‏ Exodus 12

The Appointment of the Passover; the Feast of Unleavened Bread

This section describes how Moses and Aaron received God’s instructions about the Passover, a very important event for Israel. God also changed their calendar, making this month the start of their year. This new beginning matched the spring, a time when the earth is renewed, and pointed forward to the coming of Christ (Song of Solomon 2:11-12 ^a). The people were busy and probably worried, but God still called them to worship and remember Him. Even when life is stressful, we should keep our faith and devotion to God.

v. 1-2: God told Moses and Aaron that this month would be the first month of the year for Israel (Exodus 12:1-2 ^b). Before, their year started in September, but now it would start in March. This reminds us that it is good to begin everything with God.

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v. 3-6: God commanded each family, or several small families together, to prepare a lamb to be killed on the fourteenth day of the month (Exodus 12:3,6 ^c). The lamb was not offered on an altar but was killed as a sign of thanks to God, who protected and delivered them from the plagues. This shows the importance of families worshipping God together.

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v. 7: Before they ate the lamb, they had to sprinkle its blood on the doorposts of their houses . This marked their homes as protected. God would see the blood and spare their firstborn children from the destroying angel. Only the houses with blood on the doors would be safe.

v. 8-11: They were told to eat the roasted lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and to eat quickly, ready to leave Egypt at any moment (Exodus 12:8,11 ^d). They could not save any leftovers for the next day. This taught them to trust God for their daily needs, not to worry about tomorrow.

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v. 12-13: That night, God would strike down all the firstborn in Egypt, both humans and animals, and show His power over the Egyptian gods (Exodus 12:12-13 ^e). The blood on the doorposts would protect the Israelites. Only those who obeyed God and acted in faith would be safe. This shows that God can protect His people during trouble, and that the blood is like a shield for believers (Numbers 33:4; Exodus 18:11 ^f).

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v. 14-20: God told them to remember this event every year by celebrating the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days (Exodus 12:14-20 ^g). During this time, they could eat only bread without yeast, to remember how they had to leave Egypt quickly. This feast was to help them stay serious about obeying God and not forget what He had done for them. The New Testament says that this event points to the gospel and to Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:2; 2 Corinthians 3:13 ^h).

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The Passover

This section explains how Moses gave the Israelites God’s instructions about the Passover. He made sure they understood every detail, even if not all are written here. The Passover was not just for that night in Egypt, but was to be remembered and taught to future generations. It was a sign of God’s mercy and a picture of something greater to come—Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb.

v. 21-22: Moses told the elders of Israel to select and kill the Passover lamb. He instructed them to use a bunch of hyssop to dip in the lamb’s blood and put it on the top and sides of their doorframes. No one was to leave their house until morning. This showed that their safety came from obeying God and staying under the protection of the blood. If anyone left, they would be in danger. God wanted them to trust Him and wait for His salvation (Exodus 12:22; Isaiah 26:20-21 ⁱ).

v. 22-23 (Themes and Types): The Passover lamb was a symbol of Jesus Christ, who is called “our Passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7 ^j). The lamb had to be:

a lamb—Christ is “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29 ^k). a male, one year old—showing Jesus’ strength and that He offered Himself in His best years (Exodus 12:5 ^l). without blemish—meaning Jesus was pure and sinless (1 Peter 1:19 ^m). set apart four days before—Jesus entered Jerusalem four days before He died (Exodus 12:3,6 ⁿ). killed and roasted with fire—showing Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross (Exodus 12:6-9 ^o). no bones broken—fulfilled when Jesus died (Exodus 12:46; John 19:33,36 ^p).

The blood had to be sprinkled, not just spilled, showing that we must accept what Jesus did for us (Romans 5:11; Exodus 12:22 ^q). The hyssop used points to faith, which “applies” Christ’s sacrifice to us. The blood was put on the doorposts, showing that we must publicly trust in Jesus (Revelation 7:3 ^r). The blood was not put on the ground, teaching us to value Christ’s sacrifice (Hebrews 10:29 ^s). The blood protected the Israelites from harm, just as Jesus protects believers from judgment (Romans 8:1 ^t).

