Numbers 9:2

Summary

Numbers 9:2 records a command that the benei Yisrael ("sons of Israel", H1121G/H3478) must observe the Pasach ("Passover", H6453) at its appointed time. The verse is short and consists of a single clause built around a jussive verb form expressing instruction rather than simple future narration.

Key words

• ya'aSu ("let them observe/do", H6213A) — qal imperfect with prefixed vav, functioning here as a jussive: it expresses a command or instruction ("let them do"), not a plain future statement.
• benei ("sons/people of", H1121G) — masculine plural construct, linking grammatically to Yisrael, forming the phrase "sons of Israel."
• 'et (H0853) — the direct object marker, untranslated in English but marking ha-Pasach as the grammatical object of ya'aSu.
• Pasach ("Passover", H6453) — masculine singular noun with the definite article ha (H9009), naming the specific observance commanded.
• mo'aDo ("its appointed time", H4150G + H9023) — construct noun with a third-person masculine singular pronominal suffix, meaning literally "the appointed time of it," specifying when the Pasach is to occur.

What the text says

The clause opens with ve-ya'aSu, a verb in the qal imperfect with a conjunctive vav, which in this construction carries jussive force — an instruction that "they shall observe" or "let them observe." The subject is benei Yisrael, a construct phrase meaning "sons/people of Israel," which stands as the agent of the verb. The object marker 'et introduces ha-Pasach, "the Passover," as the definite object being observed — the article ha indicates this is a specific, known institution rather than a general concept.

The final phrase, be-mo'aDo, uses the preposition be ("at/in") attached to the construct noun mo'ed ("appointed time") with a third-person singular suffix ("its"), producing "at its appointed time." This construction ties the timing of the observance directly to the Passover itself — the appointed time belongs to the Pasach, rather than being an external date imposed on it.

Differences between versions

The Septuagint (LXXSWETE) opens with Εἰπὸν ("Say"), an imperative not present in the Hebrew text of this verse as given, suggesting the LXX incorporates part of the surrounding speech-introduction into this clause. For be-mo'ado, the LXX renders καθ' ὥραν αὐτοῦ ("according to its hour"), using ὥρα ("hour") where the Hebrew mo'ed denotes a broader "appointed time" or season rather than a specific hour. The Vulgate's in tempore suo ("in its time") corresponds more closely to the Hebrew construct phrase be-mo'ado in scope, without narrowing it to an "hour" as the LXX does.