Exodus 12:42-51

Ordinance of the Passover

42 1It is a night to be observed for the LORD for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the LORD, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.
43 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of 2the Passover: no * 3foreigner * is to eat of it;
44 but every man's 4slave purchased with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it.
45 "5A sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it.
46 "It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, 6nor are you to break any bone of it.
47 "7All the congregation of Israel are to celebrate this.
48 "But 8if a stranger sojourns with you, and celebrates the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no * uncircumcised person may eat of it.
49 "9The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you."
50 Then all the sons of Israel did so; they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.
51 And on that same day 10the LORD brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt 11by their hosts.

Exodus 12:42-51 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 11

  • 1. Exodus 13:10; Exodus 34:18; Deuteronomy 16:1
  • 2. Exodus 12:11; Numbers 9:14
  • 3. Exodus 12:48
  • 4. Genesis 17:12, 13; Leviticus 22:11
  • 5. Leviticus 22:10
  • 6. Numbers 9:12; Psalms 34:20; John 19:33, 36
  • 7. Exodus 12:6; Numbers 9:13, 14
  • 8. Numbers 9:14
  • 9. Leviticus 24:22; Num 15:15, 16, 29
  • 10. Exodus 12:41
  • 11. Exodus 6:26

Footnotes 12

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