Esodo 12:14 Commento

This chapter gives an account of one of the most memorable ordinances, and one of the most memorable providences, of all that are recorded in the Old Testament. I. Not one of all the ordinances of the Jewish church was more eminent than that of the passover, nor is any one more frequently mentioned in the New Testament; and we have here an account of the institution to it. The ordinance consisted of three parts: - 1. The killing and eating of the paschal lamb (Exo 12:1-6, Exo 12:8-11). 2. The sprinkling of the blood upon the door-posts, spoken of as a distinct thing (Heb 11:28), and peculiar to this first passover (Exo 12:7), with the reason for it (Exo 12:13). 3. The feast of unleavened bread for seven days following; this points rather at what was to be done afterwards, in the observance of this ordinance (Exo 12:14-20). This institution is communicated to the people, and they are instructed in the observance, (1.) Of this first passover (Exo 12:21-23). (2.) Of the after passovers (Exo 12:24-27). And the Israelites' obedience to these orders (Exo 12:28). II. Not one of all the providences of God concerning the Jewish church was more illustrious, or is more frequently mentioned, than the deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt. 1. The firstborn of the Egyptians are slain (Exo 12:29, Exo 12:30). 2. Orders are given immediately for their discharge (Exo 12:31-33). 3. They begin their march. (1.) Loaded with their own effects (Exo 12:34). (2.) Enriched with the spoils of Egypt (Exo 12:35, Exo 12:36). (3.) Attended with a mixed multitude (Exo 12:37, Exo 12:38). (4.) Put to their shifts for present supply (Exo 12:39). The event is dated (Exo 12:40-42). Lastly, A recapitulation in the close, [1.] Of this memorable ordinance, with some additions (Exo 12:43-49). [2.] Of this memorable providence (Exo 12:50, Exo 12:51).

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 12 This chapter begins with observing, that the month in which the above wonders were wrought in Egypt, and the following ordinance appointed to the Israelites, should hereafter be reckoned the first month in the year, Exo 12:1 on the tenth day of which a lamb here described was to be taken and kept till the fourteenth, and then slain, and its blood sprinkled on the posts of the houses of the Israelites, Exo 12:3, the manner of dressing and eating it is shown, Exo 12:8 and the reason of the institution of this ordinance being given, Exo 12:12, and an order to eat unleavened bread during seven days, in which the feast was to be kept, Exo 12:15, directions are also given for the immediate observance of it, and particularly about the sprinkling of the blood of the lamb, and the use of it, Exo 12:21, and this ordinance, which they were to instruct their children in, was to be kept by them in succeeding ages for ever, Exo 12:24 about the middle of the night it was first observed, all the firstborn in Egypt were slain, which made the Egyptians urgent upon the Israelites to depart in haste, Exo 12:28 and which they did with their unleavened dough, and with great riches they had borrowed of the Egyptians, Exo 12:34, the number of the children of Israel at the time of their departure, the mixed multitude and cattle that went with them, their baking their unleavened cakes, the time of their sojourning in Egypt, and of their coming out of it that night, which made it a remarkable one, are all particularly taken notice of, Exo 12:37, laws and rules are given concerning the persons that should partake of the passover, Exo 12:43 and the chapter is concluded with observing, that it was kept according to the command of God, and that it was on the same day it was first instituted and kept that Israel were brought out of Egypt, Exo 12:50.

And this shall be unto you for a memorial,.... To be remembered, and that very deservedly, for the destruction of the firstborn of the Egyptians, and for the deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt, and as memorable a day it is, and much more so, for the redemption of the spiritual Israel by the Messiah; for it was on this selfsame day that he suffered for the redemption and salvation of his people: the Jews not only having a saying,"that in the month Nisan they were redeemed, and in the month Nisan they will be redeemed (g)''but they expressly say,"on the same day, the fifteenth of Nisan, Israel is to be redeemed, in the days of the Messiah, as they were redeemed on that day, as it is said, according to the days, &c. Mic 7:15 (h):" and you shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; as the fifteenth day was properly the Chagigah; or festival day, when they made a feast both of the flock and of the herd, of both sheep and oxen, Deu 16:2. you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever; unto the end of the Jewish economy and church state, until the Messiah come, the true passover, and be sacrificed for us. (g) Roshhashanah, fol. 11. 1. 2. (h) Cabalistae apud Fagium in loc.

