Matthew Poole and continuators on Numbers 9

1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year , after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

And therefore before the numbring of the people, which was not till the second moneth, Numb. 1. 1, 2. But it is placed after it, because of a special case relating to the Passe-over, which hapned after it, and which is here related, upon occasion whereof he mentions the command of God for the keeping of the Passe-over in the Wilderness, which was done but once, and without this command they had not been obliged to keep it at all till they came to the land of Canaan. See Exod. 12. 25.

3 In the fourteenth day of this month at even, ye shall keep it in its appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof shall ye keep it.

So far as concerned the Lamb and the unleavened bread, &c. for there were some things peculiar to the first Passe-over in Egypt, as that they were to eat it in [illegible: 1 word], with their loins grided, their shoes on their feet, and their staffe in their hand, which were not properly Rites or Ceremonies of the Passe-over, but circumstances of their present condition, being then Travellers and ready to depart, &c, Qu. Whence had they meal to make unleavened bread? Answ. They were not now in haste, and so had time enough to procure it out of the land of Midian by the help of Moses his Father-in-law who lived there, which land was not far from Hor[illegible: 1+ letters]b or Sinai, as appears from Exod. 3. 1.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] the two [illegible: 1+ letters] ings.

6 And there were certain men who were defiled by the dead body of a man , that they could not keep the passe-over on that day: and they came before Moses , and before Aaron on that day.

By the touch of a dead body, or something belonging to it. See Numb. 19. 11.

Because unclean persons were prohibited to eat of holy things. See Levit. 7. 20. and 22. 3.

For resolution of their difficulty.

Marginal references: chap. 5. 3.; Or, the [illegible: 1 word] a [illegible: 1 word], ch. 6. [illegible: 1 word].

7 And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in its appointed season, among the children of Israel?

Which if we neglect, we must be cut off, and if we keep it in these circumstances, we must also be cut off. What shall we do?

(i. e.) The Passeover, so called, because it was both killed and eaten in obedience to Gods command, and to Gods honour, and as a thank-offering to God for his great mercies.

8 And Moses said unto them, stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you .

God having promised to answer and direct him upon his address to him in difficult cases.

10 to Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you, or of your posterity, shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off , yet ye shall keep the passeover unto the LORD.

Under these two instances the Hebrews think that other hinderances of like nature are comprehended, as if one be hindred by a disease, or by any other such kind of uncleanness, which may seem probable both from the nature of the thing, and the reason of the Law which is the same in other cases, and from the application of this rule to other cases, 2 Chron. 30.

In some remote countrey, whence he cannot return sooner.

12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning , nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passeover, they shall keep it.

But either eat or burn it before that time.

Marginal references: Exod. 12. 10.; Exod. 12. 46. Joh. 19. 36.

13 But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passeover : even the same soul shall be cut off from his people, because he brought not the offering of the LORD in its appointed season: that man shall bear his sin.

Through contempt or neglect, without these or any other just impediments, as before.

14 And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passeover unto the LORD, according to the ordinance of the passeover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.

To wit, a Proselyte.

Marginal references: Exod. 12. 49.

15 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony : and at even there was upon the tabernacle, as it were the appearance of fire , until the morning.

Of which see Exod. 13. 12.

Or, The Tabernacle towards or above the tent of the Testimony, i. e. that part of the Tabernacle in which was the Testimony, or the ark of the Testimony; for there the cloudy pillar stood, Levit. 16. 2. This was an evident token of Gods special presence with and providence over them. See Exod. 14. 20, 24. Psal. 105. 39. And this cloud was easily distinguished from other clouds both by its peculiar figure and by its constant residence in that place.

That they might better discern it and direct themselves and their journeys or stations by it.

Marginal references: Exod. 40. 34.; Exod. 13. 21. and 40. 38.

17. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.

Or, Ascended on high, above its ordinary place, by which it became more visible to all the camp.

18 At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed; and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched, as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle, they rested in the tents.

The motion or stay of the cloud is fitly called the command of God, because it was a signification of Gods will and their duty, which a command properly is.

Marginal references: 1 Cor. [illegible: 1 word]. 1.

19 And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many dayes, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD , and journeyed not.

(i. e.) The command of God mentioned before, that [illegible: 1 word] should stay as long as the cloud stayed, as the same phrase is manifestly taken below, ver. 23. And this, saith he, they did, though it were long in one place, which was tedious to them, who desired to change places and to make haste to Canaan, yet they obeyed God herein against their own inclinations. Which because it was remarkable in so obstinate a people, it is so largely and particularly mentioned here, as an instance of their obedience, and as an aggravation of the many following instances of their Apostacy and Disobedience.

Marginal references: Heb. prolonged.