Exodus 12
COA1655Exodus 12:2
This moneth] The beginning of the year being here changed from the time wherein formerly it was, to the moneth wherein the Israelites came out of Egypt; a little before our Easter, and about our Vernal Equinoctial, as it then stood; This argues the Creation of the World to have been at that time when the Jewes yeare formerly began: And the time of Noahs Flood to begin the 17th day of the second month of that year. Which year is known to commence its Beginning from the Autumnal Equinoctial, as it then stood. From whence, even after this Change, the year of Jubile, and Sabbath-year, and year for some Civil accompts did continue still to have and enjoy their former Beginnings; as we see, Levit. XXV. 8, 9, 10. Exod. XXIII. 11, 16. and Ch. XXXIV. 22.
Exodus 12:6
In the evening] The Paschal Lamb is appointed here to be kill’d and eaten, and so the Passeover to be kept, at Even; or, as it is in the Hebrew, at or between the two Evenings; And so, Num. IX. 3. Lev. XXIII. 5. And so kept by our Saviour at Even, Matth. XXVI. 20. Now the better to know the Even, and two Evenings, we must first know, That the Artificial Day is divided, from Sunne-rising to Sun-setting, into twelve hours, John XI. 9. Matth.
XX. 6, 12. Acts II. 15. which hours are sometimes longer, sometimes shorter, as the course of the Sunne measures them. And again, that day seemes to have a division into three equal parts, allotting four hours to each part. Or into four equal parts, allotting three hours to each part. And so the first part is from their Sunne-rising, to our ninth hour: the second from our ninth to our twelfth, or Noone, and Mid-day: the third from that, to our three in the after-noone: the fourth from that, to Sun-setting. And sometimes there is taken into the first of these, the time from Day-light to Sun-rising: And into the last of these, the time from Sun-setting to night and darknesse, as Matth. XVI. 2. and XXVII. 57. John XX. 19.
And both these comprise the whole dayes Fasting, 2 Sam. I. 12. Now the Even in Scripture is most properly, and usually expressed, and defined strictly by the Going down, or Setting of the Sunne. So in the purifying of the Unclean, Levit. XXII. 6, 7. Deut. XXIII. 11. And so in that case of the King of Ai, Iosh.
VIII. 29. And of Ahab, 2 Chron. XVIII. 34. And of those five Kings in the Cave of Makkedah, Iosh. X. 26, 27. And so in Mark I. 32. And so it is expressely for the Passeover it self, Deut. XVI. 6.
To which acceptation of the Even agrees that, Psal. CIV. 23. Mark XI. 11, 19. Luke XXIV. 29. Acts IV. 3. and XXVIII. 23. Yet in Scripture the Evening is sometimes taken in a larger extent and latitude, for the latter part of the Day, beginning from the declining of the Sunne at Mid-day; or from the abating of the heat and force of it, at our three in the after-noone: As may be clearly gathered from Mat. XIV. v. 15,—23. Mark VI. 35, 47.
Luke IX. 12. And as it is usual taken with us in our ordinary salutations. Now at, or between the two Evenings, is mentioned, as for the yearly Passeover; so for the daily Evening Sacrifice, Exod. XXIX. 39. Num. XXVIII. 4. And for the daily burning of Incense on the Incense-Altar: And for the daily dressing and lighting of the Lamps in the Tabernacle, Exod. XXX. 8.
So that in these four cases the meaning of the phrase seemes to be the same; Noting out one certain time; and these two Evenings in the larger, or stricter signification, to be contiguous, or continued rather; to be that Communis terminus, which couples the end of the day, and the beginning of the night together; or the two extremities of our Evening-tide, whereof the former belongs to the end and shutting up of the natural day preceding, and the later to the beginning of the night, which leades on, and ushers in the natural or civil day following, as the first part of it. So that this time is a participle of both, or a Borderer betwixt both, as the large Annotations fitly expresse it.
Exodus 12:7
Two side-posts] In this first Passeover each Head of a family served as a Priest: divers Rites were enjoyned, which were not observed or required afterwards; And the second moneth also allowed for it, Num. IX. 11 And other seven dayes, 2 Chron. XXX. 23.
Exodus 12:16
No maner of work] On divers Feast-dayes of the Jewes it was not lawful for them to do any servile work; On others, any kinde or maner of work, save that which every man must eate. But on the Sabbath day, (and so likely on the day of expiation) that it self was unlawful; or to kindle a fire on it, Exod. XII. 16. and Ch. XVI. 5, 23. and Ch. XXXV. 2, 3. And much more, to do any maner of work upon it, Neh. XIII. v. 15,—22. Jer. XVII. 21, 22. though for the making of the Tabernacle it self, Exod. XXXI. 11, 12, 13. or at any time, in earing-time, or harvest, Exod. XXXIV. 21. And that upon paine of death, Exod. XXXV. 2.
Exodus 12:17
For ever] Many Legal Ceremonies, or Ordinances are enjoyned the Jewes to be observed throughout their generations for ever; all which yet ended at the coming of Christ in the flesh. And some such enjoyned in like termes, yet ended in the year of Jubile, Exod. XXI. 6. Levit. XXV. 40. Of this see more in the Observations on Deut. XV. 17.
Exodus 12:40
four hundred thirty years] These do commence from the first Promise made to Abram, in Ur of the Chaldees, whence 30 of the years are made up thus; viz: 5. in Haran; 11 in Canaan, when Ishmael was borne, Gen, XVI. 3. And 14 years of Ishmaels age, when Isaac was borne, Gen. XVII. 25. and Ch. XVIII. 10. and XVI. 16. and XXI. 5. And the 400. begin from Isaacs birth; as was shewed on Gen. XV. 13.