Study Desk

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,

"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,

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)

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)

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.

"‘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.'"

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)

That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire.^(ac)

Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out;^(ad) wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.^(ae)

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.

When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord 's order^(ag) and did not set out.^(ah)

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.

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.

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.

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

The Lord said to Moses:

"Make two trumpets^(a) of hammered silver, and use them for calling the community^(b) together and for having the camps set out.^(c)

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^(d)—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.^(e)

At the sounding of a second blast, the camps on the south are to set out.^(f) The blast will be the signal for setting out.

To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets,^(g) but not with the signal for setting out.^(h)

"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.⁽ⁱ⁾

When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you,^(j) sound a blast on the trumpets.^(k) Then you will be remembered^(l) by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies.^(m)

Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts⁽ⁿ⁾—you are to sound the trumpets^(o) over your burnt offerings^(p) and fellowship offerings,^(q) and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God.^(r)"

On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year,^(s) the cloud lifted^(t) from above the tabernacle of the covenant law.^(u)

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.^(v)

They set out, this first time, at the Lord 's command through Moses.^(w)

The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard.^(x) Nahshon son of Amminadab^(y) was in command.

Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe^(z) of Issachar,^(aa)

and Eliab son of Helon^(ab) was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun.^(ac)

Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out.^(ad)

The divisions of the camp of Reuben^(ae) went next, under their standard.^(af) Elizur son of Shedeur^(ag) was in command.

Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon,^(ah)

and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad.^(ai)

Then the Kohathites^(aj) set out, carrying the holy things.^(ak) The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.^(al)

The divisions of the camp of Ephraim^(am) went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud^(an) was in command.

Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,^(ao)

and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin.^(ap)

Finally, as the rear guard^(aq) for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai^(ar) was in command.

Pagiel son of Okran was over the division of the tribe of Asher,^(as)

and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali.^(at)

This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out.

Now Moses said to Hobab^(au) son of Reuel^(av) the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law,^(aw) "We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.'^(ax) Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel."

He answered, "No, I will not go;^(ay) I am going back to my own land and my own people.^(az)"

But Moses said, "Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes.^(ba)

If you come with us, we will share with you^(bb) whatever good things the Lord gives us.^(bc)"

So they set out^(bd) from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord ^(be) went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest.^(bf)

The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.^(bg)

Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, "Rise up,^(bh) Lord ! May your enemies be scattered;^(bi) may your foes flee before you.^(bj)"^(bk)

Whenever it came to rest, he said, "Return,^(bl) Lord , to the countless thousands of Israel.^(bm)"