It’s time for Passover
1It was springtime in the Sinai badlands when the LORD spoke to Moses. Their talk took place just over a year [1] after the Israelites left Egypt. The LORD told Moses: 2It’s almost time for the Israelite people to celebrate Passover. [2] 3It starts in the evening on day 14 of the first month, at twilight. Follow all the instructions I’ve given you about how to observe that day.Passover in the Sinai badlands
4Moses reminded the Israelites to celebrate Passover. 5They were still camped in the Sinai badlands. They celebrated Passover as the LORD instructed. They started at twilight on day 14 of the first month of their second year of freedom. 6Sadly, some Israelite men missed out on Passover. They had come into contact with a dead person. That left them ritually unclean. So, they were unfit to take part in anything holy. Well, that very day the men went to Moses and Aaron.7The men said, “Listen, we’re unclean because of a dead person. We understand that. But why can’t we take our offerings to the LORD when we’re supposed to, like the LORD told all Israelites to do?” 8Moses said, “Okay, why don’t you wait here while I go and listen to what the LORD has to say about your situation?” 9The LORD told Moses: 10Give this message to all the Israelite people:
If any of you becomes ritually unclean because of a dead person or you find yourself on a long trip and you can’t be where you normally celebrate Passover, celebrate it a month later. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the road, or if you’re ritually clean or unclean. Don’t let these kinds of situations keep you from celebrating the Passover that the LORD established.
11Your Passover will be a month later. At twilight on day 14 of the second month of the year, you’ll eat the Passover meal, including the yeast-free bread and the bitter-tasting plants. [3] 12Eat the entire meal. And don’t break any bones of the sacrificed animal. [4] Follow all our Passover rules.
13But I’m warning you, if you skip the Passover without an excuse—if you’re ritually clean and not on a trip—you’re no Israelite anymore. [5] You’ll be guilty of not bringing your offering to the LORD when you were supposed to. In a case like that, you’ll suffer the consequences for your sin. 14Guests are welcome to celebrate Passover with you. They don’t have to be an Israelite. But they’ll need to follow all the LORD’s instructions about how to observe this sacred time. The rules about it apply to everyone—Israelites and anyone else with them.
Cloud chasers
15On the day the tent worship center was set up, a cloud descended above it. The cloud hovered over the tent of the law. [6] In the daylight hours, it looked like a column of smoke. But at night it became a column of fire. 16Once the cloud descended, it stayed where it settled day and night. 17When the cloud lifted, the Israelite people knew it was time to break camp and follow it. When the cloud stopped, the Israelites stopped and made camp.18This is how the LORD directed them about when to go and when to stay. Whenever they made camp, they stayed until the cloud lifted away from the tent sanctuary and began to move on. 19When the cloud hovered over the tent for a long stay, the people camped and did whatever the LORD told them. 20If the cloud hovered above the tent for a few days, the people stayed in camp for a few days. But whenever the LORD let them know it was time to move on, they moved on. 21If the cloud stayed with the tent overnight and lifted the next morning, the people followed the cloud the next morning.
22It didn't matter if the cloud stayed with the tent for two days, a month, or a year. If the cloud hovered above the tent, the Israelite people camped. But as soon as the cloud lifted and started moving on, the people followed. 23It was the LORD who commanded when to make camp and when to break camp. The people did whatever the LORD commanded through Moses.
