This chapter was written some time after the Exodus, probably when Moses put together the portions of the book toward the end of his life. The statements that these instructions were given in the land of Egypt, and that they were given to Moses and Aaron, are important: the one marks the special dig... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MONTH - Abib Exodus 13:4. It was called “Nisan” by the later Hebrews, and nearly corresponds to our April. The Israelites are directed to take Abib henceforth as the beginning of the year; the year previously began with the month Tisri, when the harvest was gathered in; see Exodus 23:16. The in... [ Continue Reading ]
A LAMB - The Hebrew word is general, meaning either a sheep or a goat - male or female - and of any age; the age and sex are therefore epecially defined in the following verse. The direction to select the lamb on the tenth day, the fourth day before it was offered, was intended to secure due care in... [ Continue Reading ]
Tradition specifies ten as the least number; but the matter was probably left altogether to the discretion of the heads of families. The last clause should be rendered: “each man, according to his eating, ye shall count for the lamb.”... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT BLEMISH - This is in accordance with the general rule (margin reference): although in this case there is a special reason, since the lamb was in place of the firstborn male in each household. The restriction to the first year is unique, and refers apparently to the condition of perfect innoc... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE FOURTEENTH DAY - It should be observed that the offering of our Lord on the self-same day is an important point in determining the typical character of the transaction. A remarkable passage in the Talmud says: “It was a famous and old opinion among the ancient Jews that the day of the new... [ Continue Reading ]
THE UPPER DOOR POST - Or lintel, Exodus 12:23. This direction was understood by the Hebrews to apply only to the first Passover: it was certainly not adopted in Palestine. The meaning of the sprinkling of blood is hardly open to question. It was a representation of the offering of the life, substitu... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT NIGHT - The night is thus clearly distinguished from the evening when the lamb was slain. It was slain before sunset, on the 14th, and eaten after sunset, the beginning of the 15th. WITH FIRE - Among various reasons given for this injunction the most probable and satisfactory seems to be th... [ Continue Reading ]
RAW - i. e. “half-cooked.” SODDEN ... WITH WATER - It was probably more common to seethe meat than to roast meat; hence, the regrets expressed by the Israelites for the seething pots of Egypt. THE PURTENANCE THEREOF - or its intestines. This verse directs that the lamb should be roasted and placed... [ Continue Reading ]
This was afterward a general law of sacrifices; at once preventing all possibility of profanity, and of superstitious abuse. The injunction is on both accounts justly applied by our Church to the eucharist. BURN WITH FIRE - Not being consumed by man, it was thus offered, like other sacrifices Exodu... [ Continue Reading ]
These instructions are understood by the Jews to apply only to the first Passover, when they belonged to the occasion. There is no trace of their observance at any later time. Each of the directions marks preparation for a journey; the long flowing robes are girded round the loins; shoes or sandals,... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL PASS THROUGH - A word wholly distinct from that which means “pass over.” The “passing through” was in judgment, the “passing over” in mercy. AGAINST ALL THE GODS OF EGYPT - Compare the margin reference. In smiting the firstborn of all living beings, man and beast, God struck down the objects... [ Continue Reading ]
A MEMORIAL - A commemorative and sacramental ordinance of perpetual obligation. As such, it has ever been observed by the Hebrews. By the Christian it is spiritually observed; its full significance is recognized, and all that it foreshadowed is realized, in the sacrament of holy communion.... [ Continue Reading ]
CUT OFF - The penalty inflicted on those who transgressed the command may be accounted for on the ground that it was an act of rebellion; but additional light is thrown upon it by the typical meaning assigned to leaven by our Lord, Matthew 16:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN HOLY CONVOCATION - An assembly called by proclamation for a religious solemnity. See Leviticus 23:2; Numbers 10:2. In the East the proclamation is made by the Muezzins from the minarets of the mosques. SAVE THAT ... - In this the observance of the festival differed from the Sabbath, when the pre... [ Continue Reading ]
BORN IN THE LAND - A stranger or foreigner might be born in the land, but the word here used means “a native of the land,” belonging to the country by virtue of descent, that descent being reckoned from Abraham, to whom Canaan was promised as a perpetual inheritance.... [ Continue Reading ]
DRAW OUT - i. e. draw the lamb from the fold and then take it to the house. THE PASSOVER - The word is here applied to the lamb; an important fact, marking the lamb as the sign and pledge of the exemption of the Israelites.... [ Continue Reading ]
A BUNCH OF HYSSOP - The species here designated does not appear to be the plant now bearing the name. It would seem to have been an aromatic plant, common in Palestine and near Mount Sinai, with a long straight stalk and leaves well adapted for the purpose of sprinkling. BASON - The rendering rests... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS THE SACRIFICE OF THE LORD’S PASSOVER - or This is the sacrifice of the Passover to Yahweh. The most formal and exact designation of the festival is thus given: but “the Passover” may mean either the act of God’s mercy in sparing the Israelites, or the lamb which is offered in sacrifice: more p... [ Continue Reading ]
This plague is distinctly attributed here and in Exodus 12:23 to the personal intervention of the Lord; but it is to be observed that although the Lord Himself passed through to smite the Egyptians, He employed the agency of “the destroyer” Exodus 12:23, in whom, in accordance with Hebrews 11:28, al... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS ME ALSO - No words could show more strikingly the complete, though temporary, submission of Pharaoh.... [ Continue Reading ]
KNEADINGTROUGHS - (Compare the margin and Deuteronomy 28:5). The troughs were probably small wooden bowls in which the cakes when baked were preserved for use. The Hebrews used their outer garment, or mantle, in the same way as the Bedouins at present, who make a bag of the voluminous folds of their... [ Continue Reading ]
BORROWED - “Asked of.” See Exodus 3:22 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
LENT - Or gave. The word in the Hebrew means simply “granted their request.” Whether the grant is made as a loan, or as a gift, depends in every instance upon the context. Here the word “spoiled” ought to be regarded as conclusive that the grant was a gift, a moderate remuneration for long service,... [ Continue Reading ]
RAMESES - See Exodus 1:11 note. Rameses was evidently the place of general rendezvous, well adapted for that purpose as the principal city of Goshen. The Israelites were probably settled in considerable numbers in and about it. Pharaoh with his army and court were at that time near the frontier, and... [ Continue Reading ]
A MIXED MULTITUDE - Probably remains of the old Semitic population, whether first brought into the district by the Hyksos or not is uncertain. As natural objects of suspicion and dislike to the Egyptians who had lately become masters of the country, they would be anxious to escape, the more especial... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DWELT - Read, which they sojourned. The obvious intention of Moses is to state the duration of the sojourn in Egypt.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID - From this verse to Exodus 13:16 are instructions regarding the Passover. Such instructions were needed when the Israelites were joined by the “mixed multitude:” of strangers; and they were probably given at Succoth, on the morning following the departure from Rameses. NO STRANGE... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVANT - The circumcision of the slave, thus enjoined formally on the first day that Israel became a nation, in accordance with the law given to Abraham, (see the margin reference) made him a true member of the family, equally entitled to all religious privileges. In the household of a priest the s... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOREIGNER - or sojourner: one who resides in a country, not having a permanent home, nor being attached to an Israelitish household.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ONE HOUSE - i. e. “in one company.” Each lamb was to be entirely consumed by the members of one company, whether they belonged to the same household or not. BREAK A BONE - The typical significance of this injunction is recognized by John, (see the margin reference.) It is not easy to assign any... [ Continue Reading ]