Exodus 12:2-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:1-28

The Passover. "It is the Lord's Passover" ( Exodus 12:11 ). After Pharaoh's refusal to see Moses again, Jehovah comes more manifestly into the history, in the last judgment and deliverance of his people. Three great events crowd now into a single night, the Passover, the slaying of the first-born, the march out. Consider now the Passover. I. ITS NECESSITY . 1 . Israel must be separated from Egypt. This idea of separation runs through all Hebrew history from the time of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:1-29

The Passover. God's last and overwhelming blow was about to be struck at Egypt. In anticipation of that blow, and in immediate connection with the exodus, God gave directions for the observance of a Passover. I. THE PASSOVER IN ITS CONNECTION WITH THE HISTORY . For details of the ritual, see the verses of the chapter. 1 . The design of the Passover was to make plain to Israel the ground on which its salvation was bestowed—the ground, viz; of Atonement. "The more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:2

This month shall be unto you the beginning of months . The Israelite year would seem to have hitherto commenced with the autumnal equinox ( Exodus 23:16 ), or at any rate with the month Tisri (or Ethanim), which corresponded to our October. Henceforth two reckonings were employed, one for sacred, the other for civil purposes, the first month of each year, sacred or civil, being the seventh month of the other. Abib, "the month of ears"—our April, nearly—became now the first month of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:2

The beginning of months. The exodus from Egypt was the birthday of the nation of Israel. In commemoration of this great event, the day from which the (religious) year began was changed. The month Abib was thenceforth to be "the beginning of months." The civil year continued to begin with Tisri (cf. Exodus 23:16 ). I. REDEMPTION , THE TRUE STARTING - POINT OF HUMAN EXISTENCE . The day when salvation comes to a man's house ( Luke 19:9 ; Acts 16:34 ) is the true... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:3

Speak ye unto all the congregation . Under the existing circumstances Moses could only venture to summon the elders of Israel to a meeting. He necessarily left it to them to signify his wishes to the people. (See Exodus 12:21 .) A lamb . The Hebrew word is one of much wider meaning than our "lamb." It is applicable to both sheep and goats, and to either animal without limit of age, In the present case the age was fixed at a year by subsequent enactment ( Exodus 12:5 ); but the offerer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:3-6

The Passover lamb a prophetic picture of Christ and his salvation. I. FOR WHOM THE SACRIFICE AVAILS . 1 . The families of Israel, the household of faith. There is no other bulwark against the visitation of the angel of death, and it shields these only. 2 . Those who feed upon him. Saving faith must be a real, appropriating faith. Mere assent to a form of words avails nothing, neither can a mere intellectual Conviction of the truth of Christianity or apprehension of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:3-11

If one died for all then all died. Pharaoh's heart still hardened. The crowning judgment needs no intermediary; Jehovah will reveal His own right arm. Exodus 11:4 . "Who shall live when God doeth this?" He who obeying His word shelters himself beneath His shadow. See:— I. THE PREPARATION . 1 . A carefully selected victim. Exodus 11:5 , deliberately set apart four days beforehand. Pure within; innocence typified by inexperience, "the first year." Pure without, "no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:3-20

The Passover Proper. The Passover may be viewed:— I. AS A COMMEMORATIVE RITE . Instituted with reference to the tenth plague, and as a means by which the first-born of the Israelites might be saved from destruction, but accompanied by ceremonies which were connected with the prospective departure of the whole nation out of Egypt, the Passover feast, as established " by an ordinance for ever," commemorated two distinct and different things. II. AS A FEAST OF ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 12:2

This month - Abib Exodus 13:4. It was called “Nisan” by the later Hebrews, and nearly corresponds to our April. The Israelites are directed to take Abib henceforth as the beginning of the year; the year previously began with the month Tisri, when the harvest was gathered in; see Exodus 23:16. The injunction touching Abib or Nisan referred only to religious rites; in other affairs they retained the old arrangement, even in the beginning of the Sabbatic year; see Leviticus 25:9. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 12:3

A lamb - The Hebrew word is general, meaning either a sheep or a goat - male or female - and of any age; the age and sex are therefore epecially defined in the following verse. The direction to select the lamb on the tenth day, the fourth day before it was offered, was intended to secure due care in the preparation for the great national festival. The custom certainly fell into desuetude at a later period, but probably not before the destruction of the temple. read more

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