Instructions for the Passover Lamb
Study note
God told Moses and Aaron that this month would be the first month of their calendar year. On the tenth day, each family was to choose a perfect male lamb. On the fourteenth day at evening, they were to kill it and put its blood on the sides and top of their door frames using a branch of hyssop. They were to roast the lamb and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They had to eat dressed and ready to leave at a moment's notice. This was the Lord's Passover. That night God would pass through Egypt and kill every firstborn, but the blood on the doorposts would be a sign for God to pass over those homes.
1 While Moses and Aaron were still in Egypt, the Lord gave them these instructions. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2 "Starting now, this month becomes the very first month of your year." This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3 "Tell the whole Israelite group this. On the tenth day of this month, every family must pick out a lamb." Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4 "If a household is too small to eat an entire lamb by themselves, they should team up with their closest neighbors. Figure out how many people there are and divide the lamb accordingly." And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5 "The animal must be a one-year-old male without any flaws or blemishes. You can use either a sheep or a goat." Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6 "Hold on to the animal until the fourteenth day of the month. Then, as the sun goes down that evening, every Israelite household must slaughter their lamb." And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 "Take some of the blood and paint it on both sides of the doorframe and across the top. Do this for every house where the lamb will be eaten." And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8 "That same night, roast the meat over a fire. Eat it together with bread that has no yeast and with bitter herbs." And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9 "Do not eat any of it raw, and do not boil it in water. The entire animal — head, legs, and organs — must be roasted over the fire." Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
10 "Do not save any leftovers for the next day. Whatever has not been eaten by morning must be completely burned up." And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
11 "Here is how you must eat this meal: with your belt buckled tight, your sandals already on, and your walking stick ready in your hand. Eat quickly — this is the Lord's Passover." And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.
12 "That very night, I will travel through Egypt. I will strike down every firstborn in the land — both people and animals. I will also carry out judgment against every god of Egypt. I am the Lord." For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
13 "The blood on your doorframes will be the signal that marks your homes. When I see that blood, I will pass right over you. The deadly plague that strikes Egypt will not touch you." And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14 "This day must become an unforgettable celebration for you. You must observe it as a festival honoring the Lord. Every generation from now on must keep this tradition." And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Study note
God also commanded that for seven days the Israelites were to eat only unleavened bread, which is bread made without yeast. Yeast makes bread rise, and this takes time. Because the Israelites would leave Egypt in such a hurry, there would be no time for bread to rise. This week-long festival would be celebrated every year to remember how quickly God brought them out of Egypt.
15 "For seven straight days, eat only bread made without yeast. On the very first day, get every trace of yeast out of your houses. If anyone eats something with yeast in it during those seven days, that person will be expelled from Israel." Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
16 "Gather together for a special worship assembly on the first day and again on the seventh day. Do not work on either of those days — the only exception is preparing the food everyone needs." And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
17 "Keep the Festival of Unleavened Bread. This is the exact day I marched your people out of Egypt in an orderly line. Follow this rule forever, in every generation." And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
18 "Start on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month. End on the evening of the twenty-first day. During that whole time, eat only bread without yeast." In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
19 "For all seven days, no yeast can be found anywhere in your houses. If anyone eats something with yeast in it, they must be cut off from Israel. This is the rule for everyone — Israelites and foreigners alike." Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
20 "Do not eat anything made with yeast at all. Wherever you live, stick to bread without yeast." Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
Moses Instructs the Elders
Study note
Moses gathered the elders and gave them detailed instructions. Each family was to kill their Passover lamb, dip a bunch of hyssop plant in the blood, and paint it on the top and sides of the doorframe. No one was to go outside until morning. God would pass through to strike the Egyptians, but when He saw the blood on the doorframe, He would not allow the destroyer to enter. Moses told the people to celebrate this day forever, and to teach their children the meaning of the Passover.
