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THE PASSOVER TIMING DILEMMA
PASSOVER 14TH OF ABIB
It is commonly known that a Jewish Passover involved the sacrifice
of a lamb at the appointed time of the year. In the 'first month'
(ie, meaning 'chief month', the 'month of most importance'). The
month named 'Abib' (Exod 13:4), the month of 'green ears of grain'.)
Many Old Testament scriptures state the Passover observance occurred
on the 14th day of that month.
However, scholars do not agree on how to reflect this in the
narratives of Exodus and Christ.
To help clarify the correct understanding, 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!
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PASSOVERS
Apart from the difference in location (private homes versus house of
God) highlighted in the previous page, there exists a number of distinct
differences between the two Passovers.
DIFFERENT ANIMALS OFFERED
First Passover
The animals offered under the terms of the first Passover were lambs
of the first year taken from either the sheep or goats.
Exod 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of
the first year. You may take it from the sheep
or from the goats.
Second Passover
The animals offered at the time of the second Passover were to be
sourced from the flock and the herd.
Deut 16:2 Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to
the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd,
in the place where the LORD chooses to place
His name.
Scripture uses the term 'flock' to refer to sheep and goats, and
the term 'herd' to refer to cattle and oxen.
- 'flock'
2Chr 35:7 Then Josiah gave the lay people lambs and
young goats from the flock, ...
- 'herd'
Gen 18:7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender
and good calf, ...
Gen 47:17 ... Joseph gave them bread in exchange for
the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the
herds, and for the donkeys ...
1Sam 11:5 Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd
from the field: ...
:7 So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in
pieces, and sent them throughout all the
territory of Israel.
DIFFERENT COOKING METHODS
First Passover
The Passover lamb was to be roasted in fire. It could not be eaten
raw or boiled in water.
Exod 12:8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that night;
roasted in fire, ...
:9 Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water,
but roasted in fire; ...
Second Passover
Deut 16:7 And you shall roast[boil]; and eat it in the
place where the LORD your God chooses, ...
2Chr 35:13 Also they roasted[boiled] the Passover offerings
with fire according to the ordinance but[and];
the other holy offerings they boiled in pots, in
caldrons, and in pans, and divided them quickly
among all the lay people.
Usually the Hebrew word for 'boil' found in Deut 16:7 and 2Chr 35:13
is incorrectly rendered as 'roast' (or 'roasted'). This is done because
of the text of Exodus 12:9, 'do not eat it ... boiled'. However, the
Hebrew word encountered in Deut 16:7 (Strong's reference 1310) is the
word 'boil'. It is the same Hebrew word encountered in Exodus 12:9
where the rendering is 'do not eat it ... boiled'.
The translators, in error, have tried in Deut 16:7 and 2Chr 35:13 to
correct what appeared to them to be an obvious mistake in the original
Hebrew. However, in doing so they confused further an already complex
subject.
WHEN THE ANIMALS WERE KILLED
First Passover
The Passover lamb was killed between the evenings (between sunset
and midnight).
Exod 12:6 ... Then the whole assembly of the congregation
of Israel shall kill it at twilight[between the
evenings].
Second Passover
The animals slaughtered for the second Passover were killed and
prepared prior to night (prior to sunset!).
2Chr 35:11 And they slaughtered the Passover offerings;
and the priests sprinkled the blood with their
hands, while the Levites skinned the animals.
:14 Then afterward they prepared portions for
themselves and for the priests, because the
priests, the sons of Aaron, were busy in
offering burnt offerings and fat until night;
[ NB: Many have incorrectly understood Deut 16:4 and 16:6
and taken these verses to mean that the animals were
slaughtered at the sunset 'evening'. However, a closer
reading of Deut 16:4 shows that it was the meat which
was offered in sacrifice at sunset. The animals having
already been killed, and the meat cooked, prior to sunset.]
LEVEL OF FORMALITY
First Passover
The first Passover did not involve any degree of formality. It was in
essence a family meal which was eaten in haste, while dressed in a
manner appropriate for travel.
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; ...
Exod 12:11 And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on
your waist, your sandals on your feet, and
your staff in your hand. So you shall eat
it in haste. ...
Second Passover
The second Passover involved a degree of formality.
Exod 12:43 ... No foreigner shall eat it.
:44 But every man's servant who is bought for money,
when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it.
:45 A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it.