Eating the lamb represented accepting Jesus by faith. They had to eat all of it, showing we must accept all of Jesus—not just the easy parts, but also His teachings about sacrifice (John 6:53-55; Exodus 12:10 ^u). The lamb was eaten with bitter herbs, reminding them of their hard life in Egypt—and reminding us to be sorry for our sins. They ate in a way ready to leave, showing we must turn from sin and be ready to follow God (Hebrews 13:13-14 ^v).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread stands for a Christian life without sin, which is called “leaven” in the Bible (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Exodus 12:16,17,19 ^w). They were told to remove all yeast from their homes, just as we should remove sin from our lives. This feast is a picture of joyful life with Christ, free from sin, and is to be kept always as a reminder of what God has done for us.

v. 23: Moses explained that the Lord would pass through Egypt to strike down the Egyptians. But when He saw the blood on the door, He would “pass over” that house and not let the destroying angel enter. The blood was a sign of faith and obedience, and it protected them from judgment .

v. 24-25: Moses told the people to keep this ceremony as a law for themselves and their descendants. When they entered the Promised Land, they must continue to celebrate the Passover. This was not just for one time, but for all generations, to remember God’s deliverance (Exodus 12:24-25 ^x).

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v. 26: Moses said that in the future, children would ask, “What does this ceremony mean to you?” It is good when children are curious about God’s ways. Parents should be ready to explain the meaning of worship and God’s commands. We should all try to understand why we do things for God, so our worship is sincere and meaningful (Exodus 12:26; Luke 2:46 ^y).

v. 27: Parents were to answer, “It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover.” They were to explain that God spared the Israelites’ firstborn when He struck down the Egyptians. The lamb was sacrificed instead of the firstborn, just as God provided a ram instead of Isaac. This yearly celebration was to remind them of God’s mercy and power. The word “Passover” means to “pass over” or “skip,” because the destroying angel passed over their houses. This was a special mercy, and they should always remember it. It also pointed forward to Jesus, the true Passover Lamb, who died so we could live (Exodus 12:27; Amos 7:8; 8:2 ^z; Psalm 91:7; 1 Corinthians 5:7 ^aa).

v. 27 (end): When the people heard these instructions, they bowed their heads and worshipped. They showed respect for God’s command and were thankful for His kindness. When God gives us instructions, we should honor Him and obey with humble hearts .

v. 28: The Israelites went and did exactly as the Lord had commanded through Moses and Aaron. There was no complaining or doubt. The troubles in Egypt had taught them to trust God and expect His deliverance. We should also wait for God’s blessings by following His ways faithfully (Exodus 12:28; Exodus 5:20-21 ^ab).

Exodus 12:29-36: The Death of the Firstborn

This section describes one of the most dramatic moments in the story of Israel’s escape from Egypt. At midnight, God sent a final, devastating plague: the death of all the firstborn in Egypt, from the palace to the prison, and even among the animals. This act forced Pharaoh and the Egyptians to let the Israelites go immediately, just as God had promised. The Egyptians were so eager for them to leave that they gave the Israelites valuable items to speed their departure. Through this event, God showed his power and justice, while also keeping his promise to rescue his people (Exodus 12:29-36).

v. 29: At exactly midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, no matter if they were rich or poor, powerful or weak. This included Pharaoh’s own son and even the firstborn of prisoners and animals. God chose midnight to make the event even more shocking and frightening, especially after the previous nights of darkness (Exodus 12:29; Psalm 91:6). The Egyptians had killed Hebrew children before (Exodus 1:16), so now they experienced a similar loss as judgment for their actions. God’s punishment was fair and made everyone realize that no one can escape his power or justice (Job 34:19-20).

v. 30: When the Egyptians woke up and found their firstborn dead, there was tremendous grief throughout the country. There wasn’t a single household without a loss. The loud cries showed how deep their pain was. No one could comfort each other, because everyone was suffering. This teaches us to respect God and be thankful for his protection every day (Psalm 119:120; Lamentations 3:22).

v. 31: Pharaoh, terrified by what happened, called Moses and Aaron during the night and told them to leave Egypt, taking all the Israelites with them. Even though Pharaoh had previously refused and threatened Moses (Exodus 10:28), now he was desperate. This shows that, in times of great trouble, people often turn to God and seek his help, even if they had ignored him before.

v. 32: Pharaoh also told them to take their livestock and everything they owned, just as Moses had asked. He even asked Moses and the Israelites to bless him, hoping to avoid any more disasters. This shows that those who oppose God’s people eventually realize it brings harm to themselves.

v. 33: The Egyptians urgently begged the Israelites to leave right away, afraid that they might all die if the Israelites stayed any longer. When people face death, they often think more seriously about life and their own actions.

v. 34: The Israelites left so quickly that they didn’t have time to let their bread rise. They wrapped up their dough and carried it with them, showing how sudden and urgent their escape was.

v. 35: The Israelites followed Moses’ instructions and asked the Egyptians for silver, gold, and clothing. The Egyptians gave them what they asked for, because they were afraid and wanted the Israelites to leave as soon as possible.

v. 36: God made the Egyptians feel generous toward the Israelites, so they gave them many valuable things. In this way, the Israelites left Egypt with wealth. This was God’s way of giving his people what they deserved after years of hard work and suffering (Psalm 146:7; Proverbs 13:22; Job 27:16-17). God showed that he is in control of everything, and he can turn even the wealth of sinners to benefit those who trust in him.

