Numbers 9 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Numbers 9 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Numbers 9 records the observance of the 2nd annual Passover memorial. The 2nd Passover was kept the 14th day of the 2nd month of the 2nd year after the Israelites left Egypt.

• The year was approximately 1490-1489 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Moses – Moses was selected by God to lead the Israelites to Canaan. God spoke directly to Moses and Moses communicated God’s words to the people.    

• Aaron – The High Priest of Israel. He was Moses’ brother and born into the tribe of Levi.

• Unclean Men – Certain men who were unable to keep the Passover feast because of spiritual uncleanliness.

WHERE:

• According to the book of Leviticus and Numbers 3:1, the Israelites were camped in the wilderness of Sinai, near Mount Sinai.

OUTLINE:

• THE CELEBRATION OF THE 2ND PASSOVER (9:1-5):

  • God spoke to Moses and told him to command the Israelites to keep the Passover memorial just as they had 1 year previous when they left Egypt.

  • The feast was to be observed on the 14th day of the 1st month at twilight.

  • The people kept the feast according to all the instructions God had previously given them.

• A SECONDARY DAY FOR THOSE WHO MISSED THE PASSOVER (8:6-14):

  • There were a few men in Israel who were unclean from touching a dead body (perhaps a funeral) on the day specified for the Passover. They were not allowed to eat the Passover meal because they were unclean. They approached Moses and Aaron and asked what could be done.

  • God told Moses to establish a second day, the 14th day of the 2nd month, for anyone who missed the Passover unintentionally due to uncleanliness or being on a long journey.

  • Anyone who willingly disregarded the Passover was to be “cut off from his people.”

• THE PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE (8:15-23):

  • In Exodus 13:21, we were told God guided the Israelites with a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night.

  • When the Tabernacle was set up, the pillar of cloud rested over the tent.

  • When the pillar moved, the Israelites knew it was time to break camp and relocate.

  • Sometimes the pillar remained in the same location for weeks, other times it moved after only a few hours.

  • Whenever and wherever the pillar of cloud and fire moved the Israelites followed.

APPLICATION:

• Do we go to God for direction before we make moves?

• Obviously, we don’t have a pillar of fire guiding us through life (that might be nice), but we ought to seek God’s guidance before choosing a path.

• Before we relocate, undertake a project, make an investment, or pursue a dream, we should seek God through prayer and perhaps through fasting to ask Him to steer us correctly.

• We have such limited vision; we need God’s knowledge of the future to guide us to the best outcome.

DIAGRAM OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL:

DIAGRAM OF THE TABERNACLE: