Exodus 12

God commands the Israelites, that the month, wherein they went forth out of Egypt, should be the first month of the year with them, v.1, etc. they are enjoyned to choose out a spotlesse lamb for the passeover , 3. how they were to eat the same, 11. and unleavened bread for seven days, 15. and to sprinkle the posts of their doors with the blood of the lamb, 22. All the first-born of Egypt are slain, 29.Pharao drives the children of Israel out of the land, 31. they rob the Egyptians, 35. they come to Succoth, strong fix hundred thousand men, 37. how long they dwelt in Egypt, 40. the manner of eating the Paschal lamb, and who might eat it, 43. All the children of Israel do, according as the LORD commanded them, 50.

1. The LORD now had spoken to Moseh and to Aaron, in the land of Egypt, [viz. before Moseh departed out of Pharaos presence, Exodus 11:4. either before the three days darkness, chap.10.21. Or after above 11.1.] saying ;

2. This same month, [Called Abib by the Hebrews, Exodus 13:4. otherwise called Nisan, Neb.2.1. Esth.8.7.] shall be unto the head of the months ; [i.e. the beginning, thus Ezek.40. verse 1. the head of the year, i.e. its beginning.] it shall be unto you the first of the months of the year. [this is to bee understood of Church or Ecclesiastical affairs ; for in civil matters, the year begin with the seventh month : See Ex. 34,22. and Leviticus 25:9.]

3. Speak un to the whole congregation of Israel saying ; On the tenth of this month, every one take a lamb [lamb, or, kid, verse 5. this lamb was a figure,type, pointing at Christ the true Lamb of God, John 1:29. and 1 Cor.5.7.] according to the houses of the fathers, [i.e. according to the families which are named according to the fathers] a lamb for an house.

4. But if an house be too little for an lamb,[i.e. if there be too few to eat it all up on that eve] then let him [viz. the house father, or matter of the family] and his neighbour the next to his house, take it, according to the number of the souls : [i.e. persons ; see Genesis 12:5.] every one as he is able to eat ; [Hebr. the man according to the mouth of his eating.] ye shall make eating according to the lamb. [i.e. ratably and proportionably to the lamb, and the persons that are to eat thereof, having a care,that there may not be too few, nor too many for it.]

5. Ye shall have a perfect lamb, [Such a one Christ was to be , 1 Pet. 1.19.] a male, of a year old, [heb. the son of a year, i.e. a lamb of one year.] ye shall take it from the sheep, or from the hee-goats.

6. And ye shall have it in custody, [i.e. ye shall set it apart, seperated from the flock, for four days, from the tenth day to the fourteenth day of this month ; and all the congregation of the assembly of Israel shall slay it, betwixt two Eves. [i.e. betwixt the beginning an d the ending of the evening, that is, betwixt our three a clock after noon, and sunset : about the same time our Saviour jesus Christ, the true Pascal Lamb , was likewise put to death ; Matthew 27:46,50.]

7. And they shall take of that blood, [viz. of the said Lamb slain] and strike it [Hebr. Give it,or, do it, viz. with a bunch of hyslop, as it is verse 22. of this ceremony there is no mension made elsewhere,as neither of some other here following, but they were onely to be observed in this first passeover.] on both the side postes, and on the upper door – posts of the houses, where they shall eat it.

8. And they shall eat that flesh in the same night : roasted at the fire, with unleavened bread, (loaves).[The Israelites did eat the Pascal lamb with unleavened bread, in remembrance ,that they carried their unleavened dough in haste out of the land of Egypt, below ve.34.] they shall eat it wiyh bitter sauce. [Oth. bitter herbs. Heb. with bitternesses, or bitter (things)].

9. Ye shall eat nothing raw of it [or, not being sufficiently or thorough roasted] nor in any wise boiled in water : Heb. boiling , boiled, (or, cooking,cooked) in water] but roasted at the fire, his head eith his legs ,and with his purtenance. (or, entrails.)

10. Neither shall ye let ought to remain over till tomorrow : but that which doth remain over till the morrow,he shall then (up) with fire. [that it may not be put to any other use, whether for Idolatry, or common food.]

11. Thus now ye shall eat it : [viz. At this time ; for afterwards these things, (or circumstances) were no more observed, no not by Christ himself, nor by his Apostles ; see above verse 7.] Your loins shall be girt up,your shoes on your feet and your staff in hand ; [This betokens readiness in travel, or, haste and earnestness in any business one is about,as 2 Kings 4:29. and 9.1. Jer.1.17. Luke 12:35,39.] and ye shall eat it in haste, it is the LORDS passeover. (or, Pascha) [Heb. Pesach, signifying, a passing through, or passing by, or skipping over, because the destroying Angel past by, or skipt over, the houses of Israelites, verse 13. and 23. and 27. The Lamb is called Pesach here, that is, a passing by, as being the token thereof, see of this sacramental phrase, Gen.17.10. and the proper phrase,below here, verse 13. and chap.13.9.]