Exodus 12:37-42: Departure of the Israelites

This passage tells how the Israelites finally left Egypt after many years of slavery. They left quickly, without waiting for a better time, because Pharaoh had changed his mind before and might do so again. There were about 600,000 men, not counting women and children, which means the total number of people was probably more than a million. A large group of non-Israelites also joined them, along with all their animals. The Israelites left in such a rush that their bread had no time to rise, so they ate unleavened bread for their first meal of freedom. Their journey began exactly 430 years after God’s promise to Abraham, showing that God keeps his promises exactly as he says. God wanted his people to remember this special night forever, because it was the night he rescued them from slavery (Exodus 12:37-42).

v. 37: The Israelites travelled from Rameses to Succoth. There were about 600,000 men walking, not counting the women and children. This shows how much the Israelites had grown as a people, since they started with only about seventy people when Jacob came to Egypt (Genesis 46:27). God had blessed them and made them multiply, just as he promised (Genesis 12:2).

v. 38: A "mixed multitude" of people went with the Israelites. These were not all Israelites—some joined them because Egypt had been destroyed by plagues, or because they were curious about the Israelites’ God and wanted to see more miracles (Psalm 78:12). However, later these people caused trouble for Israel (Numbers 11:4). This shows that not everyone who joins God’s people is truly committed.

v. 39: The Israelites baked unleavened bread from the dough they brought with them. They had to leave Egypt so quickly that there was no time for the bread to rise. They had not even prepared proper food. Even though their first meal was simple, they were happy to be free. This teaches us that serving God is more important than having comfortable food or things.

v. 40: The Israelites had lived in Egypt—and also in Canaan before that—as strangers for 430 years. This period started when God first promised Abraham that his family would become a great nation (Galatians 3:17). God’s promise took a long time, but he kept it exactly as he said he would.

v. 41: On the exact day that the 430 years ended, all the Israelites left Egypt. God was precise in keeping his promise to Abraham. He made sure his people were freed at the right time (Genesis 12:2).

v. 42: This night was very important to the Lord because he brought the Israelites out of Egypt. God told the Israelites to remember and celebrate this night every year, through all their generations. This shows that we should always remember and be thankful for the big things God has done for us, especially how he saves and helps his people (Exodus 12:42).

Exodus 12:43-51: Directions Concerning the Passover

In this section, God gives Moses and Aaron more instructions about how the Passover should be celebrated in the future. These rules were to make sure the Passover stayed special and holy for all generations. Only certain people could join in, and everyone had to follow God’s commands exactly. This showed that being part of God’s people was not just about birth, but about obeying God and being dedicated to him. Anyone who wanted to celebrate the Passover had to become part of Israel by following God’s requirements (Exodus 12:43-51).

v. 43: God told Moses and Aaron that no stranger—meaning anyone who was not part of Israel—was allowed to eat the Passover meal. This meal was only for God’s people, to remind them of his special rescue.

v. 44: If an Israelite had bought a servant, that servant could eat the Passover, but only after being circumcised. This means that even people who were not born Israelites could join, but they had to accept God’s covenant first.

v. 45: Foreigners and hired workers were not allowed to eat the Passover meal. Only people who were truly part of Israel could join in (Exodus 12:45).

v. 46: The Passover lamb had to be eaten in one house. No one was allowed to take any of the meat outside, and no bone of the lamb could be broken. This rule helped keep the celebration united and also pointed forward to Jesus, whose bones were not broken on the cross (John 19:36).

v. 47: Every member of Israel was required to celebrate the Passover. This was a way for all God’s people to remember his great rescue together (Exodus 12:47).

v. 48: If a foreigner was living with the Israelites and wanted to celebrate the Passover, all the males in his family had to be circumcised. Then, he could join the celebration and be treated like a person born in Israel. But anyone who was not circumcised could not eat the Passover. This showed that everyone who wanted to follow God had to fully commit to him (Isaiah 56:6-7; Colossians 2:11).

v. 49: God made one law for everyone—both for Israelites and for foreigners living among them. Anyone who truly wanted to be part of God’s people could be, if they followed his rules (Exodus 12:49).

v. 50: The Israelites obeyed everything the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. Their obedience showed their trust in God and their desire to follow him (Exodus 12:50).

v. 51: On that same day, the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt, just as he had promised. God saved his people because they listened to him and did what he said (Exodus 12:51).