Deuteronomy 16:1

Observe As of the Sabbath, Deuteronomy 16:12.

month of Abib Abib= young ears of corn(Exodus 9:31; Leviticus 2:14) and the month fell in our March April. So E and J (Exodus 13:4; Exodus 23:15; Exodus 34:18). The name, belonging to the early agricultural calendar, was replaced after the Exile by the name Nisan of the later priestly calendar, in which it was the first month (P, Exodus 12:1 f. etc.).

and keep Lit. makeor perform; see Deuteronomy 5:15.

passover Heb. pésaḥ, so named according to P, Exodus 12:13; Exodus 12:23; Exodus 12:27, because God passed over(pasaḥ) the Hebrews" houses when He smote the Egyptian first-born on the eve of the Exodus. Other etymologies suggested are: (1) from the passage into the New Year (Reuss), but the Passover month did not become the first of Israel's year till after the Exile; (2) from pasaḥto limp(1 Kings 18:26) as if of some sacred dance connected with threshold-rites; (3) from its expiatory value; cp. Ass. pasahu, to placate the deity (Zimmern in Schrader's KAT3 [137], 610 n.). Since the Passover was celebrated at night others (4) connect its origin with the phases of the moon. Whatever that origin may have been, the feast (as we have seen) was observed by Israel earlier than the Exodus and was possibly the same as the spring sacrifice of firstlings or other tribute from the flocks, common throughout the Semitic world. But its association with the Exodus was undoubtedly early and has ever since constituted its chief, if not its only, significance. The history and the meaning of the Passover have been so exhaustively treated in this series, Driver, Exod.Appendix I., that it is unnecessary to discuss the subject further here.

[137] Die Keilinschriften und das AIte Testament, 3rd edition (1903), by H. Zimmern and H. Winckler.