The Second Passover

In the first month of the second year after their departure from the land of Egypt, the Lord told Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai:(A) “The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time.(B) You must observe it at its appointed time on the fourteenth day of this month at twilight; you are to observe it according to all its statutes and ordinances.”(C) So Moses told the Israelites to observe the Passover, and they observed it in the first month on the fourteenth day at twilight in the Wilderness of Sinai. The Israelites did everything as the Lord had commanded Moses.

But there were some men who were unclean because of a human corpse, so they could not observe the Passover on that day.(D) These men came before Moses and Aaron the same day and said to him, “We are unclean because of a human corpse. Why should we be excluded from presenting the Lord’s offering at its appointed time with the other Israelites?”

Moses replied to them, “Wait here until I hear what the Lord commands for you.”

Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 10 “Tell the Israelites: When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a corpse(E) or is on a distant journey, he may still observe the Passover to the Lord. 11 Such people are to observe it in the second month, on the fourteenth day at twilight. They are to eat the animal with unleavened bread and bitter herbs;(F) 12 they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones.(G) They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes.

13 “But the man who is ceremonially clean, is not on a journey, and yet fails to observe the Passover is to be cut off from his people, because he did not present the Lord’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.

14 “If a foreigner resides with you and wants to observe the Passover to the Lord,(H) he is to do so according to the Passover statute and its ordinances. You are to apply the same statute to both the foreign resident and the native of the land.”(I)

Guidance by the Cloud

15 On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony,(J) and it appeared like fire above the tabernacle from evening until morning. 16 It remained that way continuously: the cloud would cover it,[a] appearing like fire at night.(K) 17 Whenever the cloud was lifted up above the tent, the Israelites would set out; at the place where the cloud stopped, there the Israelites camped.(L) 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at the Lord’s command they camped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they camped.

19 Even when the cloud stayed over the tabernacle many days, the Israelites carried out the Lord’s requirement and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud remained over the tabernacle for only a few days. They would camp at the Lord’s command and set out at the Lord’s command. 21 Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning; when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out. Or if it remained a day and a night, they moved out when the cloud lifted. 22 Whether it was two days, a month, or longer,[b] the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out. 23 They camped at the Lord’s command, and they set out at the Lord’s command. They carried out the Lord’s requirement according to His command through Moses.

Two Silver Trumpets

10 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Make two trumpets of hammered silver to summon the community(M) and have the camps set out. When both are sounded in long blasts, the entire community is to gather before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. However, if one is sounded, only the leaders, the heads of Israel’s clans,(N) are to gather before you.

“When you sound short blasts, the camps pitched on the east(O) are to set out. When you sound short blasts a second time, the camps pitched on the south(P) are to set out. Short blasts are to be sounded for them to set out. When calling the assembly together, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones. The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. Your use of these is a permanent statute throughout your generations.

“When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who is attacking you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God and be delivered from your enemies.(Q) 10 You are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your fellowship sacrifices and on your joyous occasions, your appointed festivals, and the beginning of each of your months. They will serve as a reminder for you before your God: I am Yahweh your God.”(R)

From Sinai to Paran

11 During the second year, in the second month on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was lifted up above the tabernacle of the testimony. 12 The Israelites traveled on from the Wilderness of Sinai, moving from one place to the next(S) until the cloud stopped in the Wilderness of Paran.(T) 13 They set out for the first time according to the Lord’s command through Moses.(U)

14 The military divisions of the camp of Judah with their banner set out first, and Nahshon son of Amminadab(V) was over Judah’s divisions. 15 Nethanel son of Zuar(W) was over the division of the Issachar tribe, 16 and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the Zebulun tribe. 17 The tabernacle was then taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting the tabernacle.

18 The military divisions of the camp of Reuben with their banner set out, and Elizur son of Shedeur was over Reuben’s division. 19 Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai(X) was over the division of Simeon’s tribe, 20 and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. 21 The Kohathites then set out, transporting the holy objects;(Y) the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival.

22 Next the military divisions of the camp of Ephraim with their banner set out, and Elishama son of Ammihud(Z) was over Ephraim’s division. 23 Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh, 24 and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.

