Feast of the Passover, the.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 2 min. read • grade level: 12

Ordained by God. Ex. 12:1, 2¹And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ²This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. (Exodus 12:1‑2).

Commenced the fourteenth of the first month at even. Ex. 12:2, 6, 18²This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. (Exodus 12:2)
⁶And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. (Exodus 12:6)
¹⁸In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. (Exodus 12:18). Lev. 23:5⁵In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover. (Leviticus 23:5). Num. 9:3³In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. (Numbers 9:3).

Lasted seven days. Ex. 12:15¹⁵Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. (Exodus 12:15). Lev. 23:6⁶And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. (Leviticus 23:6)

CALLED THE

Passover. Num. 9:5⁵And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. (Numbers 9:5). John 2:23²³Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (John 2:23).

Jew’s passover. John 2:13¹³And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (John 2:13). John 11:55⁵⁵And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. (John 11:55).

Lord's passover. Ex. 12:11, 27¹¹And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover. (Exodus 12:11)
²⁷That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. (Exodus 12:27).

Feast of unleavened bread. Mar. 14. Luke 2:1¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (Luke 2:1).

Days of unleavened bread. Acts 12:3³And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) (Acts 12:3). Acts 20:6⁶And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. (Acts 20:6).

All males to appear at. Ex. 23:17¹⁷Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God. (Exodus 23:17). Deut. 16:16¹⁶Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: (Deuteronomy 16:16).

Paschal lamb eaten first day of. Exo. 12:6, 8⁶And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. (Exodus 12:6)
⁸And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Exodus 12:8).

Unleavened bread eaten at. Ex. 12:15¹⁵Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. (Exodus 12:15). Deut. 16:3³Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. (Deuteronomy 16:3).

LEAVEN

Not to be in their houses during. Ex. 12:19¹⁹Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. (Exodus 12:19).

Not to be in any of their quarters. Exo. 13:7⁷Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. (Exodus 13:7). Deu. 16:4.

Nothing with, to be eaten. Ex. 12:20²⁰Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. (Exodus 12:20).

Punishment for eating. Ex. 12:15, 19¹⁵Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. (Exodus 12:15)
¹⁹Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. (Exodus 12:19).

First and last days of, holy convocations. Ex. 12:16¹⁶And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. (Exodus 12:16). Num. 28:18, 25¹⁸In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: (Numbers 28:18)
²⁵And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work. (Numbers 28:25).

Sacrifices during. Lev. 23:8⁸But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. (Leviticus 23:8). Num. 28:19-24¹⁹But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the Lord; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish: ²⁰And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; ²¹A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: ²²And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. ²³Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. ²⁴After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. (Numbers 28:19‑24).

The first sheaf of barley harvest offered the day after the Sabbath in. Lev. 23:10-14¹⁰Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: ¹¹And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. ¹²And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the Lord. ¹³And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the Lord for a sweet savor: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. ¹⁴And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. (Leviticus 23:10‑14).

To COMMEMORATE THE

Passing over the first-born. Ex. 12:12,13¹²For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. ¹³And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12‑13).

Deliverance of Israel from bondage of Egypt. Ex. 12:17,42¹⁷And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. (Exodus 12:17)
⁴²It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. (Exodus 12:42). Ex. 13:9⁹And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:9). Deut. 16:3³Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. (Deuteronomy 16:3)

To be perpetually observed during the Mosaic dispensation. Ex. 12:14¹⁴And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. (Exodus 12:14). Ex. 13:10¹⁰Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year. (Exodus 13:10).

Children to be taught the nature and design of. Ex. 12:26, 27²⁶And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? ²⁷That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. (Exodus 12:26‑27). Ex. 13:8⁸And thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:8).

Purification necessary to the due observance of. 2 Chr. 30:15-19¹⁵Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the Lord. ¹⁶And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites. ¹⁷For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the Lord. ¹⁸For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one ¹⁹That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary. (2 Chronicles 30:15‑19). John 11:55⁵⁵And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. (John 11:55).

Might be kept in second month by those who were unclean at the appointed time. Num. 9:6-11⁶And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: ⁷And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the Lord in his appointed season among the children of Israel? ⁸And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concerning you. ⁹And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ¹⁰Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the Lord. ¹¹The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. (Numbers 9:6‑11). 2 Chr.

30:2, 3, 15.

No uncircumcised person to keep. Ex. 12:43, 45⁴³And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: (Exodus 12:43)
⁴⁵A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. (Exodus 12:45).

Strangers and servants when circumcised might keep. Ex. 12:44, 48⁴⁴But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. (Exodus 12:44)
⁴⁸And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. (Exodus 12:48).

Neglect of, punished with death. Num. 9:13¹³But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the Lord in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin. (Numbers 9:13).

Improper keeping of, punished. 2 Chr. 30:18, 20¹⁸For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one (2 Chronicles 30:18)
²⁰And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. (2 Chronicles 30:20).

REMARKABLE CELEBRATIONS OF:

On leaving Egypt. Ex. 12:28, 50²⁸And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. (Exodus 12:28)
⁵⁰Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. (Exodus 12:50).

In the wilderness of Sinai. Num. 9:3-5³In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. ⁴And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover. ⁵And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. (Numbers 9:3‑5).

On entering the land of promise. Josh. 5:10,11¹⁰And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho. ¹¹And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day. (Joshua 5:10‑11).

In Hezekiah's reign. 2 Chr. 30:1¹And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the Lord God of Israel. (2 Chronicles 30:1).

In Josiah's reign. 2 Kin. 23:22, 23. 2 Chr. 35:1, 18¹Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the Lord in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. (2 Chronicles 35:1)
¹⁸And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 35:18).

After the captivity. Ezra 6:19, 20¹⁹And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. ²⁰For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. (Ezra 6:19‑20).

Before the death of Christ. Luke 22:15¹⁵And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (Luke 22:15).

Moses kept through faith. Heb. 11:28²⁸Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. (Hebrews 11:28).

Christ always observed. Matt. 26:17-20¹⁷Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? ¹⁸And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. ¹⁹And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. ²⁰Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. (Matthew 26:17‑20). Luke 22:15¹⁵And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (Luke 22:15). John 2:13,23¹³And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (John 2:13)
²³Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (John 2:23).

The people of Jerusalem lent their rooms to strangers for. Luke 22:11, 12¹¹And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? ¹²And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. (Luke 22:11‑12).

The Lord's Supper instituted at. Matt. 26:26-28²⁶And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. ²⁷And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; ²⁸For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:26‑28).

Custom of releasing a prisoner at. Matt. 27:15¹⁵Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. (Matthew 27:15). Luke 23:16,17¹⁶I will therefore chastise him, and release him. ¹⁷(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) (Luke 23:16‑17).

The Sabbath in, a high day. John 19:31³¹The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (John 19:31).

The day before the Sabbath in, called the preparation. John 19:14, 31¹⁴And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! (John 19:14)
³¹The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (John 19:31).

Illustrative of redemption through Christ. 1 Cor. 5:7, 8⁷Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: ⁸Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:7‑8).

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