Exodus 12

Exodus 12:8

8. — unleavened bread.] Partly to put them in mind of their hardships in Egypt; for unleavened bread is heavy and unsavoury: and partly to commemorate their deliverance from thence in such haste, that they had not time to leave it, ver. 39; Deut. xvi. 3. Bp. Patrick.

— with bitter herbs] To put them in mind of their grievous bondage in Egypt, which made “their lives bitter” to them, chap. i. 14. Bp. Patrick. These bitter herbs, according to the Jews, were probably such as lettuce, endive or succory, chervil, and the like. Script. illust.

Exodus 12:11

11. And thus shall ye eat it.] Like travellers, or persons engaging in some laborious work, as appears from the following particulars. Bp. Patrick.

— with your loins girded.] It being usual for travellers so to do in the East, where they wear long and loose garments. Bp. Patrick. All persons in the East, that journey on foot, always gather up their vest, by which they walk more commodiously, thus having the leg and knee unembarrassed. Sir J. Chardin.

— your shoes on your feet.] As necessary for tra-

vellers. Either they were without shoes in their state of bondage; or it was their custom to put off their shoes during meals. Bp. Patrick. The latter is still the custom in the East, either to avoid soiling the carpets, on which they sit; or because shoes would be troublesome to persons who sit cross-legged. Sir J. Chardin.

— your staff in your hand.] Another characteristick of persons travelling. Bp. Patrick.

— ye shall eat it in haste.] After the manner and posture of distressed pilgrims, who were setting out instantly on a long journey, through a dreary wilderness, towards a pleasant land, where their toil and travel was to cease. Dr. Hales. These latter particulars were to be observed only in the first passover celebrated in Egypt, and not in aftertimes. Bps. Patrick and Kidder.

Exodus 12:12

12. — against all the gods of Egypt] That is, I will destroy the idols and images of Egypt. Pyle. Or perhaps the beasts are meant, whose firstborn were smitten. Bryant. By “the gods of Egypt” in this place, some interpreters understand, as in the margin, the “princes” and judges, the great men of the kingdom, upon whom the judgment of God was now executed. Bp. Patrick.

Exodus 12:13

13. — I will pass over you.] My destroying angel shall “pass over you.” Here is the reason of its being called the Passover. In Hebrew it is called Pesach, which signifies to pass over. Hence the expression of the Paschal lamb. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells.

Exodus 12:14

14. — ye shall keep it a feast — for ever.] Not only now, but after their arrival in Canaan, till the time of the Messiah, or final period of the ceremonial law and Jewish polity. Bp. Kidder.

This passover was ordained by God to be observed by every Israelite, at the peril of excommunication, at every return of this day of the year; not only because it was to be a standing proof to all future ages of this their deliverance, but also a standing figure or type of a much greater. Bp. Wilson. As the Israelites were instructed to keep the passover in remembrance of their escape from the Egyptian bondage, so are we required to observe the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, in memory of our deliverance from the yoke of sin. And it is remarkable, that both the Jewish and the Christian rite were enjoined in commemoration of events, which had not yet happened, with the same degree of precision as if they had actually taken place. Polwhele.

M 2 The firstborn are slain. The Israelites driven out of the land.

Exodus 12:29

29. — the Lord smote &c.] Now God begins to call for the blood they owed Him: in one night every house hath a carcass in it; and, which is more grievous, of their firstborn; and which is yet more fearful, in an instant. No man could comfort another: every man was too full of his own sorrow, helping rather to make the noise of the lamentation more doleful and astonishing. Bp. Hall.

— the captive—in the dungeon;] The expression in chap. xi. ver. 5. is, “the maidservant that is behind the mill.” Perhaps the meaning here is, “the captive or bondwoman that was kept in the dungeon to turn the mill.” Dr. Wells. The working at the mill was looked upon as the lowest and severest drudgery; and was allotted to the meanest slaves: (Bryant:) and this often is a prison; of which we have an instance in the story of Samson, Judg. xvi. 21. Bp. Patrick.