25 The military divisions of the camp of Dan with their banner set out, serving as rear guard for all the camps, and Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai(AA) was over Dan’s division. 26 Pagiel son of Ochran was over the division of the tribe of Asher, 27 and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali. 28 This was the order of march for the Israelites by their military divisions as they set out.

29 Moses said to Hobab, son of Moses’ father-in-law[c] Reuel[d](AB) the Midianite: “We’re setting out for the place the Lord promised: ‘I will give it to you.’(AC) Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.”(AD)

30 But he replied to him, “I don’t want to go. Instead, I will go to my own land and my relatives.”

31 “Please don’t leave us,” Moses said, “since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes. 32 If you come with us, whatever good the Lord does for us we will do for you.”(AE)

33 They set out from the mountain of the Lord on a three-day journey with the ark of the Lord’s covenant traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them.(AF) 34 Meanwhile, the cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.

35 Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say:

Arise, Lord!
Let Your enemies be scattered,
and those who hate You flee from Your presence.(AG)

36 When it came to rest, he would say:

Return, Lord,
to the countless thousands of Israel.(AH)

Complaints about Hardship

11 Now the people began complaining openly before[e] the Lord about hardship. When the Lord heard, His anger burned,(AI) and fire(AJ) from the Lord blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp. Then the people cried out to Moses, and he prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. So that place was named Taberah,[f](AK) because the Lord’s fire had blazed among them.

Complaints about Food

Contemptible people[g] among them(AL) had a strong craving(AM) for other food. The Israelites cried again and said, “Who will feed us meat? We remember the free fish we ate in Egypt,(AN) along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now our appetite is gone;[h] there’s nothing to look at but this manna!”

The manna(AO) resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of bdellium.[i] The people walked around and gathered it. They ground it on a pair of grinding stones or crushed it in a mortar, then boiled it in a cooking pot and shaped it into cakes. It tasted like a pastry cooked with the finest oil. When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.(AP)

10 Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents. The Lord was very angry;(AQ) Moses was also provoked.[j] 11 So Moses asked the Lord, “Why have You brought such trouble on Your servant? Why are You angry with me, and why do You burden me with all these people?(AR) 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth so You should tell me, ‘Carry them at your breast, as a nursing woman carries a baby,’(AS) to the land that You[k] swore to give their fathers?(AT) 13 Where can I get meat to give all these people? For they are crying to me: ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I can’t carry all these people by myself. They are too much for me. 15 If You are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now.(AU) If You are pleased with me,(AV) don’t let me see my misery[l] anymore.”

Seventy Elders Anointed

16 The Lord answered Moses, “Bring Me 70 men from Israel known to you as elders and officers of the people. Take them to the tent of meeting and have them stand there with you. 17 Then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit who is on you and put the Spirit on them.(AW) They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.(AX)

18 “Tell the people: Purify yourselves in readiness for tomorrow, and you will eat meat because you cried before the Lord: ‘Who will feed us meat? We really had it good in Egypt.’ The Lord will give you meat and you will eat. 19 You will eat, not for one day, or two days, or five days, or 10 days, or 20 days, 20 but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes nauseating to you—because you have rejected the Lord who is among you, and cried to Him: ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’”(AY)

21 But Moses replied, “I’m in the middle of a people with 600,000 foot soldiers,(AZ) yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ 22 If flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?”(BA)

23 The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s power limited?[m](BB) You will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you.”

24 Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. He brought 70 men from the elders of the people and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the Lord descended in the cloud and spoke to him.(BC) He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed the Spirit on the 70 elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied,(BD) but they never did it again. 26 Two men had remained in the camp, one named Eldad and the other Medad; the Spirit rested on them—they were among those listed, but had not gone out to the tent—and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28 Joshua son of Nun, assistant to Moses since his youth,[n] responded, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

29 But Moses asked him, “Are you jealous on my account?(BE) If only all the Lord’s people were prophets and the Lord would place His Spirit on them!” 30 Then Moses returned to the camp along with the elders of Israel.