12. For I shall passe this night through the land of Egypt [That which God did by the destroying Angel, he attributeth here unto himself.] and smite all the first-born [viz. of the Egyptians] in the land of Egypt, from the men, unto the beasts : and I shall excercise judgements on all the Gods of the Egyptians, I the LORD.[As if God had said, I shall make it appear that their Idoll-gods are vain and helplese.]

13. And that blood [wherewith ye sprinkled the postes of your doors,verse 7.] shall be a token unto you, [to put you in minde of my promise for the strenghthening of your faith.] on the houses, wherein ye are, when I see the blood I shall passe you by: and there shall be no plague among you for destruction, when I shall smite the land of Egypt. [i.e. the first-born in the land of Egypt.]

14. And this day shall be unto you for a Remembrance, (or, Memorial) [viz. of the received mercy, when I delivered you out of Egypt.]and ye shall solemnize it for the LORD for a feast : ye shall solemnize it among your Generations, for an everlasting institution.[viz. until the coming of the Messiah,who is the end and fulfilling of the Law ; see Genesis 13:15. and chap.17.7,13.]

15. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened (bread), [this time was to begin after the day of the passeover, it being a peculiar feast.] but on the first day ye shall put away [Heb. cause to cease] the leaven out of your houses : for he that eateth the leavened from the first day until the seventh day that same soul [i.e. man, or person] shall be destroyed out of Israel. [see Gen.17.v.14.]

16. And on the first day there shall be an holy congregation : also ye shall have an holy congregation. [Hebr. Congregation of holinesse, and so, both before and after] on the seventh day : there shall be no work done in the same ; but that which shall be eaten of every soul, the same only may be prepared of you. [this was not allowed to be done upon the Sabbath day, Exod.16.23,29. and chap.35.2,3.]

17. Observe you therefore the unleaved (bread) [or,cakes, according to the custome of the Jews.] because that on the self-same day I shall have led your hosts forth out of the land of Egypt: therefore ye shall keep this day, among your generations, for an everlasting institution.

18. In the first (month), or the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, shall ye eat unleavened bread: until the one and twentieth day of the month, in the evening.

19. That for seven days along there be found no leaven in your houses : [See above verse 15. and 1 Cor.5.8.] for whosoever shall eat the leavened, the same his soul shall be destroyed out of the congregation of Israel, whether he be a [Heb.i., at, or among the] stranger, or an inborn of the land.

20. Ye shall eat nothing that is leavened, [neither bread, nor cakes, nor any thing else] in all your habitations ye shall eat unleavened (bread) (or loaves).

21. Then Moseh called all the Eldest of Israel, and said to them ; Choose out [Heb. draw out , to wit, out of the flock or fold] and take you lambs [or, small cattel, viz. Either of sheep or goats] for your families, and slay the passeover. [i.e the lamb which was a token of the passeover (Pascha) or passing through or by of the destroying Angel.]

22. Take then a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that shall be in a bason, [ of the hyssop, see 1 Kings 4. on verse 33. this is one of the ceremonies which was to be observed only at the first Passeover ; see above on ver.7. And strike on the upper door-poste, and on both the side-postes [Heb. make (it) touch, etc.] of that blood which shall be in the bason : but as for you, non shall go forth out of the door of his house, until to morrow.

23. For the LORD shall passe through, for to smite the Egyptians ; [Oth. Egypt, understand the first-born of the Egyptians] yet when he shall see the blood on the upper door-poste and on the two side -postes, then the LORD shall passe by the door,[or , skip by the door,] and not suffer the destroyer [i.e. that destroying Angel] to come within your houses, for to smite.

24. Therefore observe this thing [Save only the ceremonies that were peculiar to the first Passeover . Se ab. V,.7. 11,12.] for an institution for you and for your children for ever. [understand until Christ.See above v. 14.]

25. And it shall come to passe, when ye come into that land , which the LORD shall give unto you, according as he hath spoken, [i.e. the land of Canaan.In the wilderness they kept the Passeover but once, Num.9.5.] that ye shall keep this service. [i.e. this part of Gods worship and service. See also verse 26. as appears verse 27.

26. And it shall come to passe, when your children shall say to you ; what service have ye there? [Heb. what (is) (i.e. signifies) this service unto you?]

27. Then ye shall say ; this is a Passeover- sacrifice [viz.this Paschal lamb] unto the LORD, who past by before the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and freed our houses.Then the people bowed themselves down and worshipped.

28. And the children of Israel went and did it ; according as the LORD had commanded Moseh and Aaron, so did they.

29. And it came to passe at asidnight, that the LORD smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, [this God did to punish and requite the wrong which Pharao and his subjects committed on Israel, Gods first-born, Exod.4.22,23.] from the first-born of Pharao, that was to sit upon his Throne, unto the first-born of the prisoner,[Compare this with chap.11.verse 5.] that was in the prison. [Heb. in the house of the pit, or, dungeon] and all the first-born of the beast.