Exodus 12:31

31. And he called for Moses &c.] Here we see the proud heart of Pharaoh is at last subdued, and compelled to obey the will of God, without reserve or limitation. But as this obedience was extorted, not free; and the effect only of a slain and servile fear; so it did not long continue. He soon repented of his repentance, as such constrained penitents generally do: and soon after perished in the Red Sea. This aptly reminds us of the wise man’s saying, which should be a warning to us all, “He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy,” Prov. xxix. 1. Wogan.

— Rise up, and get you forth from among my people.] We might not long since contemplate Moses, engaged in an attempt to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage, to all appearance, if we consider human means, utterly desperate. He was resisted and scorned by the Egyptian monarch; deserted and almost execrated by his countrymen, for involving them in new miseries. He stood on one side, without arms, without followers, without resources of any human kind: opposed to a mighty sovereign, who was surrounded by his wise men and priests, his counsellors, his officers, his armies; and invested with despotick power, which he was determined to exercise, in opposition to the authority of that

Exodus 12:34

34. — their kneading-troughs] The vessels, which the Arabs of that country still use for kneading the unleavened cakes, which they prepare for travellers in this very desert, are only small wooden bowls: nothing could be more convenient than kneading-troughs of this sort, for the Israelites on their journey. Dr. Shaw, Harmer. The Arabs, among their other kitchen furniture, have a round leather coverlid, which they lay on the ground, and which serves them to eat from. It has rings round it, by which it is drawn together with a chain, that has a hook to it to hang it by, either to the side of the camel, or in the house. This draws it together; and sometimes they carry in it their meal made into dough: and in this manner they bring it full of bread; and, when the repast is over, carry it away at once with all that is left. Bp. Pococke. Niebuhr describes a piece of furniture of the same nature as this, mentioning that it is usually slung on the camels in travelling. Which accounts for the remark of Moses, that the people “carried their kneading bags on their shoulders;” bound up, probably, like knapsacks. This may be ascribed to two causes: 1st, They had not camels sufficient to transport the baggage of so numerous a host: 2dly, They were sent away with all speed, and had no time allowed them to procure travelling animals for their accommodation. They must either carry their food themselves, or relinquish it. Script. illust.

Exodus 12:35

35. — they borrowed &c.] See the notes on chap. iii. 22. Before CHRIST 1491. Or, drough. & 11. 2. The ordinance of the passover. The firstborn sanctified to God. Before CHRIST 1491. g Numb. 33. 3. great mixture. h Gen. 15. 13. Acts 7. 6. Gal. 3. 17. night of observations.

Exodus 12:37

37. — Rameses] See chap. i. 11. — Succoth] See chap. xiii. 20. — that were men,] Fit for war: twenty years old and upwards. Bp. Patrick.

Exodus 12:38

38. — a mixed multitude] Of others besides Israelites: perhaps proselytes, who had renounced idolatry; or persons with whom the Israelites were connected by intermarriages. Bp. Patrick.

Exodus 12:40

40. — the sojourning of the children of Israel,] This includes their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and their sojourning in the land of Canaan as well as in Egypt. From the time of Abraham’s coming from Charran into the land of Canaan, when this sojourning began, till the going of his descendants out of Egypt, was just 430 years. From his arrival in Canaan to the birth of Isaac was twenty-five years; Isaac was sixty years old when he begat Jacob; and Jacob was one hundred and thirty years old when he went down into Egypt: making together two hundred and fifteen years: and from his family’s coming into Egypt till their departure was just two hundred and fifteen more. Bp. Patrick.

Exodus 12:41

41. — all the hosts of the Lord] Hosts, or armies; see ver. 51. So called, because they were led forth under the Lord, as their king and captain general. The word implies also, that they went out not confusedly, but in good order. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells. This event of the departure of the Israelites from Egypt was so notorious, that the memory of it, as well as of various particulars in the birth, life, and adventures of Moses, was preserved in far distant nations, though the story was much corrupted for want of the knowledge of these sacred records. Stackhouse. Chap. XIII. ver. 2. Sanctify unto me all the firstborn— it is mine.] It is dedicated or appropriated to Me. God claimed this, not only by right of creation, but more especially to put the Israelites in mind of His miraculous providence, in sparing their firstborn, when those of the Egyptians were all destroyed. Bp. Patrick, Dr. Wells.