Israel Celebrates the Passover Feast
1The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first month of the second year after the people came out of Egypt. He said, 2“Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover Feast. Have them do it at the appointed time. 3Celebrate it when the sun goes down on the 14th day of this month. Obey all its rules and laws.”
4So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover Feast. 5They did it in the Desert of Sinai. They celebrated it when the sun went down on the 14th day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
6But some of them couldn’t celebrate the Passover Feast on that day. That’s because they weren’t “clean.” They had gone near a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day. 7They said to Moses, “We went near a dead body. So we aren’t ‘clean.’ But why should we be kept from bringing the Lord’s offering at the appointed time? Why shouldn’t we bring it along with the other Israelites?”
8Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord wants you to do.”
9Then the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, 10“Tell the Israelites, ‘Suppose any of you or your children are “unclean” because they have gone near a dead body. Or suppose they are away on a journey. They must still celebrate the Lord’s Passover. 11They must celebrate it on the 14th day of the second month. They must do so when the sun goes down. They must eat the lamb together with bread made without yeast. They must eat it with bitter plants. 12They must not leave any of it until morning. They must not break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover Feast, they must follow all the rules. 13But suppose someone is “clean” and not on a journey. And they fail to celebrate the Passover Feast. Then they must be separated from the community of Israel. They did not bring the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will be punished for their sin.
14“ ‘What if there is an outsider living among you? And what if they want to celebrate the Lord’s Passover? Then they must obey its rules and laws. You must have the same laws for outsiders as you do for the Israelites.’ ”
The Cloud Covers the Holy Tent
15The holy tent was set up. It was the tent where the tablets of the covenant law were kept. On the day it was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening until morning the cloud above the tent looked like fire. 16That’s what continued to happen. The cloud covered the tent. At night the cloud looked like fire. 17When the cloud lifted from its place above the tent, the Israelites started out. Where the cloud settled, the Israelites camped. 18When the Lord gave the command, the Israelites started out. And when he gave the command, they camped. As long as the cloud stayed above the holy tent, they remained in camp. 19Sometimes the cloud remained above the tent for a long time. Then the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order. They didn’t start out. 20Sometimes the cloud was above the tent for only a few days. When the Lord would give the command, they would camp. And when he would give the command, they would start out. 21Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening until morning. When it lifted in the morning, they started out. It didn’t matter whether it was day or night. When the cloud lifted, the people started out. 22It didn’t matter whether the cloud stayed above the holy tent for two days or a month or a year. The Israelites would remain in camp. They wouldn’t start out. But when the cloud lifted, they would start out. 23When the Lord gave the command, they camped. And when he gave the command, they started out. They obeyed the Lord’s order. They obeyed him, just as he had commanded them through Moses.
逾越节
1以色列人离开埃及后第二年的一月，耶和华在西奈旷野对摩西说： 2“以色列人要在指定的时间守逾越节， 3就是在一月十四日黄昏按照有关的律例和典章守逾越节。” 4于是，摩西吩咐以色列人守逾越节。 5一月十四日黄昏，以色列人照耶和华对摩西的吩咐，在西奈山守逾越节。
6可是，有几个人因碰到死尸而不洁净，不能在那天守逾越节，他们就来见摩西和亚伦， 7说：“我们不过因碰到死尸而不洁净，为什么不准我们跟其他以色列人一起在指定的时间向耶和华献供物？” 8摩西说：“你们等一下，我要去听听耶和华对这事有什么吩咐。”
9耶和华对摩西说： 10“你把以下条例告诉以色列人。
“如果你们或你们的子孙中有人因为碰了死尸而不洁净，或是出了远门，可以改期为耶和华守逾越节。 11他们可以在二月十四日黄昏守逾越节，要配无酵饼和苦菜一起吃逾越节的羊羔。 12食物不可留到天明，也不可折断羊羔的一根骨头。要遵守逾越节的一切律例。 13如果有人是洁净的，又没有出远门，却不守逾越节，要将他从民中铲除。他不在指定的时间向耶和华献供物，就必须自负罪责。 14如果寄居在你们中间的外族人也想为耶和华守逾越节，他们也要遵守这些律例和典章。不论是外族人还是以色列人，都要遵守同样的律例。”
云彩遮盖会幕
15安放约柜的圣幕支起来那天，云彩遮盖了它。当晚，云彩整夜像火焰一般。 16之后，每天如此：白天云彩遮盖圣幕，晚上云彩像火。 17云彩什么时候从圣幕上升起，以色列人就启行；云彩在哪里停下来，以色列人就在哪里安营。 18他们无论启行还是安营，都遵照耶和华的吩咐。云彩在圣幕上停留多久，他们就安营多久。 19有时云彩在圣幕上停留多日，他们就遵照耶和华的吩咐安营多日。 20有时云彩在圣幕上只停留几天，他们就遵照耶和华的吩咐只安营几天。随后再照耶和华的吩咐启行。 21有时云彩整夜停留在圣幕上，到早晨才升起，他们就早晨才启行。不管白天黑夜，云彩一升起，他们就启行。 22不管是两天、一个月或是一年，只要云彩停留在圣幕上，以色列人就安营不动；云彩一升起，他们就启行。 23他们遵照耶和华的吩咐安营，也遵照耶和华的吩咐启行。他们遵行耶和华借摩西吩咐的话。
