Exodus 12:17

17 and ye shall keep (the feast of) therf bread. For in that same day I shall lead out of the land of Egypt your host; and ye shall keep this day in your generations by everlasting custom. (and ye shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For on that day I led your host out of the land of Egypt; and ye shall remember this day in all your generations to come, by an everlasting rite.)

Exodus 12:17 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 12:17

And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread
Which was a distinct feast from the passover feast; for though at that unleavened bread was eaten, it was kept but one night, this seven days; and it is repeated that it might be taken notice of, and the rather, as it was to be observed in all ages as long as the Jewish economy lasted; the reason of which follows:

for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of
Egypt;
which, though not already done, was just on doing, and was certain; and besides, it respects the day when it should come about another year: by their "armies" are meant the tribes of Israel, not so much for their military force, for as yet they were an unarmed people, but for their numbers, which were sufficient to make several considerable armies, and for their order and ease, and their being without any fear of the enemy, in which they marched out of Egypt:

therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance
for ever;
according to the rules given, with the same exactness, strictness, and constancy, as the first of the passover, and as long as that continued; (See Gill on Exodus 12:14).

Exodus 12:17 In-Context

15 Seven days ye shall eat therf bread; in the first day nothing dighted with sourdough shall be in your houses; whoever shall eat anything dighted with sourdough, from the first day till to the seventh day, that soul shall perish from Israel. (For seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread; from the first day nothing made with yeast shall be in your houses; whoever shall eat anything made with yeast, from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall perish from the midst of Israel.)
16 The first day shall be holy and solemn, and the seventh day (also) shall be worshipful by the same hallowing; ye shall not do any work in those days, except these things that pertain to meat; (On the first day there shall be a holy gathering, and on the seventh day there shall also be a holy gathering; ye shall not do any work on those days, except those things that pertain to the preparation of meals;)
17 and ye shall keep (the feast of) therf bread. For in that same day I shall lead out of the land of Egypt your host; and ye shall keep this day in your generations by everlasting custom. (and ye shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For on that day I led your host out of the land of Egypt; and ye shall remember this day in all your generations to come, by an everlasting rite.)
18 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, at eventide, ye shall eat therf bread, till to the one and twentieth day of the same month at eventide. (In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, from the evening on, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the same month, in the evening.)
19 In seven days nothing dighted with sourdough shall be found in your houses; if any eateth anything dighted with sourdough, his soul shall perish from the company of Israel, as well of comelings, that be heathen men converted to the faith of Jews, as of them that be born in the land. (Yea, for seven days nothing made with yeast shall be found in your houses; if anyone eateth anything made with yeast, they shall perish, or be cut off, from the congregation of Israel, yea, this is for both newcomers, that is, the heathen who be converted to the Jewish faith, as well as for those who be born in the land.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.