Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Numbers 9:1 - 9:5

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Numbers 9:1 - 9:5


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The Passover Proper

v. 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,

v. 2. Let the children of Israel also keep the Passover at his appointed season.
It was true, indeed, that the Lord had instituted the Passover as a memorial before the Lord forever, Exo_12:14, but there was a possibility of the people's understanding the command as referring to the time of their living in Canaan only, Exo_12:25. So the Lord at this time, immediately after the erection of the Tabernacle, Exo_40:2-17, repeated the command enjoining the regular celebration of the festival, at that same certain time which had been set for that purpose.

v. 3. In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, literally,
"between the two evenings," Exo_12:6, ye shall keep it in his appointed season; according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. The essential feature of the festival, the sacrifice of the Passover lamb, remained throughout the ages, even after the ceremonies which were peculiar to the first celebration in Egypt, such as the eating of the meal attired in traveling dress and the painting of the door-posts and lintels with blood, had been discontinued.

v. 4. And Moses spake unto the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover.

v. 5. And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
It is a striking feature of the narrative at this time that it refers time and again to the obedience of the Israelites. It was the time of their first love. The great test of believers at all times is their steadfastness after the force of the first mighty impetus is spent, Rev_2:4.