Quail in the Camp

31 A wind sent by the Lord(BF) came up and blew quail in from the sea; it dropped them at the camp all around, three feet[o] off[p] the ground, about a day’s journey in every direction.(BG) 32 The people were up all that day and night and all the next day gathering the quail—the one who took the least gathered 50 bushels[q]—and they spread them out all around the camp.[r](BH)

33 While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the Lord’s anger burned(BI) against the people, and the Lord struck them with a very severe plague.(BJ) 34 So they named that place Kibroth-hattaavah,[s] because there they buried the people who had craved the meat.

35 From Kibroth-hattaavah the people moved on to Hazeroth[t](BK) and remained there.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 9:16 LXX, Vg, Syr, Tg read it by day
  2. Numbers 9:22 Or a year
  3. Numbers 10:29 Or said to Hobab’s brother-in-law
  4. Numbers 10:29 = Jethro; Ex 2:16-18; 3:1; 4:18
  5. Numbers 11:1 Lit in the ears of
  6. Numbers 11:3 = blaze
  7. Numbers 11:4 Or The mixed multitude; Hb obscure
  8. Numbers 11:6 Or our lives are wasting away, or our throat is dry
  9. Numbers 11:7 A yellowish, transparent gum resin
  10. Numbers 11:10 Lit and it was evil in the eyes of Moses
  11. Numbers 11:12 One Hb ms, Sam, LXX, Syr, Tg read I
  12. Numbers 11:15 Ancient Jewish tradition reads Your misery
  13. Numbers 11:23 Lit Lord’s arm too short
  14. Numbers 11:28 LXX, some Sam mss read Moses, from his chosen ones
  15. Numbers 11:31 Lit two cubits
  16. Numbers 11:31 Or on, or above
  17. Numbers 11:32 Lit 10 homers
  18. Numbers 11:32 To dry or cure the meat; 2Sm 17:19; Ezk 26:5,14
  19. Numbers 11:34 = Graves of Craving
  20. Numbers 11:35 = settlements; Nm 12:16; 33:16-17

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)

Fire From the Lord

11 Now the people complained(CV) about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord,(CW) and when he heard them his anger was aroused.(CX) Then fire from the Lord burned among them(CY) and consumed(CZ) some of the outskirts of the camp. When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed(DA) to the Lord(DB) and the fire died down. So that place was called Taberah,[a](DC) because fire from the Lord had burned among them.(DD)

Quail From the Lord

The rabble with them began to crave other food,(DE) and again the Israelites started wailing(DF) and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.(DG) But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!(DH)

The manna was like coriander seed(DI) and looked like resin.(DJ) The people went around gathering it,(DK) and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into loaves. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. When the dew(DL) settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.

10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing(DM) at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. 11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble(DN) on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?(DO) 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant,(DP) to the land you promised on oath(DQ) to their ancestors?(DR) 13 Where can I get meat for all these people?(DS) They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.(DT) 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me(DU)—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders(DV) who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people.(DW) Have them come to the tent of meeting,(DX) that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you(DY) there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them.(DZ) They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.(EA)

18 “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves(EB) in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed,(EC) “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!”(ED) Now the Lord will give you meat,(EE) and you will eat it. 19 You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it(EF)—because you have rejected the Lord,(EG) who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”(EH)

21 But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men(EI) on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ 22 Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”(EJ)

23 The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?(EK) Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.(EL)

24 So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud(EM) and spoke with him,(EN) and he took some of the power of the Spirit(EO) that was on him and put it on the seventy elders.(EP) When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied(EQ)—but did not do so again.

26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them,(ER) and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28 Joshua son of Nun,(ES) who had been Moses’ aide(ET) since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”(EU)

29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets(EV) and that the Lord would put his Spirit(EW) on them!”(EX) 30 Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

31 Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail(EY) in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits[b] deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. 32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers.[c] Then they spread them out all around the camp. 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth(EZ) and before it could be consumed, the anger(FA) of the Lord burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.(FB) 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah,[d](FC) because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

35 From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth(FD) and stayed there.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 11:3 Taberah means burning.
  2. Numbers 11:31 That is, about 3 feet or about 90 centimeters
  3. Numbers 11:32 That is, possibly about 1 3/4 tons or about 1.6 metric tons
  4. Numbers 11:34 Kibroth Hattaavah means graves of craving.