Exodus 12-13: The Passover And The Israelites First Stage Of The Journey Out Of Egypt

The First Passover: A Divine Rescue Remembered. Commemorating God’s mighty deliverance through sacrifice, consecration, and annual remembrance.

In Exodus 7:8–11:10, God brings about ten signs and wonders in Egypt to establish His power and force Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Each action is aimed at certain Egyptian gods, showing their weakness and proving the superiority of God. These occurrences are not just punitive but also manifestations of God's power and motives. The account emphasises the difference between the people of God and the Egyptians, noting God's protection of the Israelites. Although seeing all these miracles, Pharaoh's heart is still hardened, depicting human stubbornness against divine will. The verse prepares the ground for the Passover, a central event symbolizing redemption and prefiguring Christ's atoning sacrifice.

The Passover: God's Deliverance Remembered Through Sacred Tradition

Exodus 12:1-41 - The Passover As noted above, the previous cycle of episodes ends with the dramatic announcement that every firstborn son in Egypt will die (11:5). Considerable attention is now focused on the fulfilment of this pronouncement. The unique way in which the Israelite firstborns were protected from death led to this remarkable event being called the Passover (cf. vs 11, 23, 27). Significantly, later generations would remember it in three ways. First, they would celebrate each year the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (14-20; 13:3-10). Several other references underline the close association between unleavened bread and the Passover (34, 39). Given their swift departure from Egypt, the Israelites could not observe this feast until the first anniversary of their departure (cf. Nu. 9:1-14). Secondly, in conjunction with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Israelites would commemorate the Passover by eating a year-old lamb or kid (24-27). Celebrated on the evening of the 14th day of the first month, the Passover marks the start of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which continues until the 21st day of the month (cf v 18). Thirdly, to commemorate the survival of their firstborn sons, the Israelites would give to God all future firstborn male animals from their livestock (13:1-16). These various activities would be a continual testimony to Egypt the fact that God had brought them out of Egypt with his mighty hand (ci: 13:3, 9, 16).

Exodus 11:5 CSB: and every firstborn male in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl who is at the grindstones, as well as every firstborn of the livestock.

Numbers 9:1-14 CSB: [1] In the first month of the second year after their departure from the land of Egypt, the Lord told Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, [2] “The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time. [3] You must observe it at its appointed time on the fourteenth day of this month at twilight; you are to observe it according to all its statutes and ordinances.” [4] So Moses told the Israelites to observe the Passover, [5] and they observed it in the first month on the fourteenth day at twilight in the Wilderness of Sinai. The Israelites did everything as the Lord had commanded Moses. [6] But there were some men who were unclean because of a human corpse, so they could not observe the Passover on that day. These men came before Moses and Aaron the same day [7] and said to him, “We are unclean because of a human corpse. Why should we be excluded from presenting the Lord’s offering at its appointed time with the other Israelites? ” [8] Moses replied to them, “Wait here until I hear what the Lord commands for you.” [9] Then the Lord spoke to Moses: [10] “Tell the Israelites: When any one of you or your descendants is unclean because of a corpse or is on a distant journey, he may still observe the Passover to the Lord. [11] Such people are to observe it in the second month, on the fourteenth day at twilight. They are to eat the animal with unleavened bread and bitter herbs; [12] they may not leave any of it until morning or break any of its bones. They must observe the Passover according to all its statutes. [13] “But the man who is ceremonially clean, is not on a journey, and yet fails to observe the Passover is to be cut off from his people, because he did not present the Lord’s offering at its appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin. [14] “If an alien resides with you and wants to observe the Passover to the Lord, he is to do it according to the Passover statute and its ordinances. You are to apply the same statute to both the resident alien and the native of the land.”

