In the wilderness of Sinai, during the first month of the second year after Israel came out of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses:
"Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at its appointed time—on the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight. Keep it according to all its rules and regulations."
So Moses instructed the people, and they celebrated the Passover in the wilderness of Sinai. At twilight, on the fourteenth day of the first month, the people did exactly as the LORD had commanded.
But some men came before Moses and Aaron with a concern. They had touched a dead body and were therefore ceremonially unclean, unable to take part in the Passover that day. They said, "We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the LORD's offering with the rest of Israel at the appointed time?"
Moses answered them, "Wait, and I will hear what the LORD commands concerning you."
And the LORD spoke to Moses: "Tell the Israelites: If any among you—or among your descendants in generations to come—is unclean because of a dead body or is away on a journey, they may still celebrate the Passover to the LORD. They are to keep it on the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight. They must eat the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must follow the regulations of the Passover.
But if a man is ceremonially clean, not on a journey, and still refuses to keep the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people, for he has not presented the LORD's offering at the appointed time. He shall bear the guilt of his sin. And if an alien living among you wishes to keep the LORD's Passover, he must do so according to the same rules and regulations. One law shall apply to both the foreigner and the native-born."
On the day the tabernacle—the Tent of the Testimony—was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening until morning the cloud appeared over the tent like fire. And so it continued: by day the cloud covered it, and by night it looked like fire.
Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, Israel set out; and wherever the cloud settled, there they encamped. At the LORD's command they camped, and at the LORD's command they set out. Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for many days, or only for a few, the people remained as long as it rested. Sometimes it stayed from evening until morning; sometimes for two days, a month, or even a year. But when the cloud lifted, the people moved forward.
So Israel journeyed and camped at the word of the LORD, just as He commanded through Moses.