In this study we will take a look at the miracles that Yahweh performed on the Egyptians, when Israel was held in bondage, during this period in Exodus. We will see that those miracles were against the Egyptian deities or gods that they worshipped. The story of Moses is not just the story of the freedom of a group of slaves from Egypt in the second millennium BCE. It is the blueprint of the Plan of Salvation of the world as seen from the structure laid down in the Bible. Moses was the prototype of the Christ or Messiah. More importantly, the nation of Israel saw Moses as a prototype and the Bible record illustrates that point. Moses said: ‘And Yahweh said unto me, they have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.’ (Deut. 18:17-18). In this study I continue in Exodus Chapter 12 verse 4 Chapter 12 Verses 1 – 20 The Passover Instituted Verses 21 – 28 The Passover Communicated Verse 31 – 14:31 Yahweh’s Deliverance of Israel Verse Outline Verses 1-2 = Month Verses 3-11 = The Symbol Verses 12-13 = The Signification and Reason Verses 14-17 = The Symbol Verses 17 = The Signification and Reason Verses 18-20 = The Month The Institution of the Passover The deliverance from Egypt [which is symbolic of bondage] is to be not only from physical but also from spiritual slavery. Israel [whom El commands or rules] is to be freed from all heathen influences and consecrated to the service of Yahweh. These commandments concerning Passover open the religious legislation of the Torah. The occasion when they were given and the manner in which they were enjoined emphasize the basic importance of that Festival in the life and history of Israel. The Exodus from Egypt is not only one of the greatest events and epochs in the history of the Jews, but one of the greatest events and epochs in the history of the world. This Exodus proves without a shadow of doubt that Yahweh is the most powerful Creator throughout the world, has He defeated all the gods of the Egyptians. 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 rabbis claim that there should be at least ten persons to one paschal lamb, and not more than twenty. Josephus tells us in “The Wars of the Jews”, Book 6 Chapter 9, Section 3, “from the ninth hour till the eleventh, but so that a company not less than ten belong to every sacrifice [for it is not lawful for them to feast to themselves], and many of us are twenty in a company etc. Side note: this number of a company for one Passover lamb, between ten and twenty, agrees exactly with the number thirteen, at our Saviors last Passover. 5 Without blemish = Having no natural imperfection, no disease, no deficiency or redundancy of parts. On this point the rabbis have trifled most bizarre, calculating fifty blemishes that make a lamb or kid, or any animal, improper to be sacrificed: five in the ear, three in the eyelid, eight in the eye, three in the nose, six in the mouth, etc., etc. A male of the first year = That is, any age in the first year between eight days and twelve months. The Rabbis take this to mean within the first year of its birth. ‘This tender age, the type of innocence, made it peculiarly adapted for a sacrifice of the Covenant to be concluded between Elohim and Israel as a nation.’ From the sheep, or from the goats = The שה seh means either; and either was equally proper if without blemish. The Hebrews however in general preferred the lamb to the kid. 6 The whole assembly - shall kill it = Any person might kill the lamb, the sacrificial act in this case not being confined to the priests. In the evening = בין הערבים beyn haarbayim, “between the two evenings.” The Jews divided the day into morning and evening: till the sun passed the meridian all was morning or before-noon; after that, all was afternoon or evening. Their first evening began just after twelve o’clock, and continued till sunset; their second evening began at sunset and continued till night, i.e., during the whole time of twilight; between twelve o’clock, therefore, and the termination of twilight, the Passover was to be offered. “The day among the Jews had twelve hours, John 11:9. Their first hour was about six o’clock in the morning with us. Their sixth hour was our noon. Their ninth hour answered to our three o’clock in the afternoon. By this we may understand that the time in which the Messiah was crucified began at the third hour, that is, at nine o’clock in the morning, the ordinary time for the daily morning sacrifice, and ended at the