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Numbers 9-10
Contemporary English Version
Numbers 9-10
Contemporary English Version
Regulations for Celebrating Passover
9 (A) During the first month of Israel's second year in the Sinai Desert,[a] the Lord had told Moses 2 to say to the people, “Celebrate Passover 3 in the evening of the fourteenth day of this month[b] and do it by following all the regulations.” 4-5 Moses told the people what the Lord had said, and they celebrated Passover there in the desert in the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month.
6 Some people in Israel's camp had touched a dead body and had become unfit to worship the Lord, and they could not celebrate Passover. But they asked Moses and Aaron, 7 “Even though we have touched a dead body, why can't we celebrate Passover and offer sacrifices to the Lord at the same time as everyone else?”
8 Moses said, “Wait here while I go into the sacred tent and find out what the Lord says about this.”
9 The Lord then told Moses 10 to say to the community of Israel:
If any of you or your descendants touch a dead body and become unfit to worship me, or if you are away on a long journey, you may still celebrate Passover. 11 But it must be done in the second month,[c] in the evening of the fourteenth day. Eat the Passover lamb with thin bread and bitter herbs, 12 (B) and don't leave any of it until morning or break any of the animal's bones. Be sure to follow these regulations.
13 But if any of you are fit to worship me, and yet refuse to celebrate Passover when you are not away on a journey, you will no longer belong to my people. You will be punished because you did not offer sacrifices to me at the proper time.
14 Anyone, including foreigners who live among you, can celebrate Passover, if they follow all the regulations.
The Cloud over the Sacred Tent
(Exodus 40.34-38)
15-16 As soon as the sacred tent was set up,[d] a thick cloud appeared and covered it. The cloud was there each day, and during the night, a fire could be seen in it. 17-19 The Lord used this cloud to tell the Israelites when to move their camp and where to set it up again. As long as the cloud covered the tent, the Israelites did not break camp. But when the cloud moved, they followed it, and wherever it stopped, they camped and stayed there, 20-22 whether it was only one night, a few days, a month, or even a year. As long as the cloud remained over the tent, the Israelites stayed where they were. But when the cloud moved, so did the Israelites. 23 They obeyed the Lord's commands and went wherever he directed Moses.
The Silver Trumpets
10 The Lord told Moses:
2 Have someone make two trumpets out of hammered silver. These will be used to call the people together and to give the signal for moving your camp. 3 If both trumpets are blown, everyone is to meet with you at the entrance to the sacred tent. 4 But if just one is blown, only the twelve tribal leaders need to come together.
5-6 Give a signal on a trumpet when it is time to break camp. The first blast will be the signal for the tribes camped on the east side, and the second blast will be the signal for those on the south. 7 But when you want everyone to come together, sound a different signal on the trumpet. 8 The priests of Aaron's family will be the ones to blow the trumpets, and this law will never change.
9 Whenever you go into battle against an enemy attacking your land, give a warning signal on the trumpets. Then I, the Lord, will hear it and rescue you. 10 During the celebration of the New Moon Festival and other religious festivals, sound the trumpets while you offer sacrifices. This will be a reminder that I am the Lord your God.
The Israelites Begin Their Journey
11 On the twentieth day of the second month[e] of that same year, the cloud over the sacred tent moved on. 12 So the Israelites broke camp and left the Sinai Desert. And some time later, the cloud stopped in the Paran Desert.[f] 13 This was the first time the Lord had told Moses to command the people of Israel to move on.
14 Judah and the tribes that camped alongside it marched out first, carrying their banner. Nahshon son of Amminadab was the leader of the Judah tribe, 15 Nethanel son of Zuar was the leader of the Issachar tribe, 16 and Eliab son of Helon was the leader of the Zebulun tribe.
17 The sacred tent had been taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites carried it, marching behind the Judah camp.
18 Reuben and the tribes that camped alongside it marched out second, carrying their banner. Elizur son of Shedeur was the leader of the Reuben tribe, 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was the leader of the Simeon tribe, 20 and Eliasaph son of Deuel was the leader of the Gad tribe.
21 Next were the Kohathites, carrying the objects for the sacred tent, which was to be set up before they arrived at the new camp.
22 Ephraim and the tribes that camped alongside it marched next, carrying their banner. Elishama son of Ammihud was the leader of the Ephraim tribe, 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was the leader of the Manasseh tribe, 24 and Abidan son of Gideoni was the leader of the Benjamin tribe.