Num 9:6 Now there were certain men who were defiled by
a human corpse, so that they could not keep the
Passover on that day; ...
2Chr 30:16 They stood in their place according to their
custom, according to the Law of Moses the man
of God;
2Chr 35:4 Prepare yourselves according to your fathers'
houses, according to your divisions, following
the written instruction of David king of Israel
and the written instruction of Solomon his son.
: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.
:15 And the singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their
places, according to the command of David, ...
BLOOD ON THE DOORPOSTS & LINTEL
First Passover
The first Passover involved a clear requirement for the placing of the
blood of the lamb on the doorposts and the lintel.
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.
Second Passover
The second temple based Passover never mentions the need to place any
blood on a doorway. Therefore the second Passover fails to reflect
this important symbolic element.
NAMING DIFFERENCE
First Passover
The first Passover in Exodus 12:11 and Exod 12:27 is described in the
Hebrew as "passover he to-YHWH".
Second Passover
The second Passover in Exodus 12:48, Lev 23:5, Num 9:10, Num 9:14,
Num 28:16, Deut 16:1, Deut 16:2, 2Kings 23:21, 2Chr 30:1, 2Chr 30:5
and 2Chr 35:1 is described in the Hebrew as "passover to-YHWH".
WHEN SUBSEQUENTLY COMMEMORATED
First Passover
The first Passover was not to be observed again until they had
come into the Promised Land.
Exod 12:25 It will come to pass when you come to the land
which the LORD will give you, just as He
promised, that you shall keep this service.
Second Passover
The second Passover was commemorated shortly after leaving Egypt,
when they were still in the wilderness.
Num 9:1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness
of Sinai, in the first month of the second year
after they had come out of the land of Egypt,
saying:
:2 Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at
its appointed time.
:5 And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day
of the first month, at twilight[between the
evenings], in the Wilderness of Sinai; ...
COMMON ELEMENTS OF BOTH PASSOVERS
Although there existed a number of differences between these two
Passovers there still remained a few elements in common.
- unleavened bread and bitter herbs
- first Passover - Exod 12:8
- second Passover - Num 9:11
- the meat was to be eaten that night
- first Passover - Exod 12:10
- second Passover - Exod 12:46 (implied), 34:25; Num 9:12;
Deut 16:4, Lev 7:15
- the bones were not to be broken
- first Passover - Exod 12:9 (implied)
- second Passover - Exod 12:46; Num 9:12
THE EXODUS AND THE PASSOVERS
THE EXODUS - First and Second Passovers
- The children of Israel observed the first Passover
dressed in a manner appropriate for travel, "with a
belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and
your staff in your hand", Exodus 12:11.
- At midnight that night the LORD killed the firstborn
of Egypt and Pharaoh arose at night and called for
Moses and Aaron (Exod 12:29-31).
- In the morning, in response to the call of Pharaoh,
Moses organized the children of Israel and led them to
the city of Rameses.
(The children lived nearby in Goshen, of the territory
of Rameses, refer Gen 47:6 & 11.)
- The children of Israel having arrived at the city of
Rameses, presumably in the afternoon, then awaited
word from Pharaoh.
[ Since Moses had agreed with Pharaoh that it was not
good for them to meet again (Exod 10:28-29), Moses
and Aaron did not personally appear before Pharaoh
in response to Pharaoh's call. ]
- Pharaoh ordered the children of Israel to leave Egypt
and serve their God as they had requested (Exod 12:31).
- That night, before the city of Rameses, the children of
Israel were glad.
The second Passover commemorates this night!
- In the morning the children of Israel departed Rameses
and in the sight of the Egyptians they journeyed to
Succoth (Num 33:3-4). On this day the Egyptians were
burying their dead, having spent the prior day in
mourning.
[ NB: Those who consider the children of Israel departed for Succoth
on the morning after the death of the Egyptian firstborn, do
not portray the Israelites leaving the city of Rameses as a
single group (as Scripture indicates). In error they teach that
the Israelites swarmed from many different locations in Goshen
and finally assembled as a single unit in Succoth. ]
TIMING OF THE TWO PASSOVERS
Understanding the timing of the two Passovers is not possible without
first gaining a proper understanding of exactly when the biblical day
ended.
THE BIBLICAL DAY
The common view, that the biblical day ended at sunset, has been a
modern day misconception which has caused much confusion.