ninth hour, that is, three o’clock in the afternoon, the time of the evening sacrifice, Mark 15:25, 33, 34, 37. Therefore their ninth hour was their hour of prayer, when they used to go into the temple at the daily evening sacrifice, Acts 3:1; and this was the ordinary time for the Passover. It is worthy of remark that Yahweh sets no particular hour for the killing of the Passover: any time between the two evenings, i.e., between twelve o’clock in the day and the termination of twilight, was lawful. The daily sacrifice (see Exo. 29:38, 39) was killed at half past the eighth hour, that is, half an hour Before three in the afternoon; and it was offered up at half past the ninth hour, that is, half an hour After three. In the evening of the Passover it was killed at half past the seventh hour, and offered at half past the eighth, that is, half an hour Before three: and if the evening of the Passover fell on the evening of the Sabbath, it was killed at half past the Sixth hour, and offered at half past the Seventh, that is, half an hour Before two in the afternoon. The reason of this was, they were first obliged to kill the daily sacrifice, and then to kill and roast the paschal lamb, and also to rest the evening before the Passover. Agreeably to this Maimonides says ‘the killing of the Passover is after mid-day, and if they kill it before it is not lawful; and they do not kill it till after the daily evening sacrifice, and burning of incense: and after they have trimmed the lamps they begin to kill the paschal lambs until the end of the day.’ By this time of the day Elohim foreshowed the sufferings of Yahshua Messiah in the evening of times or in the last days, Hebrews 1:2; 1Peter 1:19, 20 : and about the same time of the day, when the paschal lamb ordinarily died, He died also, viz., at the ninth hour; Matthew 27:46-50.” Once again Josephus gives us an insight on this “The Wars of the Jews”, Book 6 Chapter 9, Section 3, ‘So these high priests, upon the coming of that feast which is called the Passover, when they slay their sacrifices, from the ninth hour till the eleventh, but so that a company not less than ten belong to every sacrifice, (for it is not lawful for them to feast singly by themselves,) and many of us are twenty in a company, found the number of sacrifices was two hundred and fifty-six thousand five hundred; which, upon the allowance of no more than ten that feast together, amounts to two millions seven hundred thousand and two hundred persons that were pure and holy; for as to those that have the leprosy, or the gonorrhea, or women that have their monthly courses, or such as are otherwise polluted, it is not lawful for them to be partakers of this sacrifice; nor indeed for any foreigners neither, who come hither to worship.’ 7 take of the blood, and strike it on the two side-posts, etc. = as a sign of safety to those within. The posts must be considered of tents, in which the Israelites generally lived, though some might be in houses. Though the Israelites were sinners as well as the Egyptians, Elohim was pleased to accept the substitution of a lamb - the blood of which, being seen sprinkled, by using a bunch of hyssop dipped in the lamb’s blood, on the doorposts, procured them mercy. It was to be on the side posts and upper doorposts, where it might be looked to, not on the threshold, where it might be trodden under foot. This was an emblem of the blood of sprinkling (Hebrews 12:24; 10:29). 8 and they shall eat = ‘'âkal’ ‘‘aw-kal'’ aleph = (ox) strength, strong, power, leader Kaph = (open palm) bend, open, allow, tame lamed – (shepherd staff), teach, yoke, to bind Aleph = (ox) strength, strong, power, leader Tav = (cross) sign, covenant seal, mark and cross The Hebrew Letter ‘kaph’ is a picture of the bent palm representing the bending or subduing of the will, the Hebrew Letter ‘lamed’ is a picture of a shepherd staff or yoke. Combined these mean "tame for the yoke". An animal or land that is tamed has been worked and is complete and ready for use. Taming include; construction of holding pens, putting the soil to the plow, harvesting of crops, milk or meat. One eats once the harvest is complete. Spiritually speaking we are not talking about any type of flesh. By adding the ‘eth’ we are looking forward to the time when the true Passover Lamb will lay down His life for you and I. By partaking in the eating and drinking of the bread and wine. Have any questions? Feel free to email me keitner2024@outlook.com
