Exodus 12:31-41

31 Then 1he called for Moses and Aaron at night and said, "Rise up, 2get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, worship the LORD, as you have said.
32 "Take 3both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and bless me also."

Exodus of Israel

33 4The Egyptians urged * the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We will all be dead."
34 So the people took 5their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders.
35 6Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing;
36 and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they 7plundered the Egyptians.
37 Now the 8sons of Israel journeyed from 9Rameses to Succoth, about 10six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children.
38 A 11mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a 12very large number of livestock.
39 They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were 13driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor * had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
40 Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was 14four hundred and thirty years.
41 And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to 15the very day, 16all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:31-41 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 12

This chapter begins with observing, that the month in which the above wonders were wrought in Egypt, and the following ordinance appointed to the Israelites, should hereafter be reckoned the first month in the year, Ex 12:1,2 on the tenth day of which a lamb here described was to be taken and kept till the fourteenth, and then slain, and its blood sprinkled on the posts of the houses of the Israelites, Ex 12:3-7, the manner of dressing and eating it is shown, Ex 12:8-11 and the reason of the institution of this ordinance being given, Ex 12:12-14, and an order to eat unleavened bread during seven days, in which the feast was to be kept, Ex 12:15-20, directions are also given for the immediate observance of it, and particularly about the sprinkling of the blood of the lamb, and the use of it, Ex 12:21-23, and this ordinance, which they were to instruct their children in, was to be kept by them in succeeding ages for ever, Ex 12:24-27 about the middle of the night it was first observed, all the firstborn in Egypt were slain, which made the Egyptians urgent upon the Israelites to depart in haste, Ex 12:28-33 and which they did with their unleavened dough, and with great riches they had borrowed of the Egyptians, Ex 12:34-36, the number of the children of Israel at the time of their departure, the mixed multitude and cattle that went with them, their baking their unleavened cakes, the time of their sojourning in Egypt, and of their coming out of it that night, which made it a remarkable one, are all particularly taken notice of, Ex 12:37-42, laws and rules are given concerning the persons that should partake of the passover, Ex 12:43-49 and the chapter is concluded with observing, that it was kept according to the command of God, and that it was on the same day it was first instituted and kept that Israel were brought out of Egypt, Ex 12:50,51.

Cross References 16

  • 1. Exodus 8:8
  • 2. Exodus 8:25
  • 3. Exodus 10:9, 26
  • 4. Exodus 10:7; Exodus 11:1; Exodus 12:39; Psalms 105:38
  • 5. Exodus 12:39
  • 6. Exodus 3:21, 22; Exodus 11:2, 3; Psalms 105:37
  • 7. Exodus 3:22
  • 8. Numbers 33:3, 5
  • 9. Genesis 47:11
  • 10. Exodus 38:26; Numbers 1:46; Numbers 2:32; Numbers 11:21; Numbers 26:51
  • 11. Numbers 11:4
  • 12. Exodus 17:3; Numbers 20:19; Numbers 32:1; Deuteronomy 3:19
  • 13. Exodus 6:1; Exodus 11:1; Exodus 12:31-33
  • 14. Genesis 15:13, 16; Acts 7:6; Galatians 3:17
  • 15. Exodus 12:17
  • 16. Exodus 3:8, 10; Exodus 6:6

Footnotes 5

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.