There were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body, &c.— The reader should remember, that the case here mentioned, happened before the law was delivered, that is mentioned chap. Numbers 5:2.
REFLECTIONS.—We have here, 1. The second passover observed after their deliverance from Egypt; and it should seem, they celebrated it no more till they came to Canaan, because of their omission of circumcision, which in their removes might be dangerous. Moses, at God's command, enjoins it, and the people obey him. If they with delight could thus run to celebrate the memorial of their deliverance; with what constancy and gladness should we approach the table of our Lord, to remember his greater deliverance of us from worse than Egyptian bondage, even from the chains of sin, and from the powers of death and hell.
2. A case brought before Moses, Numbers 9:6. Some persons were defiled by a dead body, and therefore could not keep the passover; yet, grieved to be excluded where themselves were without blame, they consult Moses, and Moses carries the matter before the Lord. Hence learn, (1.) If ceremonial defilement at that time debarred from the most sacred ordinance, how much more should moral impurity in our day debar men from the table of the Lord! (2.) Even unforeseen and unavoidable impediments, which detain us from waiting upon God in his ordinances, will be a grief, or at least a trial, to us. (3.) In cases of conscience ministers should be consulted about the path of duty. (4.) Ministers must wait much upon God in prayer and in his word, that they may be directed into all truth themselves, and enabled to direct others also.
3. God resolves the question, and makes an order for future generations. Whoever are unclean, or on a journey afar off, have a month more allowed them, when they may with the same ceremonies keep the feast, and it would be alike accepted: but if it was deferred through neglect or contempt, the sinner must be cut off, either by excommunication from the visible church, or by God's hand in secret judgment. Note; (1.) They who are disappointed unavoidably from attending upon God in his ordinances, will be happy to seize the returning opportunity of approaching his house and table. (2.) Providential hindrances from the means of grace will not, if our hearts be right, deprive us of the grace of the means; God will amply supply our wants some other way. (3.) They who reject God's ordinances, will be rejected by him. Habitual wilful absence from the Lord's table is a strong sign of a lost soul.
4. The circumcised stranger had the same right as the home-born Israelite. In Christ Jesus there is no difference between barbarian, Scythian, bond, or free: whosoever calleth on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.