And when a stranger - will keep the passover, etc. - Let all who sojourn among you, and who desire to partake of this sacred ordinance, not only be circumcised themselves, but all the males of their families likewise, that they may all have an equal right to the blessings of the covenant. read more
One law shall be to him that is home-born, etc. - As this is the first place that the term תורה torah or Law occurs, a term of the greatest importance in Divine revelation, and on the proper understanding of which much depends, I judge it best to give its genuine explanation once for all. The word תורה torah comes from the root ירה yarah , which signifies to aim at, teach, point out, direct, lead, guide, make straight, or even; and from these significations of the word (and in... read more
Verse 43 43.This is the ordinance of the passover. Since the passover was the sacred bond whereby God would hold the elect people in obligation to Himself, He forbids all strangers from partaking of it; because a promiscuous permission to eat of it would have been an unworthy profanation. And in fact, since this is a supplement to the First Commandment, it only addresses itself to those unto whom is directed the preface of the Law, “Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.” We know that... read more
Verse 46 46.Neither shall ye break a bone thereof. I am not certain why God desired no bone to be broken; unless that this might also be a sign of haste; because people at table seldom partake of the marrow, unless when their entertainment is protracted. For I fear there is too much subtlety in the explanation which some give, that the virtue of Christ, which is represented by the bones, is not diminished whilst we feed on His flesh. But the former opinion which I have glanced at above, as it... read more
The Exodus. View it in three lights. I. AS AN EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES . God is the sworn foe of the slave-holder. Only in a very modified sense was slavery tolerated in Israel; and the laws were such as gradually to undermine the system. Historically, God's religion has proved itself the great slave-liberator. 1 . In Egypt. Here were two millions of a slave population set free in a single night. 2 . In Israel. Consider the effect on the abolition of the slave... read more
Passover precepts realised in Christian practice. The precepts were:— I. THAT NO UNCIRCUMCISED STRANGER , NOT EVEN THOUGH A HIRED SERVANT IN A HEBREW FAMILY , SHOULD EAT OF IT . Formally, baptism corresponds to circumcision, both of them admitting into covenant with God; and thus the rule of Christian communities generally, that the reception of baptism must precede that of the Lord's Supper, is a carrying out of this precept. But it is also carried... read more
This is the ordinance of the passover — i.e; "This is the law, in respect of the persons who are to partake of it"—there shall no stranger eat thereof, or literally, "No son of a stranger shall eat thereof." By a "stranger" here is meant one of a foreign race who wishes to retain his foreign character and to remain uncircumcised. Compare Exodus 12:48 . read more
1 . The absolute exclusion of all uncircumcised persons from participation in the passover rite; 2 . The extension of the rite (implied in Exodus 23:19 ) to all full proselytes; and, 3 . The injunction that not a bone of the lamb should be broken. (This last is repeated in Numbers 9:12 ) read more
The spirit of the Passover ordinance. The features to be specified reappear in the Lord's Supper. The ordinance was— I. EXCLUSIVE . ( Exodus 12:43 , Exodus 12:45 , Exodus 12:48 .) A stranger, an uncircumcised person, and a hired servant, were not to be permitted to oat of it. Their relation to Israel was wholly external. In like manner, the Lord's Supper is exclusive. It excludes the stranger to the death of Christ, the uncircumcised in heart, and those who sustain a merely... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:46
In one house shall it be eaten - In one family, if that be large enough; if not, a neighboring family might be invited, Exodus 12:4 . Thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh - Every family must abide within doors because of the destroying angel, none being permitted to go out of his house till the next day, Exodus 12:22 . Neither shall ye break a bone thereof - As it was to be eaten in haste, ( Exodus 12:11 ;), there was no time either to separate the bones, or to break... read more