# Numbers 09 š: Passover and the Guiding Cloud
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Passover Regulations
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā Ā TheĀ LordĀ spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come outĀ of the land of Egypt:
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā āThe Israelites are to observeĀ the PassoverĀ at its appointed time.Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā In the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight,Ā you are to observe it at its appointed time; you must keepĀ it in accordance with all its statutes and all its customs.āĀ
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā So Moses instructedĀ the Israelites to observeĀ the Passover.Ā
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā And they observed the PassoverĀ on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight in the desert of Sinai; in accordance with all that theĀ LordĀ had commanded Moses, so the Israelites did.
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā It happened that some menĀ who were ceremonially defiledĀ by the dead body of a manĀ could not keepĀ the Passover on that day, so they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day.Ā
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā And those men said to Moses,Ā āWe are ceremonially defiled by the dead body of a man; why are we kept back from offering theĀ Lordās offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?āĀ
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā So Moses said to them, āRemainĀ here and I will hearĀ what theĀ LordĀ will command concerning you.ā
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā TheĀ LordĀ spoke to Moses:Ā
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā āTell the Israelites, āIf anyĀ of you or of your posterity become ceremonially defiled by touching a dead body, or are on a journey far away, then he mayĀ observe the Passover to theĀ Lord.
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā They may observe it on the fourteenth day of the second monthĀ at twilight; they are to eat it with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs.Ā
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā They must not leave any of it until morning, nor break any of its bones; they must observe it in accordance with every statute of the Passover.
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā āāButĀ the man who is ceremonially clean, and was not on a journey, and failsĀ to keep the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people.Ā Because he did not bring theĀ Lordās offering at its appointed time, that man must bear his sin.Ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā If a resident foreigner livesĀ among you and wants to keepĀ the Passover to theĀ Lord, he must do so according to the statute of the Passover, and according to its custom. You must haveĀ the sameĀ statute for the resident foreignerĀ and for the one who was born in the land.āā
### The Lord Leads the Israelites by the Cloud
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā Ā OnĀ the day that the tabernacle was set up,Ā the cloudĀ covered the tabernacleāthe tent of the testimonyāand from evening until morning there wasĀ a fiery appearanceĀ over the tabernacle.Ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā This is the way it used to be continually: The cloud would cover it by day,Ā and there was a fiery appearance by night.Ā
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā Whenever the cloud was taken upĀ from the tabernacle, then after that the Israelites would begin their journey; and in whatever placeĀ the cloud settled, there the Israelites would make camp.Ā
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā At the commandmentĀ of theĀ LordĀ the Israelites would begin their journey, and at the commandment of theĀ LordĀ they would make camp; as long asĀ the cloud remained settled over the tabernacle they would camp.Ā
[[#Verse 19.]]Ā When the cloud remained over the tabernacle many days, then the Israelites obeyed the instructionsĀ of theĀ LordĀ and did not journey.
[[#Verse 20.]]Ā WhenĀ the cloud remained over the tabernacle a number of days,Ā they remained camped according to theĀ Lordās commandment,Ā and according to theĀ Lordās commandment they would journey.Ā
[[#Verse 21.]]Ā And whenĀ the cloud remained onlyĀ from evening until morning, when the cloud was taken upĀ the following morning, then they traveled on. Whether by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up they traveled.Ā
[[#Verse 22.]]Ā Whether it was for two days, or a month, or a yearĀ that the cloud prolonged its stayĀ over the tabernacle, the Israelites remained camped without traveling;Ā but when it was taken up, they traveled on.Ā
[[#Verse 23.]]Ā At the commandment of theĀ LordĀ they camped, and at the commandment of theĀ LordĀ they traveled on; they kept the instructions of theĀ LordĀ according to the commandment of theĀ Lord, by the authorityĀ of Moses.
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
- Jewish lecture stated that, due to the cloud by day and fire by night, it would cool and heat the area around the tabernacle, possibly making it around 70 degrees at all times.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
- Jewish teaching says they went on ā42 journeys.ā Thatās how many times they needed to move from place to place. They say we should look at our lives as a series of journeys. God determines when we go and when we stay.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. This Passover took place in the first month of the second year (9:1), a month before the census of chapter 1.
2. It was Israel's first Passover since leaving Egypt.
3. A second Passover was set for the fourteenth day of the second month (9:11). Jews still call it *Pesach Sheni*.
4. King Hezekiah later held Passover in the second month because the priests and people were not ready (2 Chronicles 30:2-3).
5. The command not to break the lamb's bones (9:12) is quoted in John 19:36 about Jesus on the cross.
6. A foreigner living among Israel could keep the Passover under the same rules (9:14).
7. The cloud covered the tabernacle by day and looked like fire by night (9:15-16).
8. The phrase "at the command of the Lord" is repeated again and again in 9:18-23 to stress God's leading.
9. Israel's stops were unpredictable: a few days, a month, or longer (9:22).
10. Numbers 33 lists the stopping places, which Jewish tradition counts as forty-two journeys.
## š§ Chapter Summary
- Explanation of how the nation of Israel journeyed throughout their 40 years of wandering.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is our Passover Lamb, and not one of His bones was broken (9:12; John 19:36). The cloud that led Israel points to Jesus, who leads His people and goes before them (John 10:4).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
- š We all go through journeys throughout life.
- š The Lord determines when we go and when we stop.
- š Our goal is to follow the LORD at all times.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. God made a way for those who were unclean or away to still keep the Passover (9:9-11). What does this show about God's heart to include people?
2. Israel moved when the cloud moved and stayed when it stayed, whether two days or a year (9:22). Is it harder for you to wait or to go?
3. Jewish teaching describes Israel's travels as a series of journeys. How have you seen God direct both your going and your staying?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verses 10-11: Those who are unclean or far away may keep the Passover a month later.
- š verse 12: They must not break any of the lamb's bones.
- š verses 17-18: At the Lord's command Israel set out, and at His command they camped.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[Exodus 12#Verse 46.|Exodus 12:46]] - Do not break any of the lamb's bones.
- š [[Exodus 40#Verse 36.|Exodus 40:36-38]] - The cloud over the tabernacle.
- š [[John 19#Verse 36.|John 19:36]] - Not one of His bones will be broken.
- š [[1 Corinthians 05#Verse 07.|1 Corinthians 5:7]] - Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.
- š [[Psalm 32#Verse 08.|Psalm 32:8]] - I will instruct you in the way you should go.
## š Devotional Reflection
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š Internal Notes