Passover 101

Over the last few years I changed my mind on when the Passover meal is to be kept and when the Passover is to be killed. Now I wonder how I could have ever believed that the lamb was to be killed at the beginning of the fourteenth of Abib. A lot of what I read when I believed in the start of the fourteenth theory was articles that others had put together stating that Passover was not a high day. After reading these articles I felt completely offended as to why anyone would believe that the lamb was killed on the fifteenth. After really studying the issue I found that the arguments of why the 15th wasn't when the lamb was killed just missed the issue completely. This is why so many of those well written articles that I had read failed to ever convince anyone that the lamb should be killed at the beginning of the fourteenth.

Looking back and rereading some of those articles that claimed to prove the lamb was killed at the beginning of the fourteenth I see how far off base they were. So I am encouraged to write an article for those of you really interested in determining when to keep the Passover. Let me start with an example of why the arguments in most articles written to disprove the 15th are really written for beginning of the fourteenth believers.

Let's say that you believe that the lamb is to be killed at sunset starting the fourteenth and I believed that it was on the 14th between noon and sunset. Then you start your argument off saying why are you killing the Passover on the 15th? Why are you keeping the Passover on a high day? Neither of these arguments is really offensive to me in fact they make me wonder why you are talking about the 15th as a Passover. And so I would like to present this article as a start to answering why the lamb was killed on the 14th before sunset.

Let's start by reading Exodus 12:1-6. The lamb is to be selected without blemish and taken into the home on the 10th of Abib. Verse 6 is often a stalling point for many, because it is written that the lamb is to be kept until the fourteenth. So does this mean that it would be killed as soon as the fourteenth starts? The answer is really in the remaining part of the verse but without mentioning that first let me give you an example. If I give you an item and state that you can use it until the fourteenth of April would you really rush over here at midnight or at sunset to return it? Logically unless it is stated when I would be available on the 14th to receive the item then it is up to you. Yahweh though to stop such confusion gave a specific time period. Translated in most scriptures as evening or twilight the Hebrew is beyn ha arybim. The Hebrew translated to English would be between the two evenings. As I stated before it is important to understand what is an evening or erev in the Hebrew. Evening is between sunset and sunrise and each day only has one of these. The only time during a day that could be considered between the two evenings then would be sunrise to sunset or more precisely at noon.

We can narrow it down even more because the scriptures give examples one of which is with out a doubt the most specific in Deut. 16:6. First we must build up a pattern of what is meant when it is written in the evening or in the Hebrew ba erev. Let us read Lev. 23:26-32. In verse 32 it is written the ninth day at even (which is ba erev) until the tenth day at even (which is erev). In other words it is from the evening that starts the 10th until the evening that starts the next day. Let's read Exodus 12:18. Here in verse 18 we find that ba erev is used in both locations that English reads evening. This forms a pattern though that evening reference is the following one. The evening referenced in these verses starts the next day, so from the sunset that starts the 15th to the sunset the ends the twenty-first. Now with that information we look at Deut. 16:6 and we find ba erev once again but this time referencing the Passover sacrifice. The ba erev of the fourteenth is actually the beginning of the 15th. This is clarified as setting of the sun or the going down of the sun as we continue in verse 6. More evidence is found when referencing the scriptures for beyn ha arybim. For this first article though it should seem clearer now that the time when the lamb was to be killed is closer to the 15th than it is to the beginning of the 14th.

Let's continue in Exodus 12 by reading verses 7-10. The lamb's blood is used to mark the door posts and lental of those who are keeping the Passover so that the death angel doesn't enter the home to kill the first born. The lamb was to be split up according to what the people ate so that none of the lamb would be left. If any was left it was to be burned by fire until it was all gone. Verse 11 is critical also because it points out that they were to be ready to go when they were eating the Passover. This contradicts the idea that it took Israel all day to get ready to leave. Something you should ask yourself is why would they have waited until the 14th to get there things in order when they knew from at least the 10th on that they were going to have to leave. Remember on the 10th the lamb or goat was to be brought into the home. Let's read verses 12 and 13. Yahweh explains that He will pass through the land skipping over those who are marked with the blood.

Let us read Exodus 12:14-20. These verses make it clear that for the seven days of Unleavened Bread we are to be prepared by having cleaned out all leaven from our dwellings. As we read earlier in Exodus the Passover is to be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The memorial of Passover is eaten with unleavened bread because it was eaten during unleavened bread. It is written here that from the first day until the seventh day all leaven is to be put away and anyone who eats leavening during this time is to be cut off. Why if leavening is to be rid from our homes and we are to be cut off if we do eat leaven would anyone ever eat leaven after they took the Passover? Then conversely why would some one eat unleavened cakes for 8 days when the word of Yahweh clearly states 7 days?

