INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 12 This chapter begins with observing, that the month in which the above wonders were wrought in Egypt, and the following ordinance appointed to the Israelites, should hereafter be reckoned the first month in the year, Exodus 12:1 on the tenth day of which a lamb here describ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND AARON IN THE LAND OF EGYPT,.... Before they and the children of Israel came out of it, before the slaying of the firstborn, yea, before Moses came from the presence of Pharaoh, and had given him notice of it; and it is very probable even before the three days darkne... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MONTH SHALL BE UNTO YOU THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS,.... Not only the first, as after expressed, but the chief and principal of them, now famous for their coming out of Egypt in it, and would be more so for the sufferings and death of the Messiah, and redemption by him from sin, Satan, and the worl... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEAK YE UNTO ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL,.... That is, to the elders of the people, and heads of families; unless we can suppose that they had been gradually gathered, and were now gathered together in a body by the direction of Moses, by whom they were assured that their departure was at hand;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF THE HOUSEHOLD BE TOO LITTLE FOR THE LAMB,.... That they cannot eat it up at once; LET HIM AND HIS NEIGHBOUR NEXT UNTO HIS HOUSE TAKE IT ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THE SOULS; which Josephus e says were never fewer than ten, and were often twenty, but no man might feast alone; with which agree... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR LAMB SHALL BE WITHOUT BLEMISH,.... Without any spot or defect in it. Maimonides h reckons no less than fifty blemishes in a creature, anyone of which makes it unfit for sacrifice, see Leviticus 21:21. This lamb was a type of Christ, who is therefore said to be our passover sacrificed for us, 1... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL KEEP IT UP UNTIL THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE SAME MONTH,.... In their houses; this may denote the preservation of Christ in his infancy, and to the appointed time of his sufferings and death; and it is remarkable, that on this very day, the tenth of Nisan, four days before the passover, a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL TAKE OF THE BLOOD,.... Of the lamb, being received into a basin, Exodus 12:22: AND STRIKE IT ON THE TWO SIDE POSTS; with a bunch of hyssop dipped into it: AND ON THE UPPER DOORPOST OF THE HOUSES, WHEREIN THEY SHALL EAT IT; but not on the posts of those houses, the inhabitants of whi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL EAT THE FLESH IN THAT NIGHT, ROAST WITH FIRE,.... The night of the fourteenth of Nisan; and as the Jews reckoned their days from the evening preceding, this must be the beginning of the fifteenth day, which being observed, will serve to reconcile some passages relating to this ordinan... [ Continue Reading ]
EAT NOT OF IT RAW,.... Not roasted enough; and so Jarchi says, that what is not sufficiently roasted, or is not thoroughly and down roasted, is in the Arabic language called נא u, the word here used; and so Maimonides w says it signifies flesh, on which the fire begins to operate, and is roasted a l... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL LET NOTHING OF IT REMAIN UNTIL THE MORNING,.... It was to be all ate up; a whole Christ is to be received and fed upon by faith; Christ in both his natures, divine and human, united in his person, in all his offices of prophet, priest, and King, and with all the benefits and blessings o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THUS SHALL YE EAT IT,.... After the following manner, in the habit and posture described: the Targum of Jonathan adds, "at this time, and not in ages following;'' for these rites were peculiar to the passover in Egypt, and not to be observed in later times: WITH YOUR LOINS GIRDED; that is, wi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL PASS THROUGH THE LAND OF EGYPT THIS NIGHT,..... Which must be understood consistent with his omnipresence, and of the manifestation of his powerful presence, or of the exertion of his mighty power in the following event: and will smite all the FIRSTBORN IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, BOTH MAN AND... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE BLOOD SHALL BE TO YOU FOR A TOKEN UPON THE HOUSES WHERE YOU ARE,.... The blood of the passover lamb being sprinkled on the two sideposts and upper doorposts of the houses inhabited by the Israelites, or where they were eating the passover; this should be a sign or token to them of the Lord's... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS SHALL BE UNTO YOU FOR A MEMORIAL,.... To be remembered, and that very deservedly, for the destruction of the firstborn of the Egyptians, and for the deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt, and as memorable a day it is, and much more so, for the redemption of the spiritual Israel... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN DAYS SHALL YE EAT UNLEAVENED BREAD,.... From the evening of the fourteenth day to the evening of the twenty first; and this was a distinct festival from what was properly called the feast of the passover, and does not respect the first passover in Egypt; for though the passover lamb was eaten... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE FIRST DAY THERE SHALL BE AN HOLY CONVOCATION,.... An holy day, in which the people be called to holy exercises, and wholly abstain from worldly business, done on other days: AND IN THE SEVENTH DAY THERE SHALL BE AN HOLY CONVOCATION UNTO YOU; observed in a festival way, and in the like re... