The Passover (12:1–28)

The events of Exodus 12 were so important that God draws up a new religious calendar beginning with the commemoration of Israel’s redemption. The chapter is important not only because of the account of the redemption of Israel, but also because of the inauguration of the Festival of Passover. The first month of the year, the month Abib, or Nisan, was to be an important month, looking back to the definitive events of the exodus proper. This was when God led his people out. There are some important themes and issues in this chapter, the two most important being the Blood redemption and the Passover inauguration.

The death of the substitutionary lamb

God’s people were spared the judgement which came upon the land of Egypt. But they were spared the death of the firstborn only through the death of a substitute: a lamb was to be slain, and its blood sprinkled on the door of their home. Death came to every home in Egypt: either the death of the firstborn, or the death of the lamb.

Not just any lamb could be slain for the purpose of p 46 redemption. The lamb had to be ‘without blemish, a male a year old’ (12:5); that is, in the best condition from either the sheep or the goats. Each household had to shelter under the blood of the lamb, or perish. The application of the death of the lamb was twofold: the blood of redemption and atonement was applied to the homes, and the flesh of the lamb was eaten. In these ways, everyone had a personal interest in the lamb which was slain on their behalf.

Yet the blood of the passover lamb was not only (and perhaps not primarily) a sign for Israel, but for God! God says: ‘when I see the blood I will pass over you …’ (12:13). This idea of passing over is what gives the commemorative feast its name. God’s satisfaction with the death of the lamb is expressed in this way; his justice is satisfied, and his honour vindicated.

The inauguration of the Passover ceremony

The eating of the lamb on the night of Israel’s redemption was to follow a detailed pattern, and was to be accompanied with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs. It was to be eaten by people who were ready to leave at a moment’s notice, and anything left over in the morning had to be burned (12:10, 11).

God requires his people to hold an annual commemorative feast which will be a ‘memorial’ of the great deliverance from Egypt. This chapter, therefore, functions not only as an account of the redemption, but also as an explanation for the Passover meal, which was to be part of the feast of Unleavened Bread, an annual, seven-day festival in which leaven, or yeast, was removed out of the house (12:15), the p 47 people were to gather in holy assembly, and were to keep the festival of redemption. Later in the history of Israel, this feast was not observed privately, but as part of the tabernacle and Temple ritual (see Deut. 16:5–7).

In his commentary on Exodus, Professor John L Mackay observes that ‘the description of the Passover meal in Exodus 12 has some striking resemblances to the ritual followed in chapter 29 when Aaron and his sons were consecrated as priests’. These included the slaughter of a ram, the sprinkling of the blood, and the eating of the flesh along with unleavened bread. Passover therefore functioned not only as a means of redemption from Egypt, but also as a sign of consecration to God.

7 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 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 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 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 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 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 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.

7 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 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 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 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 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 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 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.