The Passover sacrifice has wrongly been made to picture each family killing their own lamb. This is unfortunate because we find in verse 21 that Moses called the elders to kill the lambs for their families. The time and number of lambs adds additional strain to the beginning of the fourteenth theory. This preceded the priestly system as found in Deuteronomy 16 where the Passover sacrifice was to be done by the priests in the place where Yahweh chose to place His name. Let's read Exodus 12 verses 22 through 25. The blood of the lamb was a marking on the door frame to stop the death angel from entering. Israel was not to leave their homes until morning or the rising of the sun. This is important when looking at Numbers 33:3 because Israel left in the sight of the Egyptians. The eating of the lamb is a statute that is to be kept forever and is still kept today through the emblems of the Messiah Yahshua.

Let us continue to read Exodus 12 verses 26 through 27. There are many points that we can glean from these verses. The children were an important part of the Passover! When you perform the service that follows the sacrifice of Yahweh's Passover your children will wonder and ask what this is all about? That is when we are to explain to them how Yahweh removed Israel from a wicked place so that they might worship Him. (Exodus 5:1) Yahshua the Messiah, the perfect lamb, fulfilled perfectly the purpose of the lamb that was sacrificed in Egypt. We will talk more about this later in more detail. Verse 27 emphasizes the point made earlier that the Passover is the lamb sacrificed and once again not a complete day. The Israelites who followed these commands bowed and worshipped Yahweh. Considering the many differences today; this unity before Yahweh must have been really exciting and at the same time somber because of what was going on outside their dwellings.

Continue by reading Exodus 12 verses 28-32. Not one home was without one being dead. This maybe hard to imagine but every family who had children would have had one first born. Also think how many among us are first born. This would have been a massive number of people dead not to mention the cattle that also died. This would have been a great sign to the Egyptians considering that Yahweh distributed this equally across all who were under Pharaoh's rule. At midnight Yahweh smote all those who did not obey. Some time while it was yet dark Moses and Aaron were called before Pharaoh. Pharaoh tells them to take there flocks and herds and leave Egypt and interestingly enough Pharaoh asks for their blessing on him also. Pharaoh had finally bent to Yahweh's power and the cries of the people.

In verses 33 through 36 the Egyptians gave the Israelites what every the Israelites wanted to get rid of the Isrealites quickly. The Egyptians moved them out as fast as they could which left no time for them to leaven their bread. In verses 37 through 39 we read that 600000 men besides women and children left Egypt. If you consider that during the time of Moses' birth all male children were killed the number of women and children must have been much more than that of the men. We find here that they journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. Numbers 33:3-4 puts this into perspective as being during the fifteenth day of the first month.

Let us read Exodus 12:40 through 43. The children of Israel lived in Egypt 430 years to the day. The night that starts the fifteenth was a night of watching. Watching as the death angel passed through the camp but over the house that were marked with the blood of the lamb. It is written here that this night of watching is kept through out all generations to Yahweh. In verses 43 to 49 Yahweh tells Moses and Aaron that the Passover may not be eaten by any uncircumcised man. It is important that we note that a stranger traveling in Israel may eat of the Passover but first all his male servants have to be circumcised. In verses 50 and 51 we find that the people did as Yahweh had commanded on that very day, the 15th of Abib Yahweh brought his people out of Egypt, out of the control of Pharaoh.

Let us read Exodus 13 and I will mention a few things here that need to be pointed out. Verses 1 and 2 Yahweh tells Moses to set apart all first born of men and of animals. As animals are born and as humans are born the first ones are special to Yahweh and belong to Yahweh. This is why the first born male would inherit more than the others born after him. Yahshua was the first born of the resurrection perfect in everyway. We strive to be a part of that resurrection. The wave sheaf offering is a first born of sorts because before the wave offering is accepted the rest of the barley can't be harvested.

In verses 3 through 10 Moses tells the people what they have seen and what it should mean to them. Moses says that it shall be a sign on your hand and memorial between your eyes. It is a sign on the hand because it involves keeping this service. It is a memorial between our eyes because we think upon it. The law of Yahweh is to be in our mouth because we talk about what we think about. This is the same for all of Yahweh's law because when we keep them physically it has an affect spiritually on us and we think about Yahweh's law. When we think about it we talk about it too. It is a cycle that feeds us through out our lives. In verses 11 through 16 Moses clarifies that the first born animals are to be sacrificed to Yahweh and first born males are to be redeemed before Yahweh. This ties the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover to the sacrifice of the first born animals and the redemption of the first born males. It isn't until much later in time that Feast of Unleavened bread was called Passover. When the children ask what this means it is a sign to Yahweh that we accept his authority through his judgement on Egypt. In many ways we can see that this was a cleansing process showing Yahweh's power over the land of Egypt and Egypt's idolatry.