As also the Word of God, when desirous [to establish the paschal feast] said to his disciples, “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you.” Now that is a wonderful account, for a man might have seen them at that time girded as for a procession or a dance and going out with staves and sandals and unleavened bread. These things, which took place before in shadows, were typical anticipatory symbols. But now the truth has drawn near to us, “the image of the invisible God,” our Lord Jesus Christ, the true Light. Instead of a staff, he is our scepter; instead of unleavened bread, he is the bread which came down from heaven; who instead of sandals has furnished us with the preparation of the gospel. It is he who, to speak briefly, by all these means has guided us to his Father. And if enemies afflict us and persecute us, he again, instead of Moses, will encourage us with better words, saying, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the wicked one.” And if after we have passed over the Red Sea, heat should again vex us or some bitterness of the waters befall us, even then again the Lord will appear to us, imparting to us of his sweetness and his life-giving fountain, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink.”

The month Abib is to be considered as the commencement of the year, Exo 12:1, Exo 12:2. The Passover instituted; the lamb or kid to be used on the occasion to be taken from the flock the tenth day of the month, and each family to provide one, Exo 12:3, Exo 12:4. The lamb or kid to be a male of the first year without blemish, Exo 12:5. To be killed on the fourteenth day, Exo 12:6, and the blood to be sprinkled on the side posts and lintels of the doors, Exo 12:7. The flesh to be prepared by roasting, and not to be eaten either sodden or raw, Exo 12:8, Exo 12:9; and no part of it to be left till the morning, Exo 12:10. The people to eat it with their loins girded, etc., as persons prepared for a journey, Exo 12:11. Why called the Passover, Exo 12:12. The blood sprinkled on the door posts, etc., to be a token to them of preservation from the destroying angel, Exo 12:13. The fourteenth day of the month Abib to be a feast for ever, Exo 12:14. Unleavened bread to be eaten seven days, Exo 12:15. This also to be observed in all their generations for ever, Exo 12:17-20. Moses instructs the elders of Israel how they are to offer the lamb and sprinkle his blood, and for what purpose, Exo 12:21-23. He binds them to instruct their children in the nature of this rite, Exo 12:24-27. The children of Israel act as commanded, Exo 12:28. All the first-born of Egypt slain, Exo 12:29, Exo 12:30. Pharaoh and the Egyptians urge Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites to depart, Exo 12:31-33. They prepare for their departure, and get gold, silver, and raiment from the Egyptians, Exo 12:34-36. They journey from Rameses to Succoth, in number six hundred thousand men, besides women and children, and a mixed multitude, Exo 12:37, Exo 12:38. They bake unleavened cakes of the dough they brought with them out of Egypt, Exo 12:39. The time in which they sojourned in Egypt, Exo 12:40-42. Different ordinances concerning the Passover, Exo 12:43-49; which are all punctually observed by the people, who are brought out of Egypt the same day, Exo 12:50, Exo 12:51.

A memorial - To keep up a remembrance of the severity and goodness, or justice and mercy, of God. Ye shall keep it a feast - it shall be annually observed, and shall be celebrated with solemn religious joy, throughout your generations - as long as ye continue to be a distinct people; an ordinance - a Divine appointment, an institution of God himself, neither to be altered nor set aside by any human authority. For ever - חקת עולם chukkath olam, an everlasting or endless statute, because representative of the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world; whose mediation, in consequence of his sacrifice, shall endure while time itself lasts; and to whose merits and efficacy the salvation of the soul shall be ascribable throughout eternity. This, therefore, is a statute and ordinance that can have no end, either in this world or in the world to come. It is remarkable that though the Jews have ceased from the whole of their sacrificial system, so that sacrifices are no longer offered by them in any part of the world, yet they all, in all their generations and in all countries, keep up the remembrance of the passover, and observe the feast of unleavened bread. But no lamb is sacrificed. Their sacrifices have all totally ceased, ever since the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Even the flesh that is used on this occasion is partly roasted and partly boiled, that it may not even resemble the primitive sacrifice; for they deem it unlawful to sacrifice out of Jerusalem. The truth is, the true Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world has been offered, and they have no power to restore the ancient type. See Clarke on Exo 12:27 (note).

THE PASSOVER INSTITUTED. (Exo 12:1-10) the Lord spake unto Moses--rather, "had spoken unto Moses and Aaron"; for it is evident that the communication here described must have been made to them on or before the tenth of the month.

for a memorial, &c.--The close analogy traceable in all points between the Jewish and Christian passovers is seen also in the circumstance that both festivals were instituted before the events they were to commemorate had transpired.