*** In reality the biblical day ended at MIDNIGHT! ***
For a fuller discussion of this topic refer;
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| WHEN THE BIBLICAL DAY ENDS |
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This helps us understand:
- The first Passover came to an end following the passing
over of the LORD at midnight.
- The second Passover came to an end upon the expiry of
that day (ie, at midnight).
FIRST PASSOVER - 13TH PASSOVER
A verse which has contributed to a great deal of confusion is;
Exod 12:6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth
day of the same month. Then the whole assembly
of the congregation of Israel shall kill it
at twilight (between the evenings).
The portion highlighted was rendered by the KJV as;
"up until the fourteenth"
The word in the Hebrew rendered 'until' or 'up until' is Strong's
reference 5704, which means 'as far as'.
Because there exists many verses which state the Passover was to be
observed on the 14th, it was taken for granted that this verse was to
be understood to be inclusive of the 14th day.
This assumption was incorrect!
The first Passover took place in the latter hours of the 13th day!
It took place between sunset and midnight of the 13th day. The
Passover lamb was killed after sunset, roasted whole, and then
once cooked finally eaten in the hours prior to the start of the
14th day. The lamb was kept 'as far as', but not into the 14th
day.
This timing is confirmed by the following New Testament verses.
(Unfortunately, these verses also present their own translation
issues.)
Matt 26:17 Now on the first day of the Feast of the
Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus,
saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare
for You to eat the Passover?"
Mark 14:12 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when
they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples
said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and
prepare, that You may eat the Passover?"
Luke 22:7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the
Passover must be killed.
:8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and
prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."
The translators have corrupted the message of these verses by;
1) adding the words 'the Feast of' in Matthew 26:17, and
2) by capitalizing the references to unleavened bread in
all three of the texts.
The translators have given the reader the initial impression that
these verses are discussing the seven day 'Feast of Unleavened
Bread'. However, the verses are merely stating this was the first
day of the year in which unleavened bread was to be eaten at a meal.
It would be eaten with the roasted lamb and bitter herbs.
Nevertheless, these verses when properly rendered prove beyond all
doubt that the day (the 13th!), prior to the death of Jesus Christ
(on the 14th day), was the day unleavened bread was first to be
eaten (in the year). This was the day the selected Passover lamb
was to be killed.
SECOND PASSOVER - 14TH PASSOVER
The following second Passover was observed, between sunset and midnight,
on the 14th day.
Lev 23:5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at
twilight[between the evenings] is the LORD's
Passover.
Num 9:5 And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day
of the first month, at twilight[between the evenings],
in the Wilderness of Sinai; ...
28:16 On the fourteenth day of the first month is the
Passover of the LORD.
Josh 5:10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and
kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the
month at twilight on the plains of Jericho.
2Chr 35:1 Now Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem,
and they slaughtered the Passover lambs [NB: the
word 'lambs' here is not present in the original
Hebrew] on the fourteenth day of the first month.
Ezra 6:19 And the descendants of the captivity kept the
Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
This Passover could be observed on the 14th of the second month if
circumstances prevented its observance in the first month.
Num 9:10 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'If anyone
of you or your posterity is unclean because of a
corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still
keep the Lord's Passover.
:11 On the fourteenth day of the second month, at
twilight[between the evenings], they may keep it.
2Chr 30:2 For the king and his leaders and all the assembly
in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in
the second month.
The 14th Passover celebration started at sunset (although the slaughter
of the animals took place prior to this) and ended at midnight when the
first morning arrived (the second morning being sunrise). (The ceremony
began at sunset because this was the time of the day when the children
of Israel began to cross the Red Sea, refer Exodus chapter 14.)
Deut 16:6 ... there you shall sacrifice the Passover at
twilight[evening], at the going down of the sun,
at the time you came out of Egypt.
:7 And you shall roast[boil] and eat it ... and
in the morning you shall turn and go to your
tents.
The word 'sacrifice' in this verse tends to envisage the notion of
'animal sacrifice' (the killing of the animals), but by referring
back to Deut 16:4, "... the meat which you sacrifice ..." we can see
that what is being 'sacrificed' is the meat (ie, cooked meat).
This Passover took the form of a thanksgiving meal celebration, a
celebration which began at sunset.