The First Passover Sacrifice: A Unique Ritual in a Time Before the Priesthood

At the heart of the first Passover ritual was the slaying of a lamb or kid, the smearing of its blood on the door-frames, and the eating of its meat. The details of the ritual parallel closely those relating to sacrifices, and this is confirmed by the comment in v 27, It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD. Yet, while resembling other sacrifices, the Passover ceremony is unique, reflecting its peculiar historical setting. Because the Aaronic priesthood had not yet been established (Lv. 8:1 — 9:24), Moses commanded all the elders of Israel to slaughter the Passover victims (21). Similarly, there is no reference to the central sanctuary or altar which was first instituted after the exodus at Sinai (20:24-26; 24:4; 27:1-8). Whereas other sacrifices were normally offered up during daylight, the Passover animal was sacrificed at twilight as this was the only convenient time because of the long hours the Israelites were forced to work. Finally, the timing of the Passover to the 14th day of the month coincides with the full moon, the most suitable night in the month for the exodus from Egypt.

Leviticus 8:1-9, 24 CSB: [1] The Lord spoke to Moses: [2] “Take Aaron, his sons with him, the garments, the anointing oil, the bull of the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread, [3] and assemble the whole community at the entrance to the tent of meeting.” [4] So Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the community assembled at the entrance to the tent of meeting. [5] Moses said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.” [6] Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. [7] He put the tunic on Aaron, wrapped the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He put the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him. [8] Then he put the breastpiece on him and placed the Urim and Thummim into the breastpiece. [9] He also put the turban on his head and placed the gold medallion, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the Lord had commanded Moses. [24] Moses also presented Aaron’s sons and put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then Moses splattered the blood on all sides of the altar.

Exodus 20:24-26 CSB: [24] “Make an earthen altar for me, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your flocks and herds. I will come to you and bless you in every place where I cause my name to be remembered. [25] If you make a stone altar for me, do not build it out of cut stones. If you use your chisel on it, you will defile it. [26] Do not go up to my altar on steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed on it.

Exodus 24:4 CSB: And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early the next morning and set up an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel at the base of the mountain.

Exodus 27:1-8 CSB: “You are to construct the altar of acacia wood. The altar must be square, 7 1/2 feet long, and 7 1/2 feet wide; it must be 4 1/2 feet high. [2] Make horns for it on its four corners; the horns are to be of one piece. Overlay it with bronze. [3] Make its pots for removing ashes, and its shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans; make all its utensils of bronze. [4] Construct a grate for it of bronze mesh, and make four bronze rings on the mesh at its four corners. [5] Set it below, under the altar’s ledge, so that the mesh comes halfway up the altar. [6] Then make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. [7] The poles are to be inserted into the rings so that the poles are on two sides of the altar when it is carried. [8] Construct the altar with boards so that it is hollow. They are to make it just as it was shown to you on the mountain.

Blood on the Doorposts and the Sacred Meal: Protection, Purification, and Participation in the Passover Rite

Special attention is focused on the use of the animal's blood: it was smeared on the sides and tops of the door-frames of the houses (7, 22). Some scholars emphasize that this action was designed to protect those within from outside hostile powers (cf. vs 13, 23). Other scholars suggest that the blood was used to purify the Israelite houses, a proposal supported by the reference to hyssop (22) which is elsewhere associated with ritual purification (e.g. Lv. 14:4; Nu. 19:6, 18). However, as we shall observe below, the sprinkled blood probably formed part of a consecration ritual. An equally important part of the Passover rite was the eating of the animal. Everyone in the Israelite community was to participate (47), and for each animal slaughtered there had to be an adequate number of people to eat all the meat. Special instructions were given concerning the cooking of the meat: the entire animal was to be roasted, not boiled (9); the meat had to be eaten indoors and the animal's bones must not be broken (46). Any meat which remained to the morning had to be burnt (10).

Leviticus 14:4 CSB: the priest will order that two live clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop be brought for the one who is to be cleansed.

Numbers 19:6, 18 CSB: [6] The priest is to take cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson yarn, and throw them onto the fire where the cow is burning. [18] A person who is clean is to take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and the people who were there. He is also to sprinkle the one who touched a bone, a grave, a corpse, or a person who had been killed.

Passover as Consecration: A Nation Set Apart as Holy to God

Significantly, the description of the Passover meal parallels closely elements of the account of the consecration of the Aaronic priests in Ex. 29 and Lv. 8. Here, the slaughter of a ram together with the sprinkling of its blood and the eating of its meat form the main elements of a consecration ritual. Although there are differences in detail, these same elements 'underlie the Passover ritual. By participating in the Passover the Israelites set themselves apart as holy. The sacrifice of the animal atoned for the sin of the people, the blood smeared on the door-frames purified those within, and the eating of the sacrificial meat consecrated those who consumed it. By participating in the Passover ritual the people sanctified themselves as a nation holy to God (cf. 19:6).

