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Numbers 9:4

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 9:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.
Numbers 9:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And Jehovah 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,
2Moreover let the children of Israel keep the passover in its appointed season.
3In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in its appointed season: according to all the statutes of it, and according to all the ordinances thereof, shall ye keep it.
4And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.
5And 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 Jehovah commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
6And 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:
7and those men said unto him, We are unclean by reason of the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer the oblation of Jehovah in its appointed season among the children of Israel?
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.] The time now drawing nigh for the observation of it, it being now almost a year since their coming out of Egypt.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Passover at Sinai. This, as being kept in the first month, was prior in time to the numbering of Numbers 1:1 ff, and to the other events narrated in this book. It is, however, recorded here as introductory to the ordinance of Numbers 9:6-14 in this chapter respecting the supplementary Passover; the observance of which was one of the last occurrences during the halt at Sinai. Numbers 9:5 In some details, the present Passover differed both from that kept at the Exodus itself and from all subsequent Passovers. For example, the direction of Exodus 12:22 could not be carried out in the letter while the people were dwelling in tents; and may be regarded as superseded by Leviticus 17:3-6 (compare…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:4-7 When it was time to celebrate the Passover, some men were prevented by the restrictions of Lev 7:20-21. Their objection arose from a desire to keep the regulation in a case where there seemed to be no good way for them to do so.”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification