Exodus 12:3-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:4

If the household be too little for the lamb — i.e ; "too few to consume it at a sitting." Usage in course of time fixed the minimum number at ten. (Joseph. Bell . Jud. 6.9, § 3.) The whole family, men, women and children participated. The lamb was generally slain between the ninth hour (3 p.m.) and the eleventh (5 p.m.). Let him and his neighbour take it according to the number of the souls . If there were a household of only five, which could not possibly consume the lamb, any large... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:5

Your lamb shall be without blemish . Natural piety would teach that "the blind, the lame, and the sick" should not be selected for sacrifice ( Malachi 1:8 ). The Law afterwards expressly forbade any blemished animals—"blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed"—to be offered for any of the stated sacrifices, though they might be given as free-will offerings (Le Exodus 22:20-25 ). The absence of blemish was especially important in a victim which was to typify... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:6

Ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day . The interval of four days (see Exodus 12:3 ) was probably intended to give ample time for the thorough inspection of the lamb, and for obtaining another, if any defect was discovered. The precept is not observed by the modern Jews; and the later Targum (which belongs to the sixth century after Christ) teaches that it was only intended to apply to the first institution; but the text of Exodus is wholly against this. The whole assembly of the... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 12:4

Tradition specifies ten as the least number; but the matter was probably left altogether to the discretion of the heads of families.The last clause should be rendered: “each man, according to his eating, ye shall count for the lamb.” read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 12:5

Without blemish - This is in accordance with the general rule (margin reference): although in this case there is a special reason, since the lamb was in place of the firstborn male in each household. The restriction to the first year is unique, and refers apparently to the condition of perfect innocence in the antitype, the Lamb of God. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 12:6

Until the fourteenth day - It should be observed that the offering of our Lord on the self-same day is an important point in determining the typical character of the transaction. A remarkable passage in the Talmud says: “It was a famous and old opinion among the ancient Jews that the day of the new year which was the beginning of the Israelites’ deliverance out of Egypt should in future time be the beginning of the redemption by the Messiah.”In the evening - The Hebrew has between the two... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 12:3

Exodus 12:3. In the tenth day of this month It was necessary they should now begin to prepare the passover four days before, because otherwise it would have been difficult to get ready so many lambs in Egypt, especially as they were to depart in haste; besides, this being the first instance of the celebration of the ordinance, they would require more time to prepare for a ceremony entirely new. But in future ages they did not begin the preparation till the thirteenth, the day before the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 12:4

Exodus 12:4. If the household be too little The Hebrew doctors tell us, that there were not to be fewer than ten persons, nor more than twenty, to the eating of one lamb. And at this sacred repast, men, women, and children, masters and servants, if circumcised, were entertained. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 12:5

Exodus 12:5. Your lamb shall be without blemish Shall be perfect, as the Hebrew is, that is, in all its parts. This was a qualification indispensably requisite in all sacrifices: Leviticus 22:20-24. Even the heathen, in the worship of their false gods, were particular in this circumstance. A male Because the males were accounted more excellent, and their flesh better than that of females. Of the first year Under a year old, not above: for the lamb, as also a kid and calf, was fit for... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 12:6

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 12:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 12:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 12:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 12:3

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 12:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 12:5

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