30. And Pharao rose up in the night , he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt : fo there was no house, wherein there was not one dead.

31. Then he caled Moseh and Aaron in the night [Moseh and Aaron came unt Pharao this time, but the Kings Deputies were sain come unto them, and submissivley to beseech them, that they would go forth, as it appeareth by Exodus 10:29. and chapter 11. verse 8.] and said; Get you up, Go forth from amidst of my people, both ye, and the children of Israel: and go (your way), serve the LORD according as ye have spoken. [to wit, without any of these conditions, or exceptions, which the King formerly stood upon.]

32. Take also with you, your sheep and your oxen [i.e. all your cattel, small and great] so as ye have spoken; and go (your ways), and blesse me likewise. [i.e. pray unto God for me, to deliver me of this great plague, This Pharao likewise desireth Ex.8.8& 9.28 and 10.16, 17. it seems Pharon was convinced in his heart, that he had abominably prevaticate against the LORD, sinning thus obstinately against his own conscience.]

33. And the Egyptian, solicited the people much, hastening to drive them out of the land; for they said; we are all dead (men) [see Genesis 20:3.]

34. And the people took the people up their dough, before it was leavend: their dough – lamps, bound up in their clothes , upon their shulders.

35. Now the children of Israel had according to the word of Moseh, and had asked [i.e. borrowed] the Egyptians, silver vessel,a nd golden vessels, and garments.

36. Withal the LORD had given the people grace in the eyes of the Egyptians, that they did (satisfie) their desire; and they robbed the Egyptians. [thus was that fulfilled which God foretold to Abraham, Genesis 15:14. and to the Israelites afterwards, Exodus 3:22.]

37. Thus the children of Israel journeyed out of Rameses [see Gen. 47. verse 11] to Succoth; [a place so called from the Huts the children of Israel make there, at their coming thithes, of boughs; and this was their first stage, or, resting – place after their coming forth out of Egypt. Comapre Leviticus 23:43. This Syccoth is to be distinguished from an other, spoken of, Genesis 33:17] about six hunderd thousand of foot, men only, [among which mighty number, there was not one sick or seeble person, Psalms 105:37] besides the little children. [and the women, without whose help the children would not have been able to subsist. As also, Exodus 10:24.]

38. And much mist people [viz. Egyptians and others being moved and excited byy all these wonders and tokens they had seen, to go along withthe Israelites, though afterwards they fainted, Numbers 11:4,5.] went up with them likewise; and sheep and oxen, very [Heb. heavy] cattle.

39. And they baked [viz. when they were come to Succoth] of the dough which they had brought forth out of Egypt, unleavened cakes, for it was not leavened; and they being driven me out of Egypt [as the LORD had foretold it, Exodus 11:1.] so that they could not tarry , nor make provision ready for them.

40. The time now of the inhabiting which the children of Isreal inhabited in Egypt, is for hundred year, and thirty year. [see Genesis 15:13.]

41. And it came to passe, at the end of the four hundred and thirty years; that it happened on that same day, that all the hosts of the LORD wnet forth out of the land of Egypt.

42. This night shall be observed to the LORD most ligently, for having led them forth out of the land of Egypt; [Otherw. this is the night which the LORD observed, to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt Heb. thsi is a night of observations to the LORD, etc] This is the night of the LORD that ought to be observed most diligently, of all the children of Israel , among their gnerations.

43. Moreover , the LORD said to Moseh and Aaron; This is the institution of the passover; no stranger son shall eat thereof. [viz. unless he be circumcissed, as is to be gathered by verse 44. and 48.]

44. yet every servant out being, bought for money, after that ye have circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. [viz. being formerly well instructed in, and having embrassed the true Religion.]

45. No further [understanding such a foreiner here, as dwelleth in the land, whereof he is not native, or inhabites with another] nor hireling shall eat thereof [viz. unless he be circumcised.]

46. In one house it shall he eaten [i.e. each lamb shall he eaten in its proper house or family eating up their own lamd, as was said above verse 3.] ye shall not carry (ought) of the flesh forth out of the house; and shall break no bone of it. [this reflects on Christ the true Paschal Lamb, who had no bone broken, John 19:33, 36.]

47. Th whole congregation of Israel shall do it [i.e. Prepare and eat Passover, as the LORD commanded it; he that neglected it, was cut off, Number 9.13.]

48. Now when a stranger sojourned with you, and shall keep [Heb. do] the Passover to the LORD, let all that is male be circumcised by (or with) him, and then let him come to it for to keep it: and he shall be as an inborn of the land; [i.e. he shall enjoy the same right and benefit, which the Natives do] but none uncircumcised shall eat thereof.

49. One (manner) law be to the in – born and the stranger, that sojourned as stranger in the midst of you.

50. And all the children of Israel did it; according as the LORD had commanded Moseh and Aaron; so did they.

51. And it happened on the self – same day, that the LORD led forth the children of Isreal out of the land of Egypt, y (or according to ) their hosts.