Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Numbers 9:1-5
The Keeping of the Second Passover (Numbers 9:1).
‘And Yahweh spoke to 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,'
This also took place prior to the numbering of Israel. The Passover was to be observed on 14th-15th of Abib (Nisan) which was the first month of the year at this time. Thus in that first month, one year after leaving Egypt, Yahweh called on Israel to ensure that they properly kept the Passover.
The Passover Must be Kept at its Appointed Time (Numbers 9:1)
“ Moreover let the children of Israel keep the passover in its appointed season. In the fourteenth day of this month, between the evenings, you shall keep it in its appointed season.”
Yahweh commanded that the children of Israel keep the Passover in the appointed season. That meant that on 10th day of Abib each family group was to set aside a lamb of the first year in readiness for the Passover. On the 14th day it was to be slaughtered as a sacrifice towards evening and eaten that night on what would in Israelite timing be 15th Abib (around March/April), for the Israelite's day began in the evening. Note the assumption that the statutes with regard to it were known.
“Between the evenings.” Thus between the time when it began to grow dark and twilight. Later Jewish tradition would argue for between noon and darkness and therefore sacrificed the Passover around 15:00 hours, but it was probably intended to be later than that. Compare Deuteronomy 16:6. The original idea would probably be when the keepers of the cattle and sheep returned from their final feeding and milking.
The Passover Was to be Kept According to All the Statutes and Ordinance (Numbers 9:3).
“ According to all the statutes of it, and according to all the ordinances of it, you shall keep it.”
Note the stress on following the laid down procedures. The existence of those statutes and ordinances is assumed. So important was it that we can assume that they were written down. For details consult Exodus 12:1 to Exodus 13:16.
In Accordance with Yahweh's Instruction The Passover Was Kept in the Wilderness as Commanded (Numbers 9:4)
‘And Moses spoke to the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.'
So Moses gave the command to the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover, as Yahweh had laid down from the beginning (Exodus 12:14; Exodus 12:43; Exodus 13:5; Exodus 13:8). The princes would no doubt be called together and instructions clearly given.
‘And they kept the passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at even, in the wilderness of Sinai. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.'
The result was that they kept the Passover on the 14th day of the first month of the second year at evening, in the wilderness of Sinai. And they kept it in accordance with all that Yahweh had commanded Moses (see Exodus 12:1 to Exodus 13:16; Leviticus 23:5).
On the 1st day of the month the Dwellingplace had been erected (Exodus 40:2), and then in the next twelve days the altar had been dedicated by each of the tribes through their princes (Numbers 7:1). Thus almost as soon as that was over the Passover would begin. It would then be followed for seven days by the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
There must have been a huge feeling of exultation among those who kept this first Passover after leaving Egypt. It could hardly fail to bring home vividly to all the people a reminder of the wonder of their deliverance. At this time there must have been full confidence for the future as they remembered how Yahweh had so amazingly acted for them and had delivered them, both on that night and in subsequent events. They would really feel at that moment that they were truly the people of God. And they would emerge from it even more determined to serve Yahweh fully.