Numbers 9:1-10 ▼

1 A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. In the first month of that year he said,

2 “Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time,

3 at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. Be sure to follow all my decrees and regulations concerning this celebration.”

4 So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover

5 in the wilderness of Sinai as twilight fell on the fourteenth day of the month. And they celebrated the festival there, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

6 But some of the men had been ceremonially defiled by touching a dead body, so they could not celebrate the Passover that day. They came to Moses and Aaron that day

7 and said, “We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But why should we be prevented from presenting the LORD’s offering at the proper time with the rest of the Israelites?”

8 Moses answered, “Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the LORD.”

9 This was the LORD’s reply to Moses.

10 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people now or in future generations are ceremonially unclean at Passover time because of touching a dead body, or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they may still celebrate the LORD’s Passover.