Exodus 12:26-36

26 It will happen, when your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this service?'

27 that you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Pesach, who passed over the houses of the children of Yisra'el in Mitzrayim, when he struck the Mitzrim, and spared our houses.'" The people bowed their heads and worshiped.

28 The children of Yisra'el went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moshe and Aharon, so they did.

29 It happened at midnight, that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Mitzrayim, from the firstborn of Par`oh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

30 Par`oh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Mitzrim; and there was a great cry in Mitzrayim, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

31 He called for Moshe and Aharon by night, and said, "Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the children of Yisra'el; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said!

32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!"

33 The Mitzrim were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We are all dead men."

34 The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders.

35 The children of Yisra'el did according to the word of Moshe; and they asked of the Mitzrim jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing.

36 The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Mitzrim, so that they let them have what they asked. They despoiled the Mitzrim.

Exodus 12:26-36 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.