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PASSOVER 14TH OF ABIB
It is commonly known that the Jewish Passover involved the sacrifice of
a lamb in the first month ('Abib'). Many Old Testament scriptures state
the Passover observance occurred on the 14th, but scholars do not agree
on how to reflect this in the narratives of Exodus and Christ.
To help clarify the correct position it is helpful to review how the
Passover was observed.
EXODUS AND LATER PASSOVERS
The first, and best known, Passover is that described in Exodus 12:6-13.
This Passover concerned the death of the firstborn of Egypt following
the passing over of the LORD.
Exod 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt on
that night, and will strike all the firstborn
in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; ...
:29 And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD
struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, ...
To escape the same fate, the Israelites had been instructed to paint the
doorposts and lintel of their homes with the blood (of the lamb).
Exod 12:7 And they shall take some of the blood
and put it on the two doorposts and on
the lintel of the houses where they eat
it.
:13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on
the houses where you are. And when I see
the blood, I will pass over you; ...
:23 ... and when He sees the blood on the
lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD
will pass over the door and not allow the
destroyer to come into your houses to
strike you.
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It is important to note that the first Passover service was held in
private homes!
Exod 12:4 And if the household is too small for the lamb,
let him and his neighbor next to his house take
it according to the number of the persons;
:22 ... And none of you shall go out of the door of
his house until morning.
:23 ... and not allow the destroyer to come into
your houses to strike you.
In the many subsequent Old Testament references to Passover we encounter
a formal observance held only at the house of God.
Exod 12:43 ... This is the ordinance of the Passover: ...
:46 In one house it shall be eaten; ...
Deut 16:5 You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of
your gates which the LORD your God gives you;
:6 but at the place where the LORD your God chooses
to make His name abide, there you shall sacrifice
the Passover at twilight, ...
2King 23:23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this
Passover was held before the LORD in Jerusalem.
2Chr 30:15 Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs[NB: the
word 'lambs' has been incorrectly added by the
translators and is not present in the original
Hebrew text] on the fourteenth day of the second
month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed,
and sanctified themselves, and brought the burnt
offerings to the house of the LORD.
2Chr 35:1 Now Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem,
and they slaughtered the Passover lambs [NB: the
word 'lambs' has been incorrectly added by the
translators and is not present in the original
Hebrew text] on the fourteenth day of the first month.
:5 And stand in the holy place
according to the divisions of the
fathers' houses of your brethren
the lay people, and according to
the division of the father's
house of the Levites.
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Ezra 6:19 And the descendants of the captivity kept the Passover
on the fourteenth day of the first month.
:20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves;
all of them were ritually clean. And they slaughtered
the Passover lambs[NB: the word 'lambs' has been
incorrectly added by the translators and is not present
in the original Hebrew text] for all the descendants
of the captivity, for their brethren the priests, and
for themselves.
:21 Then the children of Israel who had returned from the
captivity ate together with all who had separated
themselves from the filth of the nations ...
It has generally been thought that the initial private home ceremony was
converted to a temple based service. This has been a false assumption!
The New Testament reflects the correct situation.
BEFORE AND AFTER CHRIST'S DEATH
Scripture records Passover being observed before and after the death of
Christ!
BEFORE
Matt 26:17 ... the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him,
"Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat
the Passover?"
:18 And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man,
and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is
at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house
with My disciples"'"
:19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them;
and they prepared the Passover.
Luke 22:15 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have
desired to eat this Passover with you before I
suffer;"
AFTER
John 18:28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium,
and it was early morning. But they themselves did
not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be
defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.
This conflicting timing has led to much controversy. Some have said
the last supper was merely a meal and that the Passover celebration was
after His death. Others have taught Christ did keep the Passover with
His disciples and that the Jews were mistaken in observing the following
night. Both of these views are wrong!
In reality, in both the Old and New Testaments, Scripture is presenting
two separate Passover observances!
{Click on the pages below}
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