sn The chapter has just the two sections, the observance of the Passover (vv. 1–14) and the cloud that led the Israelites in the wilderness (vv. 15–23). It must be remembered that the material in vv. 7–9 is chronologically earlier than vv. 1–6, as the notices in the text will make clear. The two main discussions here are the last major issues to be reiterated before dealing with the commencement of the journey.

tn The temporal clause is formed with the infinitive construct of יָצָא (yatsa’, “to go out; to leave”). This verse indicates that a full year had passed since the exodus and the original Passover; now a second ruling on the Passover is included at the beginning of the second year. This would have occurred immediately after the consecration of the tabernacle, in the month before the census at Sinai.