Exodus 19:6 CSB: and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.

Divine and Prophetic Instructions: Preparing for the First Passover

Exodus 12:1-28 - Instructions for the Passover. This section consists of two speeches containing instructions. Although placed side by side the speeches were given days apart. The first speech (1-20) was delivered by God to Moses sometime before the Israelites kept the first Passover; v 3 refers to the selection of the Passover lamb or kid four days before the Passover was to be observed. In the second speech (21-27), Moses addressed the elders of Israel on the day of the Passover. Through these two speeches, the narrator highlights the events leading up to the striking down of the Egyptian firstborn at midnight on the 14th day of the month (29). Interestingly, both speeches end with comments drawing attention to future commemorations of the Passover (14-20; 24-27). Moreover, the second speech complements the first, providing additional information on various aspects of the Passover celebration. Since the reader can picture what took place from the content of the two speeches, the author refrains from describing the fulfilment of the instructions; he merely comments, that the Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron (28).

The Passover and Christ: A New Covenant Fulfilled in the New Testament

The Passover figures prominently in the NT understanding of the death of Jesus Christ. According to Matthew, Mark and Luke, the Last Supper, which was to be subsequently commemorated as the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:23-33), was a Passover meal (Mt. 26:17: Mk. 14:12; Lk. 22:7-8). By highlighting Jesus' unbroken bones John alludes to the fact that the death of Jesus resembled that of the Passover sacrifice (Jn. 19:36). 1 Cor. 5:7 makes explicit this connection: 'For Christ, our Passover lamb (lit. our Passover), has been sacrificed' and 1 Pet. 1:18-19 probably also refers to the Passover sacrifice.

1 Corinthians 11:23-33 CSB: [23] For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. [27] So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. [28] Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. [29] For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. [30] This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. [31] If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, [32] but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world. [33] Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, welcome one another.

Matthew 26:17 CSB: On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover? ”

Mark 14:12 CSB: On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrifice the Passover lamb, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare the Passover so that you may eat it?

Luke 22:7-8 CSB: [7] Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. [8] Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

John 19:36 CSB: For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken.

1 Corinthians 5:7 CSB: Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are. For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.

1 Peter 1:18-19 CSB: [18] For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.

Focus Note: Symbolism of the Lamb, Unleavened Bread, and the Mysterious Destroyer

Exodus 12:3 - The Hebrew word seh denotes either a lamb or a goat. Exodus 12:15 Bread made without yeast is also described as unleavened bread. The fact that the bread was without leaven indicates a lack of time to prepare it properly (Exodus 12:39; 11). Exodus 12:18 From the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day refers to the period covered by both the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. To make sense of this statement it must be assumed that the day was reckoned as beginning at sunrise, and not at sunset. From the sixth century BC onwards the Jews reckoned the day as beginning at sunset. Exodus 12:23 The precise nature of the destroyer is not revealed in Exodus. According to Ps. 78:49 this may refer to a 'band of destroying angels'.

Psalms 78:49 CSB: He sent his burning anger against them: fury, indignation, and calamity — a band of deadly messengers.

The Midnight Judgment and Israel’s Release

12:29-36 - The death of the Egyptian made in firstborn. Various predictions 11:1-10 are fulfilled in this section. God struck down all the Egyptian firstborns at midnight, causing the people to wail loudly (29-30; cf. 11:4-6). After summoning Moses and Aaron for the final time, Pharaoh permitted the Israelites to leave unconditionally (31-32; cf. 11:1). As instructed (11:2), the Israelites asked for and received from the Egyptians articles of silver and gold and clothing (35). Because the LORD had made the Egyptians favourably disposed towards the people ... they gave them what they asked for (36; cf. 11:3). The 'plundering' of Egypt is viewed as retribution for how the Egyptians had treated the Israelites as slaves (cf. Gn. 15:14).

