1. The Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai. This was during the first month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said to Moses,
2. “Tell the Israelites to celebrate Passover at the chosen time.
3. They must eat the Passover meal just before dark on the 14th day of this month. They must do this at the chosen time, and they must follow all the rules about Passover.”
4. So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate Passover.
5. The people did this in the desert of Sinai just before dark on the 14th day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.
6. But some of the people could not celebrate Passover that day. They were unclean because they had touched a dead body. So they went to Moses and Aaron that day
7. and said to Moses, “We touched a dead body and became unclean. But why must we be kept from offering our gifts to the Lord at the chosen time with the rest of the Israelites?”
8. Moses said to them, “I will ask the Lord what he says about this.”
9. Then the Lord said to Moses,
10. “Tell the Israelites this: It might happen sometimes that you or your descendants cannot celebrate the Lord’S Passover at the right time. Someone might be unclean because they touched a dead body, or they might be away on a trip. They will still be able to celebrate Passover at another time.