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

And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord spake - rather, had spoken unto Moses and Aaron; for it is evident that the communication here described must have been

EXODUS CHAPTER 12 The month wherein they went out of Egypt to be to them the first month of the year, ,2. God enjoins them to choose a spotless lamb for the passover, . How they were to eat the same, . The description of the lamb, ; the time of killing it, ; the manner of sprinkling, ; the time and method of eating it, . God’ s purpose to smite the first-born, . The use of the blood upon the doors, . Seven days of unleavened bread, and the manner of keeping it, . Moses directeth the elders, both for their present and future safety, . They instruct their children concerning it, ,27. The first-born of all Egypt slain, . A great cry, . Pharaoh giveth Israel leave to go, . The Egyptians thrust them out, . Their hasty departure, . They spoil the Egyptians, ,36. Their number, . Their baking unleavened bread, . How long they dwelt in Egypt, . The time of their deliverance, . Who were to partake of the passover, . The children of Israel did as the Lord commanded, . The lord spake; had spoken, before the three days’ darkness, as may appear by comparing ,6 of this chapter with . And the mention of it was put off by him till this place, as well that he might not interrupt the history of all the plagues, as that he might give the whole institution of the passover together.

Exodus 12:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,Ver. 1. And the Lord spake] Befeore the slaughter of the firstborn, yea, before that plague was threatened. See Mr Torshel’ s design for harmonising the Bible.

XII. OF THE .(1) In the land of Egypt.—This section (Exodus 12:1-28) has the appearance of having been written independently of the previous narrative—earlier, probably, and as a part of the Law rather than of the history. It throws together instructions on the subject of the Passover which must have been given at different times (comp. Exodus 12:3; Exodus 12:12; Exodus 12:17), some before the tenth of Abib. some on the day preceding the departure from Egypt, some on the day following. As far as Exodus 12:20 it is wholly legal, and would suit Leviticus as well as Exodus. From Exodus 12:20 it has a more historical character, since it relates the action taken by Moses.

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

1. unto Moses and Aaron] Together, as often in P: v. 43, Exodus 7:8, Exodus 9:8, Numbers 2:1 al. in the land of Egypt] The locality is specified, because this and the following regulations are the only ones stated to have been given in Egypt.

This chapter was written some time after the Exodus, probably when Moses put together the portions of the book toward the end of his life.

OF THE , AND OF ISRAEL, Exodus 12:1-28. 1. The Lord spake — Had spoken, just before this final announcement to Pharaoh. In the land of Egypt — The passover was the only feast ordained in Egypt.