Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Numbers 9:6-14
The Dismay Of Those Who Through No Fault of Their Own Had Missed Out (Numbers 9:6).
There were those who were unable to take part in the Passover because they were unclean with an uncleanness that lasted seven days. In this case it was because they had had contact with the dead. They were clearly very upset that they had missed out on it and sought a remedy.
The Approach of Those Who Were Unclean for the Dead and Could Not Eat the Passover (Numbers 9:6)
‘And there were certain men, who were unclean by reason of the dead body of a man, so that they could not keep the passover on that day, and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day, and those men said to him, “We are unclean by reason of the dead body of a man. What is the reason why we are kept back, that we may not offer the oblation of Yahweh in its appointed season among the children of Israel?” '
In this particular case there were men who were at the time ‘unclean' because they had come in contact with a dead body and were therefore unclean for seven days. Thus they had been unable to take part in the observing of the Passover. This upset them greatly and they approached Moses and Aaron about it on that very day of the offering of the Passover lambs. They wanted to know why they should be restricted so that they could not take part in the observance of the Passover over what to them did not seem a very serious matter. Why was it that something which was not their fault should prevent them partaking in the Passover?
Their attitude and their urgency emphasises the blessing that the people who were able to keep the Passover enjoyed.
Moses Asks Them to Wait While He Discovers Yahweh's Will (Numbers 9:8)
‘And Moses said to them, “Wait, that I may hear what Yahweh will command concerning you.” '
Moses was sympathetic to their request and asked them to wait while he consulted Yahweh through the Voice that spoke from the mercy seat.
Yahweh Expresses His Will to Moses (Numbers 9:9)
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,'
Yahweh's reply came in the usual way, through His word to Moses.
He Speaks Concerning Those Who Had Been Unclean and Could Not Therefore Eat the Passover (Numbers 9:10 a).
‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying,'
Yahweh had a reply for these concerned men which He commands Moses to give them.
And The Reply Was That They Would Be Enabled To Keep the Passover of Yahweh (Numbers 9:10 b).
“If any man of you or of your generations shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be on a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover to Yahweh.” '
He first expanded on the problem. In future men may be unclean through contact with the dead or may be on a distant journey, and thus be unable to observe the Passover. Well, they were not to be too concerned. They would certainly be privileged to still keep the Passover.
A Second Passover Was To Be Kept In The Second Month And Was To Be Kept As Laid Down (Numbers 9:11).
“ In the second month on the fourteenth day at even they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, they shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break a bone of it. According to all the statute of the passover they shall keep it.”
The way in which this would be achieved was by having a special Passover on the 14th day of the second month for all those who had missed the one on the 14th day of the first month through no fault of their own. They would observe it in the same way as the authentic Passover, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8), and of course with the Passover lamb. And in accordance with the regulations they were to leave none until the morning and were to ensure that they broke none of its bones (Exodus 12:10; Exodus 12:46). The first was necessary because the Passover food was especially holy. It was like a peace offering offered solely in thanksgiving (Leviticus 7:15). The second because to break the bones would render the lamb blemished and therefore imperfect. Even in death it must be kept perfect and whole, because it was holy. It was Yahweh's. And it was their great privilege that they could partake of it because they were His redeemed people.
The Passover Must In General Be Kept At Its Appointed Time (Numbers 9:13)
“ But the man who is clean, and is not on a journey, and forbears to keep the passover, that soul shall be cut off from his people. Because he offered not the oblation of Yahweh in its appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.”
However that was not to be made an excuse for someone who was clean not to keep the original Passover. Anyone eligible who did not keep the original Passover would be cut off from among the people. Yahweh would know and would see to it. And the reason for this would be that he had not offered a gift that he was obliged by Yahweh to make at the appointed time. He would have deliberately rebelled highhandedly against Yahweh.
“ And if a resident alien shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover to Yahweh, according to the statute of the passover, and according to its ordinance, so shall he do. You shall have one statute, both for the resident alien, and for him who is born in the land.”
All this was being said in preparation for that great future when they would be in the land. Then if a resident alien lived among them he also could keep the Passover in accordance with Passover requirements, one of which was that he enter the covenant and be circumcised as a ‘true' Israelite (Exodus 12:48). As stated in Exodus the same principles would apply to all, whether born in the land or resident alien seeking Yahweh.
This emphasis on ‘the land' was all part of the preparation for their moving off on what at that time Moses thought would be a short journey to the land. The expectancy was that they would soon be living there, and these references were intended to bolster that expectancy. There was no thought of the delay that would occur through their unbelief. As far as Moses was concerned it was just round the corner.
For us the significance of the Passover is tied up with Jesus Christ. He is our Passover Who was sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7 compare John 19:36). He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). We are therefore to rid ourselves of the leaven of wickedness and malice. And we must ensure that we partake of Him as the unblemished offering fully and truly, for to fail to do so will mean that we too will be ‘cut off' (1 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 11:30).