Since the 14th Passover observance ended at midnight it did not encroach
upon the annual sabbath day of the 15th (which marked the start of the
7 day Feast of Unleavened Bread). The feasts of the 14th and 15th did
not overlap.
Lev 23:4 These are the feasts of the LORD, holy
convocations which you shall proclaim at
their appointed times.
:5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at
twilight[between the evenings] is the Lord's
Passover.
:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month
is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD;
seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
NATURE OF THE SECOND PASSOVER
A THANKSGIVING OBSERVANCE
The second Passover was a thanksgiving observance.
Deut 16:4 ... nor shall any of the meat that
which you sacrifice(offer in sacrifice)
the first day at twilight(evening,
ie sunset) remain over until morning.
Num 9:11 On the fourteenth day of the second
month, at twilight, they may keep it.
They shall eat it with unleavened
bread and bitter herbs.
:12 They shall leave none of it until
morning, ... |
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Lev 7:12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, ...
:15 The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering
for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it
is offered. He shall not leave any of it until
morning.
Its first observance is referred to in Numbers chapter 9. At this time
the second month observance, for those who were unclean, was specified.
Num 9:1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness
of Sinai, in the first month of the second year
after they had come out of the land of Egypt,
saying:
:2 "Let the children of Israel keep the Passover
at its appointed time.
:6 Now there were certain men who were defiled by a
human corpse, so that they could not keep the
Passover on that day; ...
:9 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
:10 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: "If
anyone of you or your posterity is unclean ...
he may still keep the Lord's Passover.
:11 On the fourteenth day of the second month, ..."
The New Testament confirms that it was this second Passover which
required ceremonial cleanliness.
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.
The second Passover was the time of the ritualistic killing of the
firstborn male animals. These animals included sheep, goats, cattle
and oxen.
Exod 13:1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
:2 "Sanctify to Me all the firstborn, whatever
opens the womb among the children of Israel,
both of man and animal; it is Mine".
:11 And it shall be, when the LORD brings you into
the land of the Canaanites ...
:12 that you shall set apart (cause to pass over)
to the LORD all that open the womb, that is,
every firstling that comes from an animal which
you have; the males shall be the LORD's.
:15 ... Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males
that open the womb, but all the firstborn of
my sons I redeem.
Deut 16:2 Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the
LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, ...
The exact timing for the start of the killing of the these firstborn
animals is implied in the narrative of the death of Jesus Christ.
Mark 15:33 Now when the sixth hour had come, there was
darkness over the whole land until the ninth
hour.
(Refer also Matt 27:45 and Luke 23:44.)
God would not have caused this darkness to come across the land if
between the 6th and 9th hours (midday to about 3.00pm) if the slaying
of the firstborn animals was to begin before mid afternoon. The
inference is that the killing of these firstborn animals began about
3.00pm. (This was also the time when Christ died.)
[ NB: There were large numbers of animals set aside for the
Passover services. As witnessed in 2Chr 35:7-9. These
animals were not all slaughtered on the 14th, but rather
over the duration of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened
Bread festivities. ]
The second Passover was a formalized ceremony.
2Chr 30:16 They stood in their place according to their
custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of
God; the priests sprinkled the blood received
from the hand of the Levites.
:17 For there were many in the assembly who had not
sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites
had charge of the slaughter of the Passover
lambs[animals] for everyone who was not clean,
to sanctify them to the LORD.
[ Translators have frequently incorrectly added the
word 'lamb' where it is not present in the original
Hebrew or Greek. ]
THE SEVEN DAY PASSOVER
DAYS OF EXODUS TRAVEL - 14TH TO 20TH
In addition to the word 'Passover' being applied to two different
single night observances it was applied in a broader sense.
Ezek 45:21 In the first month, on the fourteenth day
of the month, you shall observe the Passover,
a feast of seven[sevens] days; unleavened bread
shall be eaten.
The Hebrew actually has the word 'seven' in the plural form. What the
verse is expressing is that there were two overlapping periods of
7 days at this time.
First, there was the 7 day period which started on the 14th and ended
on the 20th, which represented the 7 nights (sunset to midnight) of
Passover celebration at the temple. These 7 nights corresponded to
the days of travel by the children of Israel in their journey to the
designated place of sacrifice. The designated place of sacrifice being
identified as being three days journey into the wilderness, Exod 3:18.
Second, there was the 7 day period of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
This period started on the 15th and ended the 21st. It represents the
7 days in which the children of Israel consumed only unleavened bread.
