Joh 11:55 | HCSB | STEP | The Jewish Passover was near , and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before the Passover .

John 11:55

55 The Jewish ^{▼▼Passover: The Israelite festival celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first month in the early spring. It was a celebration of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, commemorating the final plague on Egypt when the firstborn were killed.}Passover ^b was near, and many went up to Jerusalem ^c from the country to purify ^{▼▼The law of Moses required God’s people to purify or cleanse themselves so they could celebrate the Passover. Jews often came to Jerusalem a week early to do this; Nm 9:4-11.} themselves before the Passover.