Genesis 15:14 CSB: However, I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will go out with many possessions.

The Journey to Freedom Begins: The Exodus from Egypt

Exodus 12:37-41 The exodus begins. With Pharaoh's permission, the Israelites began their journey to freedom, travelling from Rameses to Succoth. The haste of their departure is marked by the fact that they only had time to prepare bread made without yeast. At last, after 430 years, the people were enabled to leave Egypt as a result of the mighty wonders performed by God.

Focus Note: The 430 Years in Egypt: A Historical Perspective

Exodus: 12:40 - Genesis 15:13 refers to the descendants of Abraham being enslaved and ill-treated for 400 years (Acts 7:6). The larger figure here of 430 years probably includes the period of peace which they enjoyed after first arriving in Egypt.

Exodus 12:40 CSB: The time that the Israelites lived in Egypt was 430 years.

Genesis 15:13 CSB: Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed.

Acts 7:6 CSB: God spoke in this way: His descendants would be strangers in a foreign country, and they would enslave and oppress them for four hundred years.

Regulations for the Passover: Commemoration and Obedience

Exodus 12:42-50 - Regulations governing the Passover. The account of the departure of the Israelites is interrupted by this section which records regulations for the Passover. These regulations applied to both the first Passover and later commemorations (42). The section ends by noting the obedience of the Israelites, with v 50 corresponding closely with v 28, possibly indicating that the instructions belong there chronologically. By ordering the material as he does, the narrator brings together in 12:42 - 13:16 the three ways in which the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt was to be celebrated: by re-enacting the Passover (43-49); by keeping the feast of Unleavened Bread (13:3-10); and by consecrating every firstborn male (13:11-16).

Further Instructions for Commemorating the Passover and Consecrating the Firstborn

Exodus 12:51 - 13:16 - Further instructions for commemorating the Passover. The narrative picks up in v 51 where it left off in v 41 by repeating various details (e.g. on that very day, divisions; the NIV obscures somewhat the similarity between the two verses in the Hebrew text). On the day following the destruction of the Egyptian firstborn God announced to Moses that the Israelites must set apart as special the first offspring of every womb ... whether man or animal (v 2). Moses in turn expanded this directive as he conveyed it to the people (11-16). It is preceded, however, by instructions regarding the celebration of the feast of Unleavened Bread (3-10). Although Moses and Aaron had been informed about this feast earlier (12:14-20), it was only now that the people learned of it. Moses' speech to the people falls neatly into two halves, which parallel each other closely. Both begin with references to the people taking possession of the land of Canaan in fulfilment of God's oath to their forefathers (5, 11). Next come instructions regarding the commemoration of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt (6-7, 12-13), and the explanation of these activities to the children (8, 14-15). Finally, both halves are marked by similar en- dings, concluding with the comment that the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand (9; cf. v 16).

The First Stage of the Journey: God’s Guidance and Presence

Exodus 13:17-22 - First stage of the journey out of Egypt. Having announced his intention to bring the Israelites back to the land of Canaan, God proceeded to lead them in that direction. However, out of concern for their security, he piloted them by a longer, safer route, taking them around by the desert road towards the Red Sea. In fulfilment of the oath made by the sons of Israel to Joseph (Gn. 50:24-25), Moses took with him Joseph's embalmed remains. The narrator draws special attention to God's continual presence with the people, marked by a pillar of clouds by day and a pillar of fire by night. As the ensuing narrative reveals, God remained near the Israelites, indicating his special relationship with them.

Genesis 50:24-25 CSB: [24] Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land he swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” [25] So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath: “When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here.”

Focus Note: The Red Sea Crossing: Location and Significance

Exodus 13:18 - Red Sea (Heb. yam súp; lit. 'Sea of reeds') probably denotes the northern part of the Red Sea that is, the Gulf of Aqabah (the north-eastern branch) and the Gulf of Suez (the north-western branch) including the region now known as the Bitter Lakes (in antiquity this latter region may have been directly connected to the Red Sea). The exact location of the crossing is uncertain; most scholars, however, favour the region of the Bitter Lakes. For the possible route of the Israelites exodus, see map.

Exodus 13:18 CSB: So he led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt in battle formation.