Exodus 12:1-4,Exodus 12:11-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 12:1-20

Moses and Aaron here receive of the Lord what they were afterwards to deliver to the people concerning the ordinance of the passover, to which is prefixed an order for a new style to be observed in their months (Exod. 12:1, 2): This shall be to you the beginning of months. They had hitherto begun their year from the middle of September, but henceforward they were to begin it from the middle of March, at least in all their ecclesiastical computations. Note, It is good to begin the day, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt ,.... Before they and the children of Israel came out of it, before the slaying of the firstborn, yea, before Moses came from the presence of Pharaoh, and had given him notice of it; and it is very probable even before the three days darkness, seeing it seems necessary it should be four days before the passover, since on the tenth day the lamb was to be taken, and on the fourteenth slain, Exodus 12:3 and by what follows it looks... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:2

This month shall be unto you the beginning of months ,.... Not only the first, as after expressed, but the chief and principal of them, now famous for their coming out of Egypt in it, and would be more so for the sufferings and death of the Messiah, and redemption by him from sin, Satan, and the world, law, hell, and death, for he suffered at the time of the passover. This month was called Abib, Exodus 13:4 , which signifies an ear of corn, and at this time we find that the barley was in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:3

Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel ,.... That is, to the elders of the people, and heads of families; unless we can suppose that they had been gradually gathered, and were now gathered together in a body by the direction of Moses, by whom they were assured that their departure was at hand; and the rather it may be thought that so it was, since the following order concerned the whole and every individual: saying, in the tenth day of this month ; the month Abib or Nisan, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:4

And if the household be too little for the lamb ,.... That they cannot eat it up at once: let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls ; which Josephus F5 De Bello Jud. l. 6. c. 9. sect. 3. says were never fewer than ten, and were often twenty, but no man might feast alone; with which agrees the Jewish canon F6 Misn. Pesach. c. 8. sect. 7. ,"they do not kill the passover lamb for a single person, nor even for a society consisting... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:2

This month shall be unto you the beginning of months - It is supposed that God now changed the commencement of the Jewish year. The month to which this verse refers, the month Abib, answers to a part of our March and April; whereas it is supposed that previously to this the year began with Tisri, which answers to a part of our September; for in this month the Jews suppose God created the world, when the earth appeared at once with all its fruits in perfection. From this circumstance the Jews... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:3

In the tenth day of this month - In after times they began their preparation on the thirteenth day or day before the Passover, which was not celebrated till the fourteenth day, see Exodus 12:6 ; : but on the present occasion, as this was their first passover, they probably required more time to get ready in; as a state of very great confusion must have prevailed at this time. Mr. Ainsworth remarks that on this day the Israelites did afterwards go through Jordan into the land of Canaan; ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:4

If the household be too little - That is, if there be not persons enough in one family to eat a whole lamb, then two families must join together. The rabbins allow that there should be at least ten persons to one paschal lamb, and not more than twenty. Take it, according to the number of the souls - The persons who were to eat of it were to be first ascertained, and then the lamb was to be slain and dressed for that number. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:1

Verse 1 1.And the Lord spake. Although the institution of the Passover in some degree appertains to the Fourth Commandment, where the Sabbath and Feast-days will be treated of; yet, in so far as it was a solemn symbol (308) of their redemption, whereby the people professed their obligation to God their deliverer, and in a manner devoted themselves to His dominion, I have not hesitated to insert it here as a supplement of the First Commandment. The observation of the day itself will again recur... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:3

Verse 3 3.Speak ye unto all. A question is asked on this passage, why, when one Lamb alone was offered in sacrifice for the reconciliation of the Church, and God was propitiated by the blood of one Christ alone, He should have commanded a lamb to be slain in every house, as if there were to be a special sacrifice for every one apart? The reply is easy; because, although all were protected from destruction by the same blood, and the general rite united them altogether into fellowship in the same... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 12:1-20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 12:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 12:3

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