Numbers 9 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

1. Preparing to leave Sinai (1:1–10:10) * Offerings from the tribes, dedicating the Levites, celebrating the Passover, and the cloud over the Dwelling (7:1–9:23)This chapter briefly narrates how the Israelites celebrated the Passover for the first time since they left Egypt, and it also gives instructions for a celebration of the Passover in the second month for those who were unable to celebrate it in the first month. Then, the author describes how a cloud visually represented Yahweh’s commands to the Israelites concerning when to travel and where to camp.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Passover

The Passover was a festival that celebrated how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt. You can read more about the Passover in Exodus 12. This chapter records the first celebration of this festival after God delivered the Israelites from Egypt. The festival was celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month, and it included a special meal at which the Israelites ate unleavened bread and a special lamb. In this chapter, Yahweh allows any Israelites who were unable to celebrate on that day (because of impurity or travel) to celebrate on a backup day, which was the fourteenth day of the second month. This festival was a very important one, so Yahweh indicates that anyone who chooses not to celebrate it must be expelled from the community. (See: passover)

Being “cut off” from the people

The punishment for failing to celebrate the Passover (except for impurity or travel) was being “cut off” from the rest of the Israelites. Scholars are unsure exactly what penalty this phrase implies. It could refer to death by execution. It could refer to punishment from Yahweh in a way of his choice. It could refer to expulsion from the Israelite community. The UST and notes follow this last option. If possible, use a word or phrase that could be understood in several of these ways. If you must specify, it is recommended that you follow the UST and notes.

The cloud

This chapter refers to “the cloud” that was over the sacred tent during the Israelites’ travels in the wilderness. This cloud appeared when the Israelites left Egypt (see [Exodus 13:21–22](../exo/13/21.md)). There it is described as a pillar that is a cloud during the day and fire at night. Here, the cloud also looks like fire at night. In this chapter, the cloud visually shows Yahweh’s commands for when and where the Israelites should travel. Be sure that it is clear to your readers that Yahweh controls the cloud.

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Order of events

As with Numbers 7, this chapter occurs before the events in Numbers 1–6. In fact, [9:15](../09/15.md) refers to the same day as 7:1 does. Within this chapter, the exact timing of the events in 9:1–4 is uncertain, since the author only mentions the month (although these must have happened before the fourteenth day, when Passover was celebrated). The events in 9:5–14 took place on the fourteenth day of the first month. Then, the event in 9:15 took place on the first day of the first month. So, these events are not in sequential order. Consider how to make this clear to your readers. See the notes on [9:15](../09/15.md) for translation options. (See: figs-events)

Present tense for repeated past actions

In [9:15–23](../09/15.md), the author uses the present tense to refer to repeated actions in the past. He means that the events he describes with the present tense happened many times. Consider what tense or form to use to make that clear. The UST uses the English form “would” to refer to these repeated past events. (See: translate-tense)

Personification of the cloud

The author speaks of the cloud as if it were a person who could “dwell” and “prolong” in certain places. He uses this figure of speech to describe how the cloud moved and to imply that Yahweh controlled the cloud. If you would not speak of a cloud as if it were a person, you could use words that you would normally use to describe clouds moving, or you could indicate that Yahweh controlled the cloud. (See: figs-personification)