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL OBSERVE THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD,.... Which was a distinct feast from the passover feast; for though at that unleavened bread was eaten, it was kept but one night, this seven days; and it is repeated that it might be taken notice of, and the rather, as it was to be observed in all... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FIRST MONTH,.... As it was now ordered to be reckoned, the month Abib or Nisan: THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH AT EVEN, YE SHALL EAT UNLEAVENED BREAD; that is, at the evening following, the fourteenth of Nisan, and which was the beginning of the fifteenth day, the Jews beginning their day f... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN DAYS THERE SHALL BE NO LEAVEN FOUND IN YOUR HOUSES,..... Wherefore, on the fourteenth day the most diligent search was made, and whatever was found was burnt, or cast into the sea, or dispersed with the wind; about which the traditionary writers of the Jews, give many rules and canons, Exodus... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL EAT NOTHING LEAVENED,.... Bread or anything else that had any leaven in it: IN ALL YOUR HABITATIONS SHALL YE EAT UNLEAVENED BREAD, that is, if they eat any bread at all, it must be such; otherwise they might eat cakes of almonds or of eggs mixed with sugar, provided there was no leaven use... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN MOSES CALLED FOR ALL THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL,.... Not in age but in office, who were either heads of families, or at least principal men in the tribes; which explains in what manner he was to speak to the congregation of Israel, and convey to them the will of God concerning the observation of thes... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL TAKE A BUNCH OF HYSSOP,.... Which some take to be "mint", others "origanum" or "marjoram", as Kimchi s, others "rosemary", as Piscator, Rivet, and many more; and indeed this seems to be fitter to strike or sprinkle with than hyssop; but it is more generally understood of hyssop, because... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD WILL PASS THOUGH TO SMITE THE EGYPTIANS,.... All the firstborn in the several families, in all the towns and cities in Egypt: AND WHEN HE SEETH THE BLOOD UPON THE LINTEL, AND UPON THE TWO SIDE POSTS; which must be understood of his taking notice of it with a special view to the good of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL OBSERVE THIS THING FOR AN ORDINANCE TO THEE AND THY SONS FOR EVER. Not this last thing of sprinkling the blood, which was peculiar to the passover in Egypt; but the whole before observed relating to the feast of the passover, and the feast of unleavened bread, and all the rites appertai... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN YE BE COME TO THE LAND,.... To the land of Canaan, towards which they were just about to set forward on their journey, and in a few years would be in the possession of: WHICH THE LORD WILL GIVE YOU ACCORDING AS HE HATH PROMISED; to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, WHEN YOUR CHILDREN SHALL SAY UNTO YOU, WHAT MEAN YE BY THIS SERVICE?] Of killing and roasting a lamb, and eating it with bitter herbs, and of abstaining from leavened bread.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE SHALL SAY, IT IS THE SACRIFICE OF THE LORD'S PASSOVER,.... This lamb is a sacrifice, both eucharistical, or by way of thanksgiving for their safety, when the firstborn of the Egyptians were slain, and for their deliverance out of Egypt; and also propitiatory, the blood of this lamb being a p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WENT AWAY,.... The elders of the people, Exodus 12:21 they departed to their several tribes and families at Goshen and elsewhere: AND DID AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES AND AARON, SO DID THEY; they took a lamb on the tenth day, and kept it till the fourteenth, on which day t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AT MIDNIGHT THE LORD SMOTE ALL THE FIRSTBORN IN THE LAND OF EGYPT,.... The midnight of the fifteenth of Nisan, as the Targum of Jonathan, when fast asleep, and thoughtless of any danger; and it being at such a time must strike with a greater horror and terror, when sensible... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHARAOH ROSE UP IN THE NIGHT,.... Being awakened by the uncommon noise he heard: HE AND ALL HIS SERVANTS, AND ALL THE EGYPTIANS; he and his nobles, and ministers of state, courtiers, and counsellors, and his subjects in common, perhaps everywhere in his kingdom, but particularly in the metropol... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CALLED FOR MOSES AND AARON BY NIGHT,.... Not that Pharaoh went in person, but he sent his servants to call them; for they never saw his face more after he had drove them from his presence; but now was fulfilled what Moses told him, that his servants should come to him in a very suppliant mann... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO TAKE YOUR FLOCKS AND YOUR HERDS, AS YE HAVE SAID,.... Which they had insisted upon should go with them, but he had refused, but now he is willing they should go with them: AND BE GONE; out of his city and country in all haste: AND BLESS ME ALSO; or pray for me, as the Targum of Onkelos; pray... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE EGYPTIANS WERE URGENT UPON THE PEOPLE,.... The people of Israel; not using force, but strong entreaties, the most powerful arguments, and importunate language they were masters of: THAT THEY MIGHT SEND THEM OUT OF THE LAND IN HASTE: this looks as if it was the people about Pharaoh, his mini... