In Chapter 9 the Israelites celebrate the first Passover since the one they observed on the night before the Lord rescued them from Egypt.
"The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt. He said, 'Have all the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.' So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses." (Numbers 9:1-5) We studied the rules and regulations for Passover earlier in the Old Testament and will not go over them again here, but if you'd like to take a look back at them you can find them in Exodus 12.
Some of the congregation is ceremonially unclean. "But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron on that same day 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?'" (Numbers 9:6-7)
I think what has happened here is that a person died of natural causes and his or her relatives had to deal with the funeral preparations and burial. I very much doubt that only one family found themselves in this situation at this time; the number of people in the wilderness is believed to have numbered 2,000,000 at least. It's statistically impossible that only one family, among 2,000,000 or more persons, found themselves in this situation. Some scholars think that only this particular group cared enough about Passover to come and ask Moses and Aaron if they could still participate. Other scholars think these men were the spokespeople for all who were wondering whether they could still participate in Passover after handling the body of a deceased family member.
Moses doesn't know the answer to their question so he goes to the tabernacle to consult the Lord. We know this is what he did because earlier in Numbers we were told that the Lord would speak to him from between the cherubim on the cover of the ark of the covenant. "Moses answered them, 'Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.'" (Numbers 9:8)
"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Tell the Israelites: When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate the Lord's Passover, but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight.'" (Numbers 9:9-11a) The Lord provides an alternate day for these persons to observe the Passover. They cannot observe it while ceremonially unclean, for the Lord said in Leviticus 22:3, "For the generations to come, if any of your descendants is ceremonially unclean and yet comes near the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the Lord, that person must be cut off from My presence. I am the Lord." The men who came to Moses to ask what they should do are aware of what the Lord has said regarding ceremonial uncleanness. They want to be obedient to Him. At the same time, they want to observe Passover and commemorate their deliverance from Egypt. The Lord is not going to exclude them from Passover; He rewards their faith and obedience by providing them with an alternate date on which to observe the holiday.
He reminds them they are still to keep all the rules and regulations even though they won't be celebrating on the same day as the majority of the congregation. This alternate Passover is not to be treated casually. "They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They must not leave any of it til morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations." (Numbers 9:11b-12)
Everyone else in the congregation is required to observe Passover at the traditional time. If there are not some circumstances which make it impossible to observe the holiday, the person who does not observe it is to be excommunicated. "But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate Passover, they must be cut off from their people for not presenting the Lord's offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin." (Numbers 9:13)
You'll recall that in the exodus we were told it was not only Israelites who left Egypt. "Many other people went up with them." (Exodus 12:38a) In some versions of the Bible this passage is rendered as, "A mixed multitude went up with them." Everyone who is living among the congregation of Israel in the wilderness is required to observe the Passover. Anyone who joins the nation of Israel from this point on is to observe the Passover, whether they've married into an Israelite family, whether they are living in an Israelite's household as a servant or slave, whether they are a convert to the religion of Israel, and so on. "A foreigner residing among you is 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." (Numbers 9:14)
The men who come to Moses for instructions in our passage today want to honor the Lord. They could have just said among themselves, "Well, we're disqualified from observing Passover this year. Maybe we can do it next year." They could have gone on about their business and considered themselves excused from taking part in one of the three required festivals of the year. But they love the Lord and want to celebrate what He did for them when He rescued them from Egypt. They want to think about Him and reverence Him on this holy day. They come to Moses for guidance, not because they want to be excused from Passover, but because they are hoping they can still be included in Passover. The Lord graciously provides them with a way to still be able to take part in this solemn occasion.
The Lord knows what is in a person's heart and He rewards each person accordingly. He enjoys honoring those who have a willingness to honor Him.
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