opinion but was seeking YHWH's instructions related to all of these laws. Therefore, these laws are divine revelation, not the opinion of Moses. "Wait" is a Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 763, KB 840), followed by "listen," which is a Qal COHORTATIVE (BDB 1033, KB 1570). YHWH answers this specific question by the Piel IMPERATIVE, "speak" (BDB 180, KB 210) in Num. 9:10. YHWH was willing to make exceptions for human need!
Números 9:9-14
9:10 Here are the two groups of people who would be excused from the Passover but must observe it a month later. Notice that in Num. 9:14 even the alien in the land must observe the Passover, just like the Jewish people. This shows that Israel had the right to legislate the religious practices of people within her borders. There was only one standard (Num. 9:14).
Números 9:15-23
9:15-23 This discusses the shekinah cloud (BDB 777; NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 1052-1055), which led the children of Israel during the wilderness wandering period. It stayed over the ark of the covenant above the Tabernacle as a visible sign of YHWH's presence, cf. Exod. 13:21. The cloud was a camp light by night and a protection from the sun by day. Once the Israelites crossed the Jordan under Joshua, the cloud dissipated and reappeared at special events (cf. 1 Kings 8).