The Lord spoke to Moses during the first month of the second year of the journey out of Egypt to let the children of Israel keep the passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month (Numbers 9:1-3). Moses passed God's Words on to Israel and they kept the passover in the Wilderness of Sinai as they were commanded (Numbers 9:5). Two men, however, were unable to celebrate the passover due to contamination by a dead man's body (Numbers 9:6). The men approached Moses and Aaron to ask them why they were kept back from offering to the Lord with the other children of Israel (Numbers 9:7). Moses told the men to stand still while he went to the Lord about the matter (Numbers 9:8).
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the Lord. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the Lord in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the Lord; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land" (Numbers 9:9-14).
Now, on their journey through the wilderness, the children of Israel followed the Lord's command through a cloud that covered the tabernacle during the day and the appearance of fire during the night (Numbers 9:15,16,18). When the cloud stopped, Israel camped; when the cloud moved, Israel journeyed (Numbers 9:18-22). "At the commandment of the Lord they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed: they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses" (Numbers 9:23).
Personal note: Have you ever noticed how God's Word has much repetition? I believe this is a way He is renewing our minds with His Word; He wants us to remember. Another point that I believe concerning repetition in God's Word is that it is a way that God shows equal treatment toward His children. Turn to Numbers 7 to see all the repetition used in reference to the offerings given to the Lord by the princes of the tribes of Israel. Although each prince contributed the same thing, the contribution was listed individually for each prince. To me, this shows respect from God toward each prince by appreciating and acknowledging their offering; thus, overall favor for each tribe.
Always turn to God's Holy Word for the most spiritual food!
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