Parshat Bha’alotcha: Divine ‘changes’?

In the first Nissan month following the Exodus, the Torah tells us that the Israelites observed Passover, bringing the Korban Pesach (Paschal lamb offering) at its proper time (Chapter 9).

The tale that follows is of a group of people, who were unable to participate in the Korban Pesach on account of their being in a state of tumah (a spiritual state of impurity).

“But why should we lose out and not be able to present G-d’s offering at the right time, along with the other Israelites?” they ask.

“Wait here,” Moshe replied. “I will hear what orders G-d gives regarding your case.”

He is told, “Speak to the Israelites, saying: If any person is tameh (ritually impure) from contact with the dead, or is on a distant journey, whether among you [now] or in future generations, he shall still have the opportunity to prepare G-d’s Passover offering. … He shall prepare it on the afternoon of the 14th of the second month, and shall eat it with matzahs and bitter herbs.” (9:7-14) This is the Torah’s account of the mitzvah of “Pesach Sheni” — the makeup date for missing the Korban Pesach.

Rashi says, “These impure people were privileged to have this mitzvah (of Pesach Sheni) be attributed to their question, as opposed to coming directly from Moshe, because we bring about something which is worthy through someone who is worthy.” Three of the opinions as to their identity are those who carried Yosef’s bones, Mishael and Eltzafan, who took Nadav and Avihu out of the Mishkan after their tragic end, or people who buried others who had no family. All of these possibilities are people who are very worthy to perform the mitzvah were it not for the tumah factor holding them back.

In his exploration of Rashi’s commentary, Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi notes that those who were tameh were tameh that day, but were to become tahor (pure) that evening. As such, they would have been fit and could have partaken of the Korban Pesach on time — not in the day of the 14th of Nissan, but in the evening of the 15th, during their Seder, when the Paschal Lamb “is to be eaten and not leftover until morning.”