民數記9:1-14

9:1 以色列人出埃及地以後，第二年正月，耶和華在西奈的曠野吩咐摩西說：
9:2 「以色列人應當在所定的日期守逾越節，
9:3 就是本月十四日黃昏的時候，你們要在所定的日期守這節，要按這節的律例典章而守。」
9:4 於是摩西吩咐以色列人守逾越節。
9:5 他們就在西奈的曠野，正月十四日黃昏的時候，守逾越節。凡耶和華所吩咐摩西的，以色列人都照樣行了。
9:6 有幾個人因死屍而不潔淨，不能在那日守逾越節。當日他們到摩西、亞倫面前，
9:7 說：「我們雖因死屍而不潔淨，為何被阻止、不得同以色列人在所定的日期獻耶和華的供物呢？」
9:8 摩西對他們說：「你們暫且等候，我可以去聽耶和華指著你們是怎樣吩咐的。」
9:9 耶和華對摩西說：
9:10 「你曉諭以色列人說：你們和你們後代中，若有人因死屍而不潔淨，或在遠方行路，還要向耶和華守逾越節。
9:11 他們要在二月十四日黃昏的時候，守逾越節。要用無酵餅與苦菜，和逾越節的羊羔同吃。
9:12 一點不可留到早晨；羊羔的骨頭一根也不可折斷。他們要照逾越節的一切律例而守。
9:13 那潔淨而不行路的人若推辭不守逾越節，那人要從民中剪除；因為他在所定的日期不獻耶和華的供物，應該擔當他的罪。
9:14 若有外人寄居在你們中間，願意向耶和華守逾越節，他要照逾越節的律例典章行，不管是寄居的是本地人，同歸一例。」

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt. He said, ² “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. ³ Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.”

⁴ So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, ⁵ and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.

⁶ But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day ⁷ and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?”

⁸ Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”

⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰ “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, ¹¹ but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. ¹² They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations. ¹³ But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

¹⁴ “‘A foreigner residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

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    逾越節是紀念上帝帶領以色列人脫離出埃及為奴之地的日子，對以色列人而言是歡樂的日子，因為不再活在埃及人的奴役下，可以自由自主做上帝的子民，活出人該有的尊嚴。

    而從以色列人出埃及的事件，讓我們感受到上帝是賜人自由的上帝。然而上帝賜給我們的自由，不是隨意的自由，不是不受拘束的自由。因為上帝使以色列人脫離埃及人的奴役之後，頒布十誡要以色列人遵行，也透過這十誡，才能活出上帝子民的丰采！

    在舊約中上帝愛以色列人最美的一句話是：「這樣，他要照他向你所應許的話，又向你列祖亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各所起的誓，今日立你作他的子民，他作你的上帝。」（申命記29:13）

    願我們和上帝，在基督裡也有這樣美好的關係！