25 Dan and the tribes that camped alongside it were to protect the Israelites against an attack from behind, and so they marched last, carrying their banner. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was the leader of the tribe of Dan, 26 Pagiel son of Ochran was the leader of the Asher tribe, 27 and Ahira son of Enan was the leader of the Naphtali tribe.
28 This was the order in which the Israelites marched each time they moved their camp.
29 Hobab[g] the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses, was there. And Moses said to him, “We're leaving for the place the Lord has promised us. He has said that all will go well for us. So come along, and we will make sure that all goes well for you.”
30 “No, I won't go,” Hobab answered. “I'm returning home to be with my own people.”
31 “Please go with us!” Moses said. “You can be our guide because you know the places to camp in the desert. 32 Besides that, if you go, we will give you a share of the good things the Lord gives us.”
33 The people of Israel began their journey from Mount Sinai.[h] They traveled three days, and the Levites who carried the sacred chest led the way, so the Lord could show them where to camp. 34 And the cloud always stayed with them.
35 (C) Each day as the Israelites began their journey, Moses would pray, “Our Lord, defeat your enemies and make them run!” 36 And when they stopped to set up camp, he would pray, “Our Lord, stay close to Israel's thousands and thousands of people.”
Footnotes
- 9.1 first month … Sinai Desert: The book of Numbers begins in the second month of the second year (see 1.1), so 9.1-5 refers to a Passover celebration that had already taken place.
- 9.3 this month: Abib (also called Nisan), the first month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-March to mid-April.
- 9.11 second month: See the note at 1.1.
- 9.15,16 As soon as the sacred tent was set up: According to Exodus 40.17, this took place “on the first day of the first month of the second year” of the Israelites' stay in the desert.
- 10.11 second month: See the note at 1.1.
- 10.12 the Paran Desert: Probably a general name for the northernmost part of the Sinai Desert.
- 10.29 Hobab: Hebrew “Hobab son of Reuel.”
- 10.33 Mount Sinai: Hebrew “the Lord's mountain.”
Numbers 9-10
New International Version
Numbers 9-10
New International Version
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.’”
The Cloud Above the Tabernacle
15 On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law,(Y) was set up,(Z) the cloud(AA) covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire.(AB) 16 That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire.(AC) 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out;(AD) wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.(AE) 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained(AF) in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order(AG) and did not set out.(AH) 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. 22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.
The Silver Trumpets
10 The Lord said to Moses: 2 “Make two trumpets(AI) of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community(AJ) together and for having the camps set out.(AK) 3 When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 4 If only one is sounded, the leaders(AL)—the heads of the clans of Israel—are to assemble before you. 5 When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out.(AM) 6 At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out.(AN) The blast will be the signal for setting out. 7 To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets,(AO) but not with the signal for setting out.(AP)
8 “The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come.(AQ) 9 When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you,(AR) sound a blast on the trumpets.(AS) Then you will be remembered(AT) by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies.(AU) 10 Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts(AV)—you are to sound the trumpets(AW) over your burnt offerings(AX) and fellowship offerings,(AY) and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.(AZ)”
The Israelites Leave Sinai
11 On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year,(BA) the cloud lifted(BB) from above the tabernacle of the covenant law.(BC) 12 Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran.(BD) 13 They set out, this first time, at the Lord’s command through Moses.(BE)
14 The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard.(BF) Nahshon son of Amminadab(BG) was in command. 15 Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe(BH) of Issachar,(BI) 16 and Eliab son of Helon(BJ) was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.(BK) 17 Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out.(BL)
18 The divisions of the camp of Reuben(BM) went next, under their standard.(BN) Elizur son of Shedeur(BO) was in command. 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,(BP) 20 and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.(BQ) 21 Then the Kohathites(BR) set out, carrying the holy things.(BS) The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.(BT)
22 The divisions of the camp of Ephraim(BU) went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud(BV) was in command. 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,(BW) 24 and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.(BX)
25 Finally, as the rear guard(BY) for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai(BZ) was in command. 26 Pagiel son of Okran was over the division of the tribe of Asher,(CA) 27 and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.(CB) 28 This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.
29 Now Moses said to Hobab(CC) son of Reuel(CD) the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law,(CE) “We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’(CF) Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”
30 He answered, “No, I will not go;(CG) I am going back to my own land and my own people.(CH)”
31 But Moses said, “Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.(CI) 32 If you come with us, we will share with you(CJ) whatever good things the Lord gives us.(CK)”
33 So they set out(CL) from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord(CM) went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest.(CN) 34 The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.(CO)
35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,
36 Whenever it came to rest, he said,
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