Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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(1.) Those that happened to be ceremonially unclean at the time when the Passover should be eaten were allowed to eat it that day month, when they were clean; so were those that happened to be in a journey afar off, Nu 9:10,11. See here,
[1.] That when we are to attend upon God in solemn ordinances it is very necessary both that we be clean and that we be composed.
[2.] That that may excuse the deferring of a duty for a time which yet will not justify us in the total neglect and omission of it. He that is at variance with his brother may leave his gift before the altar, while he goes to be reconciled to his brother; but when he has done his part towards it, whether it be effected or no, he must come again and offer his gift, Mt 5:23,24. This secondary Passover was to be kept on the same day of the month with the first, because the ordinance was a memorial of their deliverance on that day of the month. Once we find the whole congregation keeping the Passover on this fourteenth day of the second month, in Hezekiah's time (2Ch 30:15), which perhaps may help to account for the admission of some that were not clean to the eating of it. Had the general Passover been kept in the first month, the unclean might have been put off till the second; but, that being kept in the second month, they had no warrant to eat it in the third month, and therefore, rather than not eat of it at all, they were admitted, though not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary, Nu 9:19,20.
(2.) Whenever the Passover was kept in the second month, all the rites and ceremonies of it must be strictly observed, Nu 9:12. They must not think that, because the time was dispensed with, any part of the solemnity of it might be abated; when we cannot do as we would we must do the utmost we can in the service of God.
(3.) This allowance in a case of necessity would be no means countenance or indulge any in their neglect to keep the