(The last of their leavened bread having been consumed during their
travel on the 14th day.)
[ NB: In summary the children of Israel had journeyed to Rameses city
on the 14th, taken three days to reach the Red Sea, crossed
the Red Sea by night and then gone a further 3 days into the
wilderness (Num 33:3-8). On the 21st day the children of Israel
rested and observed the feast originally mentioned to Pharaoh
in Exodus 5:1 & 10:9. ]
This two-fold seven day period is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 16.
Seven Days of Passover
Deut 16:2 Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover
to the LORD your God, ...
:3 You shall eat no leavened bread with it;
seven days you shall eat unleavened bread
with it, ... (for you came out of the land
of Egypt in haste), ...
Seven Days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Deut 16:4 And no leaven shall be seen among you in all your
territory for seven days, ...
THREE PASSOVER OBSERVANCES
The Passover ordinances are specified in the twelfth chapter of the
book of Exodus.
FIRST PASSOVER - 13TH PASSOVER
The 13th Passover was to be kept in much the same manner as it was
originally observed in Egypt.
Exod 12:21 Then Moses called for all the
elders of Israel and said to
them, "Pick out and take lambs
for yourselves according to your
families, and kill the Passover
lamb.
:22 And you shall take a bunch of
hyssop, dip it in the blood that
is in the basin, and strike the
lintel and the two doorposts
with the blood that is in the
basin. And none of you shall go
out of the door of his house
until morning.
:23 For the LORD will pass through to
strike the Egyptians; 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.
:24 And you shall observe this thing
as an ordinance for you and your
sons forever. |
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:25 It will come to pass when you come to the land which
the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that
you shall keep this service.
:26 And it shall be, when your children say to you, 'What
do you mean by this service?'
:27 that you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of
the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children
of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and
delivered our households.' So the people bowed their
heads and worshiped.
:28 Then the children of Israel went away and did so;
just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so
they did.
:29 And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD struck
all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, ...
SECOND PASSOVER - 14TH PASSOVER
This 14th Passover was a service which could only be observed by those
who had been circumcised. This Passover was to observed in one house,
the house of God.
Exod 12:43 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the
ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it.
:44 But every man's servant who is bought for money, when
you have circumcised him, then he may eat it.
:45 A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it.
:46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry
any of the flesh outside the house, nor shall you
break one of its bones.
:47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
:48 And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to
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 a native of the land.
For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.
:49 One law shall be for the native-born and for the
stranger who dwells among you."
:50 Thus all the children of Israel did; as the LORD
commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.
:51 And it came to pass, on that very same day, that
the LORD brought the children of Israel out of the
land of Egypt according to their armies.
The text advises that the children of Israel upon receipt of this
ordinance immediately performed what was commanded, but does not
clearly state when this ordinance was delivered. It is apparent that
a mass circumcision could not have taken place prior to the Exodus,
due to the pain which would have resulted on the third day (Gen 34:25).
The following verse suggests the ordinance was announced when the
children of Israel reached Marah.
Exod 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then
they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And
they went three days in the wilderness and found
no water.
:23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink
the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. ...
:25 ... There He made a statute and an ordinance for
them. And there He tested them,
It seems that at Marah God required circumcision and advised some
further details in respect to the observance of the 14th Passover.
(NB: An initial mass circumcision, at the time of the Exodus, is
indicated by Joshua 5:4-5.)
EXODUS 12:14
A verse which has created some confusion is Exodus 12:14.
Exod 12:14 So this day shall be to you a memorial; and
you shall keep[celebrate] it as a feast to
the LORD throughout your generations. You
shall keep it as a feast[celebration] by an
everlasting ordinance.
:15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
On the first day you shall remove leaven
from your houses. ...
Verse 14 immediately follows the text which first describes the 13th
Passover. The verse mentions 'this day', but is vague as to whether it
is referring to the 13th day or the following 14th day or the entire
7 day Passover period (14th to 20th). From the text of this verse it
can be seen that it is talking about a 'feast of celebration', which
conforms with the view that it is a reference to the 14th Passover (or
the entire 7 day Passover feast).
EXODUS 12:15
Perhaps an even more confusing text is 12:15.
Exod 12:15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
On the first day you shall remove leaven
from your houses. For whoever eats leavened
bread from the first day until the seventh day,
that person shall be cut off from Israel.
