THE PASSOVER

Exodus 12:1 – 31

Passover is derived from Hebrew word Pasach meaning “to pass” with the aim of sparing or protecting.

Preparations for the Passover

God instructed Moses to prepare the Israelites for the tenth plague. Moses called all the elders of Israel and gave them the following instructions.

• On the tenth day of that month each man had to choose either a lamb or a young goat for his household.  If his family was too small to eat a whole animal, then he and his next-door neighbor were to share the animal.The animal chosen was to be a male, one year old and without blemish. Using a young animal signified the innocence of the sacrifice while an animal without blemish signified purity of the sacrifice.
• The animal chosen was to be killed on the eve of the 14th day of that month/eve of the night of the Exodus.
• The blood of the animal was to be smeared on the door posts and lintel of Israelites’ houses. The blood was to act as a sign of distinguishing the Israelites houses from those of the Egyptians so that the angel of death would spare them when he killed the first-born sons of the Egyptians.
• The lamb/animal for sacrifice was to be roasted whole i.e. with its head, legs and inner parts. Roasting was the quickest method of cooking since the Israelites were in a hurry.
• The meat was to be eaten that night with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The bitter herbs signified the bitter experience of slavery in Egypt.
• Everything was to be eaten and whatever remained was to be burnt.
• They were to eat the sacrificial meat after they had dressed up and packed their luggage (Vs 9 – 11)
• The Israelite women were to ask for Jewellery, Silver and clothing from the Egyptian women on the eve of their departure. These items were to act as compensation for the free labour the Israelites had given Egypt.
• Everyone was to remain indoors until morning in order to be protected from the angel of death.
• The Passover was to be to be commemorated annually and its significance taught to the coming generation.   

Please note that:

• On that night the Angel of death “passed over” the houses of the Israelites and killed the entire male first born of the Egyptians, including Pharaoh’s son.
• There was great wailing in Egypt.
• Pharaoh summoned Moses and released the Israelites.
• The Israelites left Egypt for the Promised Land through the wilderness/Exodus.

CRE NOTES AND SYLLABUS