91 Thus the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai , in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt , saying , 2 "Now, let the sons of Israel observe the Passover at its appointed time . 3 "On the fourteenth e day of this month , at twilight , you shall observe it at its appointed time ; you shall observe it according to all its statutes and according to all its ordinances ." 4 So Moses told the sons of Israel to observe the Passover . 5 They observed the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth e day of the month , at twilight , in the wilderness of Sinai ; according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses , so the sons of Israel did . 6 But there were some men who were unclean because of the dead person , so that they could not observe Passover on that day ; so they came before Moses and Aaron on that day . 7 Those men said to him, "Though we are unclean because of the dead person , why are we restrained from presenting the offering of the Lord at its appointed time among the sons of Israel ?" 8 Moses therefore said to them, " Wait , and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you." 9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses , saying , 10 "Speak to the sons of Israel , saying , 'If any one of you or of your generations becomes unclean because of a dead person , or is on a distant journey , he may, however, observe the Passover to the Lord . 11 'In the second month on the fourteenth e day at twilight , they shall observe it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs . 12 'They shall leave none of it until morning , nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute of the Passover they shall observe it. 13 ' But the man who is clean and is not on a journey , and yet neglects to observe the Passover , that person shall then be cut off from his people , for he did not present the offering of the Lord at its appointed time . That man will bear his sin . 14 ' If an alien sojourns among you and observes the Passover to the Lord , according to the statute of the Passover and according to its ordinance , so he shall do ; you shall have one statute , both for the alien and for the native of the land .' "
15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was erected the cloud covered the tabernacle , the tent of the testimony , and in the evening it was like the appearance of fire over the tabernacle , until morning . 16 So it was continuously ; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night . 17 Whenever the cloud was lifted from over the tent , afterward e the sons of Israel would then set out; and in the place where e the cloud settled down , there the sons of Israel would camp . 18 At the command of the Lord the sons of Israel would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp ; as long e as the cloud settled over the tabernacle , they remained camped . 19 Even when the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for many days , the sons of Israel would keep the Lord'S charge and not set out. 20 If sometimes the cloud remained a few days over the tabernacle , according to the command of the Lord they remained camped . Then according to the command of the Lord they set out.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 9:1-20
Commentary on Numbers 9:1-14
(Read Numbers 9:1-14)
God gave particular orders for the keeping of this passover, and, for aught that appears, after this, they kept no passover till they came to Canaan, Joshua 5:10. It early showed that the ceremonial institutions were not to continue always, as so soon after they were appointed, some were suffered to sleep for many years. But the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was not thus set aside in the first days of the Christian church, although those were days of greater difficulty and distress than Israel knew in the wilderness; nay, in the times of persecution, the Lord's Supper was celebrated more frequently than afterward. Israelites in the wilderness could not forget the deliverance out of Egypt. There was danger of this when they came to Canaan. Instructions were given concerning those who were ceremonially unclean, when they were to eat the passover. Those whose minds and consciences are defiled by sin, are unfit for communion with God, and cannot partake with comfort of the gospel passover, till they are cleansed by true repentance and faith. Observe with what trouble and concern these men complained that they were kept back from offering to the Lord. It should be a trouble to us, when by any occasion we are kept back from the solemnities of a sabbath or a sacrament. Observe the deliberation of Moses in resolving this case. Ministers must ask counsel of God's mouth, not determine according to their own fancy or affection, but according to the word of God to the best of their knowledge. And if, in difficult cases, time is taken to spread the matter before God by humble, believing prayer, the Holy Spirit assuredly will direct in the good and right way. God gave directions in this case, and in other similar cases, explanatory of the law of the passover. As those who, against their minds, are forced to absent themselves from God's ordinances, may expect the favours of God's grace under their affliction, so those who, of choice, absent themselves, may expect God's wrath for their sin. Be not deceived: God is not mocked.
Commentary on Numbers 9:15-23
(Read Numbers 9:15-23)
This cloud was appointed to be the visible sign and symbol of God's presence with Israel. Thus we are taught to see God always near us, both night and day. As long as the cloud rested on the tabernacle, so long they continued in the same place. There is no time lost, while we are waiting God's time. When the cloud was taken up, they removed, however comfortably they were encamped. We are kept at uncertainty concerning the time of our putting off the earthly house of this tabernacle, that we may be always ready to remove at the command of the Lord. It is very safe and pleasant going when we see God before us, and resting where he appoints us to rest. The leading of this cloud is spoken of as signifying the guidance of the blessed Spirit. We are not now to expect such tokens of the Divine presence and guidance; but the promise is sure to all God's spiritual Israel, that he will guide them by his counsel. Proverbs 3:6. At the commandment of the Lord, our hearts should always move and rest, saying, Father, thy will be done; dispose of me and mine as thou pleasest. What thou wilt, and where thou wilt; only let me be thine, and always in the way of my duty. In applying general precepts to particular circumstances, there should be good counsel and fervent prayer. When any undertaking is evidently wrong, or doubtfully right, and yet the mind leans that way, in such a case "the moving of the cloud," as men sometimes miscall it, is generally no more than a temptation Satan is permitted to propose; and men fancy they are following the Lord, when they are following their own wayward inclinations. The record of his mercy will conduct us with unerring truth, through Christ, to everlasting peace. Follow the pillar of the cloud and of fire. Lay the BIBLE to heart, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.