:16 On the first day there shall be a holy
convocation, and on the seventh day there
shall be a holy convocation for you.
No manner of work shall be done on them;
but that which everyone must eat - that
only may be prepared by you.
In these verses the word 'first' is the same word which is used to
describe the month of Abib. The word can mean 'first in sequence'
(or 'first in time'), or it can mean 'first in importance'.
This variation in meaning has caused some confusion.
To better understand verse 15, we should first consider verse 16.
Verse 16 is talking about the 'first' and 'seventh days' being
commanded days of holy gathering and of rest.
These two rest days fell on the first and seventh of the Feast of
Unleavened Bread. Refer Lev 23:6-8 and Num 28:17,18,25. These days
were the 15th and 21st of that month. (NB: While the 14th was a
day of commanded evening gathering, it was never a day of commanded
rest from work.)
During the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 15th to 21st,
no leaven was to be found in their homes.
Exod 12:19 For seven days no leaven shall be found in
your houses, ...
The consequence of this is, that it was necessary for leaven to have
been removed prior to the start of the 15th day.
Therefore, it is apparent that the 'first day' initially mentioned
in verse 15 was not the 15th day, but rather the day which was 'first
in importance' at that time of year. The chief day of that month was
the 14th Passover day.
So the initial portion of verse 15 is discussing the removal of leaven
on the 14th day!
The second half of the verse discusses a first day and a seventh day.
At first it seems logical that these are a clear reference to the
corresponding days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, ie 15th and 21st.
However, the word 'until' is encountered in this verse. The meaning
of 'until' in Hebrew is 'only as far as', and is used in an exclusive
sense. It is indicating the period would run up to the start of the
seventh day, but the seventh itself would be EXCLUDED!
The solution to the resulting dilemma is provided in a subsequent
verse.
Exod 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of
the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened
bread, until the twenty-first day of the month
at evening.
This verse is just prior to the above verse 19, which talked about
a period of seven days.
Notice that in verse 18 we again encounter the word 'until'. However,
this time we are provided two actual dates - 14th and 21st - and we
are advised that we are talking about the 'evening' of both dates.
These 'evening' timings could refer to 'sunset' or 'midnight', but
only the second of these evenings actually closes a biblical day.
So this is how we are we to read Exodus 12:15!
Exod 12:15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.
On the first day [most important day - 14th]
you shall remove leaven from your houses.
For whoever eats leavened bread from the
evening [close of] first day [most important
day - 14th] until the evening [close of]
seventh day [21st], that person shall be
cut off from Israel.
And it would precede verse 16, which would be saying.
Exod 12:16 On the first day [15th] there shall be a
holy convocation, and on the seventh [21st]
day there shall be a holy convocation for you.
No manner of work shall be done on them;
but that which everyone must eat - that
only may be prepared by you.
[ NB: The children of Israel did not eat leavened bread
during their journey from the city of Rameses (as
they travelled toward Marah), as they left their
'kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their
shoulders'. Exod 12:34. ]
SUMMARY - THE PASSOVERS
Two Passover services were apparent in the Old and New Testaments.
FIRST PASSOVER
The first Passover was a commemoration of the initial killing of the
Passover lamb in Egypt. This lamb was killed after sunset by the
individual households, who then painted its blood on the doorposts
and lintels of their homes. This Passover was observed on the 13th
night, following the daylight hours of the 13th day.
SECOND PASSOVER
The second Passover was a thanksgiving ceremony held at the place where
God chose to place His name. The animals eaten were firstborns taken
from the flock and from cattle and oxen. The animals were slaughtered
and boiled before sunset in preparation for the start of this Passover
service. The service was observed from sunset to midnight on the 14th,
immediately prior to the start of the 15th day. To participate in this
ceremony one had to be ritually clean and circumcised.
This 14th Passover initiated a period of seven nights of feasting,
ie 14th to 20th, which all commemorated the journeying of the children
of Israel from Egypt.
BOTH PASSOVERS
Both the 13th and 14th Passovers required all the meat to be eaten that
night. The meat was to be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs
and none of the bones of the Passover animals were to be broken.
TRANSLATION ERRORS
Due to the confusion which has surrounded the Passover observances many
translations have, in error, added the word 'lamb' (or 'lambs') in
verses where it was inappropriate.
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