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE TOOK THEIR DOUGH BEFORE IT WAS LEAVENED,.... They had that evening mixed their flour with water, and made it into dough, but had put no leaven into it; and the Egyptians being so very earnest to have them gone, they stayed not to put any leaven into it: [BUT] THEIR KNEADINGTROUGHS, o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF MOSES,.... Exodus 3:22 AND THEY BORROWED OF THE EGYPTIANS JEWELS OF SILVER, AND JEWELS OF GOLD, AND RAIMENT; or "they asked" a them of the Egyptians to give them them, which they readily did to get rid of them; for upon their being urgent with... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD GAVE THE PEOPLE FAVOUR IN THE SIGHT OF THE EGYPTIANS,.... Their minds were disposed towards them, and their hearts were inclined to grant their request, and did grant it: SO THEY LENT UNTO THEM: such things as they required; or "they gave unto them" b; made presents of them freely to t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL JOURNEYED FROM RAMESES TO SUCCOTH,.... Rameses was a place in Goshen, or rather the land of Goshen, from whence the country was so called; Genesis 47:11. The Targum of Jonathan takes it to be Pelusium, or Sin, now called Tinah, formerly the strength of Egypt, and which lay... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A MIXED MULTITUDE WENT UP ALSO WITH THEM,.... Some of these were Egyptians, and some of other nations that had resided in Egypt, and who, on various accounts, might choose to go along with the children of Israel; some through intermarriages with them, being loath to part with their relations, se... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY BAKED UNLEAVENED CAKES,.... While they were at Succoth; but since that was a desert place, where could they get ovens to bake them in? they might lay them upon coals, and by frequent turning them bake them, or under hot ashes, under a pan covered with hot embers and coals, on an hearth, in... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE SOJOURNING OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, WHO DWELT IN EGYPT,.... The Septuagint version adds, "and in the land of Canaan"; and the Samaritan version is, "the sojourning of the children of Israel, and of their fathers, in the land of Canaan, and in the land of Egypt.'' Agreeably to which are b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS,.... As soon as completed: EVEN THE SELFSAME DAY IT CAME TO PASS, THAT ALL THE HOSTS OF THE LORD WENT OUT FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT; which was the fifteenth of Nisan; and Jarchi says it was on the fifteenth of Nisan that the decree was ma... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS A NIGHT TO BE MUCH OBSERVED UNTO THE LORD,.... Or "a night of observations" t, in which many things are to be observed to the honour and glory of God, as done by him, wherein his power, wisdom, goodness, truth and faithfulness, are displayed; partly by the destruction of the Egyptian firstborn... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES AND AARON,.... At the same time he acquainted them with the above things: THIS IS THE ORDINANCE OF THE PASSOVER; as before delivered, and these the laws and rules, according to which it is to be observed, as now related, both with respect to the lamb, and to the unleave... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVERY MAN'S SERVANT THAT IS BOUGHT FOR MONEY,.... And so his own property: WHEN THOU HAST CIRCUMCISED HIM; as such an one ought to be, according to the covenant of circumcision given to Abraham, Genesis 17:13, though one should think not without his consent; wherefore care was to be taken to pu... [ Continue Reading ]
A FOREIGNER AND AN HIRED SERVANT SHALL NOT EAT THEREOF. One of another nation, and one that was only hired by the day, week, or year; as they were not obliged to circumcision, so without it they had no right to eat of the passover, none but such as became proselytes of righteousness.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ONE HOUSE SHALL IT BE EATEN,.... For though there might be more lambs than one eaten in a house, where there were a sufficient number to eat them; and there might be more societies than one in a house, provided they kept themselves distinct, and were large enough each of them to eat up a lamb; ye... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL SHALL KEEP IT. The passover, and the feast of unleavened bread only; for a Gentile was first to be circumcised, and be joined to the congregation, and then partake of it, and not before.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN A STRANGER SHALL SOJOURN WITH THEE, e.] Who by so doing became a proselyte of the gate, he observing the commands of the sons of Noah: AND WILL KEEP THE PASSOVER OF THE LORD is desirous of being admitted to that ordinance: LET ALL HIS MALES BE CIRCUMCISED, AND THEN LET HIM COME NEAR, AND... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE LAW SHALL BE TO HIM THAT IS HOMEBORN,.... A proper Israelite, one that is so by descent: AND UNTO THE STRANGER THAT SOJOURNETH AMONG YOU; that becomes a proselyte to the true religion; these were both bound by the same law, and obliged to observe the same rites and ceremonies, and partook of th... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS DID ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... They slew a lamb, and roasted and ate it, with unleavened bread, and bitter herbs, and took a bunch of hyssop, and dipped it in the blood, and struck the lintel and the side posts of the doors of their houses: this they did on the night of their deliverance o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS THE SELFSAME DAY,.... That the above ordinance was instituted and celebrated in the night: THAT THE LORD DID BRING THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, BY THEIR ARMIES; by their several tribes, which were like so many armies, marching in large numbers, and with great... [ Continue Reading ]