Numbers - A Journey Through the Wilderness , Sarah Barry
THE PASSOVER
Passage: Numbers 9:1~14  
Key verse: 2
The Passover
9 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month(A) of the second year after they came out of Egypt.(B) He said, 2 “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover(C) at the appointed time.(D) 3 Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month,(E) in accordance with all its rules and regulations.(F)”
4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover,(G) 5 and they did so in the Desert of Sinai(H) at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.(I) The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.(J)
6 But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean(K) on account of a dead body.(L) So they came to Moses and Aaron(M) that same day 7 and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?(N)”
8 Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”(O)
9 Then the Lord said to Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body(P) or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate(Q) the Lord’s Passover, 11 but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month(R) at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.(S) 12 They must not leave any of it till morning(T) or break any of its bones.(U) When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.(V) 13 But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people(W) for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.
14 “‘A foreigner(X) residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”
Cross references
- Numbers 9:1 : S Ex 40:2
- Numbers 9:1 : Nu 1:1
- Numbers 9:2 : S Ex 12:11
- Numbers 9:2 : ver 7
- Numbers 9:3 : S Ex 12:6, 42
- Numbers 9:3 : Ex 12:2-11, 43-49; Lev 23:5-8; Dt 16:1-8
- Numbers 9:4 : ver 2; S Ex 12:11
- Numbers 9:5 : ver 1
- Numbers 9:5 : S Ex 12:6
- Numbers 9:5 : ver 3
- Numbers 9:6 : S Lev 5:3; S 13:3
- Numbers 9:6 : S Lev 21:11
- Numbers 9:6 : Ex 18:15; Nu 27:2
- Numbers 9:7 : ver 2
- Numbers 9:8 : Ex 18:15; Lev 24:12; Nu 15:34; 27:5, 21; Ps 85:8
- Numbers 9:10 : ver 6
- Numbers 9:10 : 2Ch 30:2
- Numbers 9:11 : S Ex 12:6
- Numbers 9:11 : Ex 12:8
- Numbers 9:12 : S Ex 12:8
- Numbers 9:12 : S Ex 12:46; Jn 19:36*
- Numbers 9:12 : ver 3
- Numbers 9:13 : S Ge 17:14
- Numbers 9:14 : S Ex 12:19, 43
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Celebrate at God's time, in God's way (1-5)
Celebrating the Passover was to remember God's grace and protection when he brought them out of Egypt. As the tenth and final act of God's judgment, the angel of death passed through Egypt, striking the firstborn in every household. But the angel 'passed over' the homes of Israelites who had obeyed God by killing a lamb and sprinkling its blood on the doorframes. This event struck terror in the hearts of the Egyptians, so they almost drove the Israelites out of Egypt. God's people must remember that God hates sin, but loves and saves sinners who trust and obey him. We must remember his grace and have a sense of history.
2. Everyone must participate (6-14)
There were certain circumstances which prevented a person from celebrating the Passover at the proper time. God gave a second chance, for everyone should participate. This was a declaration of identity as an Israelite, as one of God's people. We, too, must have identity as part of the body of Christ.
Prayer: Lord, help me to remember your grace, and to identify with your people.
One Word: Remember the grace of God