Exodus 12

The Lord gave Moses instructions for the Passover meal and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (12:14–20). Moses and the people then celebrated the first Passover (12:21–30).

This month was the month Abib (13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Deuteronomy 16:1; later called by the Babylonian name, Nisan, Nehemiah 2:1; Esther 3:7). This time falls within the months of March and April.

Many cultures held festivals about this time of the year, celebrating the renewal of plant life. Israel’s festival celebrated the historic event in which God defeated death and rescued his people from bondage in Egypt.

unblemished: We must give God our best, just as he gave us his best: “Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19).

the whole assembly of the congregation: The entire community experiences both the benefits and responsibilities of a relationship with God together.

blood: God could not simply spare his people from this plague as he had with the others. Death rules in the world because of sin. In light of God's justice, sin cannot be ignored. He must punish or atone for it.

Blood represents life (Leviticus 17:11). So, it is the only acceptable way to forgive sins (Hebrews 9:22). As Deuteronomy 6:9 suggests, doorframes represent the entirety of life as the place of entering and exiting.

Since this was not a regular meal, none of the meat was to be saved for another day.

be fully dressed: The Israelites needed to be ready to leave quickly.

The plagues were primarily the Lord’s judgment against all the gods of Egypt (see also Numbers 33:4).

The Jewish people still celebrate Passover because it was a permanent statute for all generations.

• unleavened: The Israelites needed unleavened bread (which was made without yeast) when they left Egypt in a hurry (see 12:34, 39). The Feast of Unleavened Bread remembers that event.

  Later in the Bible, yeast became a symbol of sin. Yeast spreads through dough, and in the same way sin spreads through people and communities. Jesus warned his disciples, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees” (Matthew 16:6). He was speaking about their teaching and hypocrisy.

• cut off from Israel: This phrase means that a person would either be put to death or removed from the community. Being removed meant losing protection, family support, and the right to worship with God’s people.

Hyssop is a small bush with firm, compact branches that a person can use as a brush (see also Psalm 51:7 and study note).

the land that the LORD will give you: This refers to the land of Canaan. God had earlier promised this land to Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 13:14–17).

In the future, the Passover celebration would be a memorial reminding future generations of Israelites of God’s grace in providing them a way of escape from death. For more than 3,000 years the Jewish people have celebrated this important event in their history.

The predicted plague was fulfilled. Just as death spares no one, so no one in Egypt, from Pharaoh to the lowest prisoner, escaped the effects of Pharaoh’s pride.

The same Pharaoh who had said that Moses would never again see his face and live (see 10:28) now asked for Moses to come and see him. Just as God had predicted, Pharaoh then ordered the Israelites to leave his land. He implicitly recognized the Lord’s power as he asked Moses to bless him. He never formally admitted that the Lord is God and that he, Pharaoh, was not.

The Lord delivered on his promises and rescued Israel, bringing them out of Egypt.

asked the Egyptians: See 3:22; 11:2.

Scholars often identify Succoth with Tell el-Maskhutah. The mention of 600,000 men in Numbers 1:46 suggests about 2.5 million people in total.

If this large number is literal, it presents some challenges:

1. The camp area would cover 643 square kilometers (400 square miles).

2. A column of people 1,000 wide would stretch nearly a mile and take 20 hours to pass one point.

3. No other known armies in the ancient Near East were this large.

Scholars suggest two possible explanations:

1. The number might be symbolic, showing that God greatly blessed Israel. Although unusual to us, this was acceptable in the ancient world.

2. The Hebrew word for “thousand” (’elep) might actually be “troop” (’allup). If so, it originally meant “600 troops of fighting men.” With each troop having about 100 men, the total population would be much smaller.

Despite the logistical issues, it is possible there were indeed 2.5 million Israelites.

a mixed multitude: Some of these people later became unhappy and caused the Israelites to complain about their problems (see Numbers 11:4). We are not told why they joined the Israelites. Perhaps some trusted in the Lord because of the plagues. Others probably saw it as a chance for a better life elsewhere.

According to the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch, the 430 years span from the promise to Abraham until the exodus from Egypt (Genesis 12; 15). Compare Galatians 3:17; see also Exodus Book Introduction, The Date of the Exodus.

These extra instructions for celebrating Passover mainly refer to outsiders and foreigners (12:43; 12:48). The presence of non-Israelite groups in the community might have led to these rules (12:38). The main point was whether the person was willing to fully join Israel and obey the Lord by being circumcised.

you may not break any of the bones: The apostle John refers to this rule about Passover lambs when he reports that they did not break the legs of Jesus when he was on the cross (John 19:36).

The Israelites left Egypt in an orderly way, like a large army. The Lord led them as their commander and leader.