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The Passover at Sinai

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,(A) “Let the Israelites keep the Passover at its appointed time.(B) On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight,[a] you shall keep it at its appointed time; according to all its statutes and all its regulations you shall keep it.” So Moses told the Israelites that they should keep the Passover. They kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight,[b] in the wilderness of Sinai. Just as the Lord had commanded Moses, so the Israelites did.(C) Now there were certain people who were unclean through touching a corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day. They came before Moses and Aaron on that day(D) and said to him, “Although we are unclean through touching a corpse, why must we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?” Moses said to them, “Wait, so that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”(E)

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the Israelites, saying: Anyone of you or your descendants who is unclean through touching a corpse or is away on a journey shall still keep the Passover to the Lord. 11 In the second month on the fourteenth day, at twilight,[c] they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.(F) 12 They shall leave none of it until morning nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute for the Passover they shall keep it.(G) 13 But anyone who is clean and is not on a journey and yet refrains from keeping the Passover shall be cut off from the people for not presenting the Lord’s offering at its appointed time; such a one shall bear the consequences for the sin.(H) 14 Any alien residing among you who wishes to keep the Passover to the Lord shall do so according to the statute of the Passover and according to its regulation; you shall have one statute for both the resident alien and the native of the land.”(I)

The Cloud and the Fire

15 On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant, and from evening until morning it was over the tabernacle, having the appearance of fire.(J) 16 It was always so: the cloud covered it by day[d] and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp.(K) 18 At the command of the Lord the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they would remain in camp.(L) 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the Israelites would keep the charge of the Lord and would not set out.(M) 20 Sometimes the cloud would remain a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they would remain in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud would remain from evening until morning, and when the cloud lifted in the morning, they would set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they would set out. 22 Whether it was two days or a month or a longer time that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out, but when it lifted they would set out.(N) 23 At the command of the Lord they would camp, and at the command of the Lord they would set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.

The Silver Trumpets

10 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets; you shall make them of hammered work, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. When both are blown, the whole congregation shall assemble before you at the entrance of the tent of meeting.(O) But if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall assemble before you. When you blow an alarm, the camps on the east side shall set out;(P) when you blow a second alarm, the camps on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.(Q) But when the assembly is to be gathered, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; this shall be a perpetual institution for you throughout your generations.(R) When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, so that you may be remembered before the Lord your God and be saved from your enemies.(S) 10 Also on your days of rejoicing, at your appointed festivals, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over your sacrifices of well-being; they shall serve as a reminder on your behalf before the Lord your God: I am the Lord your God.”(T)

Departure from Sinai

11 In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the covenant.(U) 12 Then the Israelites set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. 13 They set out for the first time at the command of the Lord by Moses.(V) 14 The standard of the camp of Judah set out first, company by company, and over the whole company was Nahshon son of Amminadab.(W) 15 Over the company of the tribe of Issachar was Nethanel son of Zuar, 16 and over the company of the tribe of Zebulun was Eliab son of Helon.

17 Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites, who carried the tabernacle, set out.(X) 18 Next the standard of the camp of Reuben set out, company by company, and over the whole company was Elizur son of Shedeur.(Y) 19 Over the company of the tribe of Simeon was Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, 20 and over the company of the tribe of Gad was Eliasaph son of Deuel.

21 Then the Kohathites, who carried the holy things, set out, and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.(Z) 22 Next the standard of the camp of Ephraim set out, company by company, and over the whole company was Elishama son of Ammihud.(AA) 23 Over the company of the tribe of Manasseh was Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, 24 and over the company of the tribe of Benjamin was Abidan son of Gideoni.

25 Then the standard of the camp of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out, company by company, and over the whole company was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.(AB) 26 Over the company of the tribe of Asher was Pagiel son of Ochran, 27 and over the company of the tribe of Naphtali was Ahira son of Enan. 28 This was the order of march of the Israelites, company by company, when they set out.

29 Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’s father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you’; come with us, and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.”(AC) 30 But he said to him, “I will not go, but I will go back to my own land and to my kindred.” 31 He said, “Do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. 32 Moreover, if you go with us, whatever good the Lord does for us, the same we will do for you.”(AD)

33 So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey with the ark of the covenant of the Lord going before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them,(AE) 34 the cloud of the Lord being over them by day when they set out from the camp.(AF)

35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say,

“Arise, O Lord, let your enemies be scattered
    and your foes flee before you.”(AG)

36 And whenever it came to rest, he would say,

“Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”[e]

Footnotes

  1. 9.3 Heb between the two evenings
  2. 9.5 Heb between the two evenings
  3. 9.11 Heb between the two evenings
  4. 9.16 Gk Syr Vg: Heb lacks by day
  5. 10.36 Meaning of Heb uncertain

The Passover

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, “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover(C) at the appointed time.(D) 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)

So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover,(G) 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)

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 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)

Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”(O)

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: “Make two trumpets(AI) of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community(AJ) together and for having the camps set out.(AK) When both are sounded, the whole community is to assemble before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. If only one is sounded, the leaders(AL)—the heads of the clans of Israel—are to assemble before you. When a trumpet blast is sounded, the tribes camping on the east are to set out.(AM) 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. To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets,(AO) but not with the signal for setting out.(AP)

“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) 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,

“Rise up,(CP) Lord!
    May your enemies be scattered;(CQ)
    may your foes flee before you.(CR)(CS)

36 Whenever it came to rest, he said,

“Return,(CT) Lord,
    to the countless thousands of Israel.(CU)