1. The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai. This was in the first month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt. He said,
2. “Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the appointed time.
3. That appointed time is the fourteenth day of this month. They should celebrate it at twilight. They must obey all the rules about it.”
4. So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover.
5. And so they did. It was in the Desert of Sinai at twilight. This was on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.
6. But some of the people could not celebrate the Passover on that day. They were unclean because of a dead body. So they went to Moses and Aaron that day.
7. They said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body. But why should we be kept from offering gifts to the Lord at this appointed time? Why can’t we join the other Israelites?”
8. Moses said to them, “Wait. I will find out what the Lord says about you.”
9. Then the Lord said to Moses,