21 Moses then gathered all the Israelite leaders together. "Go," he instructed them, "select lambs for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb." Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
22 "Get a bundle of hyssop branches, dip them in the bowl of blood, and brush the blood onto the top and both sides of your doorframe. After that, nobody leaves their house until morning." And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
23 "When the Lord passes through to strike the Egyptians, he will see the blood on your doorframe. He will pass over that door and will not allow the destroyer to come inside and harm you." For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
24 "You and your descendants must keep these instructions as a permanent tradition." And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
25 "When you arrive in the land the Lord is going to give you -- just as he promised -- keep doing this ceremony." And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
26 "Someday your children will ask, 'What is this ceremony all about?'" And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
27 "You will explain, 'This is the Passover sacrifice to honor the Lord. When he struck the Egyptians, he passed over the Israelite homes and spared our families.'" Hearing this, the people bowed their heads low and worshiped. That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
28 The Israelites went out and followed every detail of what the Lord had told Moses and Aaron. And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn
Study note
At midnight, the Lord struck down every firstborn in Egypt, from Pharaoh's own son to the firstborn of prisoners in the dungeon, and even the firstborn of livestock. Pharaoh and all the Egyptians woke up to a night of terrible mourning. There was not a single house without someone dead. Pharaoh urgently called Moses and Aaron in the middle of the night and told them to leave immediately. The Egyptians begged the Israelites to go, giving them silver, gold, and clothing.
29 At the stroke of midnight, the Lord struck down every firstborn across Egypt. He killed the firstborn of Pharaoh on his throne and the firstborn of the prisoner locked in a dungeon cell. He even killed the firstborn of all the livestock. And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
30 In the middle of the night, Pharaoh got up. So did all his officials and every Egyptian. A terrible cry of grief filled the country. There was not a single home in Egypt where someone had not died. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
31 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron that very night and demanded, "Get up and get out! Leave my people — you and the Israelites — all of you! Go worship the Lord like you have been asking." And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
32 "Take your flocks and herds — everything you asked for — and go! And ask your God to bless me too." Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
33 The Egyptian people begged the Israelites to leave the country as fast as possible. "If you do not go now," they said, "every one of us will die!" And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
34 The Israelites grabbed their bread dough before it had any chance to rise. They wrapped their kneading bowls in clothes and hoisted them onto their shoulders. And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
35 The Israelites also did what Moses had told them. They asked their Egyptian neighbors for silver and gold items and for fine clothing. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
36 The Lord had made the Egyptians feel so giving toward the Israelites that they handed over whatever was asked for. The Israelites walked away carrying the riches of Egypt. And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
The Israelites Leave Egypt
Study note
The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, plus women and children, along with a large mixed crowd of non-Israelites. They baked unleavened bread from the dough they carried because they had been driven out so quickly. The Israelites had lived in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years. On that very day, every last one of them left.
37 The Israelites set out from Rameses, heading for Succoth. There were roughly six hundred thousand men traveling on foot — and that is not even counting the women and children. And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38 A great mixed crowd of other people joined them, along with enormous herds and flocks of animals. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
39 Using the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked flat bread without yeast. There had been no time to add yeast because the Egyptians had pushed them out so urgently. They did not even have a chance to pack food for the trip. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
40 The Israelites had been living in Egypt for a total of four hundred and thirty years. Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
41 It was the very last day of those 430 years. On that exact day, all of the Lord's people marched out of Egypt. They marched in ordered groups. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
42 That night, the Lord kept watch as he brought them out of Egypt. It became a sacred night of watching — one that every Israelite generation would set apart to honor the Lord. It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
Rules for the Passover
Study note
God gave additional rules about who could participate in the Passover. No foreigner could eat it unless they became part of the community through circumcision. The lamb had to be eaten inside one house, and none of its bones could be broken. All of Israel was to celebrate it. These rules would become important for future generations as they remembered God's great rescue.
43 The Lord gave Moses and Aaron these rules for the Passover meal: "No foreigner is allowed to eat it." And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
44 "However, if you have purchased a slave and he has been circumcised, he may participate in the meal." But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
45 "Visitors passing through and hired workers may not eat the Passover meal." A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
46 "The entire lamb must be eaten inside one house. Do not carry any of the meat outside. And do not break any of the animal's bones." In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
47 "Every person in the whole Israelite group must take part in this feast." All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
48 "If a foreigner living among you wants to join in the Lord's Passover, every male in his household must first be circumcised. Only then can he participate as though he were born an Israelite. But no uncircumcised person may eat the Passover meal." And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
49 "This same law applies to native-born Israelites. It also applies to outsiders living among you." One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
50 Every Israelite followed these orders. They did just as the Lord had told Moses and Aaron. Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
51 On that very day, the Lord brought all of Israel out of Egypt. They marched in their ordered groups. And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.