The first Passover was followed by judgement that allowed only the children of those who were removed from Egypt entering into the Promised Land. Even with all the signs and wonders that Yahweh displayed to Israel it didn't keep them from rebelling. The heart of Israel was still on the things of Egypt. Yahweh's anger against Israel's transgression with a golden calf was slowed through Moses pleading so that the children of Israel younger than 20 were allowed to enter the Promised Land. It is somewhat easy to say yes I will keep what ever you command of me. When it comes to the actual application we stumble because of our own pride. The first Passover was in a way the great and terrible day. Great or glorious in that Israel was given into the hands of Yahweh to care for and judge. Yet terrible or fearful because of the many whom died through out Egypt killed by the final plague. We pray not to fall as Israel fell into the idolatry of the world.

Let us read Lev. 23:5 through verse 8. In verse 5 it is commanded that the fourteenth at even or between the evenings is Yahweh's Passover. Once again this specifies the time in which Yahweh's Passover is to be sacrificed as we saw in Exodus 12 this was between noon and sunset, most likely closer to sunset. Noon being the point exactly between the two evenings but visually would be as the sun starts downward which is after noon. Verses 6 through 7 explain the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be kept from 15th day of Abib to 21st day of Abib keeping the first and last days as set apart. Seven days Unleavened Bread is to be eaten, or each day of the seven we are to eat Unleavened Bread. No servile work is allowed on the Holy Days that start and end the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Let us read Numbers 9:1 through 14. We find here in the second year of Israel's exodus from Egypt that Yahweh refreshes Moses on the law of Passover. Yahweh also answers the question of those who are unclean or traveling during the time of Passover during Abib. They are allowed to take the Passover in second month on the 14th day between the evenings. It is to be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Notice that the command is the same, none of the bones of the Yahweh's Passover are to be broken and none is to left until morning.

Let's read Numbers 28 verse 16 through 25. Numbers chapters 28 and 29 are written to present the sacrifices that were required on certain days, on the daily, at new moons, and during the feasts. Passover in verse 16 is listed as 14th day of the first month. No sacrifice is listed because it is understood that the sacrifice is the lamb. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread both the daily (continual burnt offering, v. 1-6) and the additional sacrifices are to be offered. This comparison points out that Yahweh's sacrifice on the fourteenth of the lamb is at a point in time. Daily sacrifices were to be offered every day. These are two distinct sacrifices, one the Passover and the other the daily sacrifice. The sacrifices for the DAYS of Unleavened Bread listed in verses 19 through 24 are offered in addition to the continual offering. (Numbers 28:24)

In Numbers we find the counting of the tribes of Israel and separation of the priesthood which has a definite impact on the way the Passover is to be sacrificed. Let us read Deuteronomy 16 verses 1 through 8. In verse 1 we are commanded to observe the Passover in the first month when Yahweh brought the children of Israel out by night. Night here can figuratively as in other places mean under the shadow of Yahweh's protection. We know that this was not until after the death angel had passed through Egypt. Most likely if this is refereeing to the night time we know that it was very close to morning as we saw in Exodus 12 Israel ate the Passover prepared to make the exodus.

In verse 2 we read that the lamb was to be sacrificed where Yahweh chose to place his name. Putting this into context Exodus chapter 35 speak of the generosity of the people in helping to assemble the tabernacle. The tabernacle was built with the free will of the Israel as they were able to give. This is a tribute to Yahweh and it is where Yahweh placed his name. Verse 3 speaks of Unleavened Bread as bread of affliction, for Israel left Egypt quickly. This also points to the examination of our worship towards Yahweh that it is clean and shows our appreciation for Yahweh's abundant blessings.

Verse 4 points out that we are not to have leaven within our coasts, which could also be translated within our gates. The land and property that we own is to be free of leaven. Verses 5 and 6, the sacrifice of the Passover was not to be done within the gates of the people. The sacrifice once again was to be done by the priesthood in the place that Yahweh chose to place his name. In verses 7 and 8 we find that the lamb is to be roasted and eaten in the place that Yahweh chose and in the morning the people were to return to their tents. This shows that under the levitical priesthood the sacrifice and eating of the Passover was kept as a group all this points to the night of watching as they may have stayed up all night. Imagine the blessed discussions of Yahweh's law and new hope for a Promised Land that Israel's servitude in Egypt never would have never made possible.

As we read through Joshua we find that after 40 years on the 10th day of the first month Israel entered over the Jordan River into Israel east of Jericho. It was a miracle of Yahweh that they did as they were told and crossed the Jordan on dry ground. (Joshua 4:19) Before Israel was allowed to enter Israel they had to be clean. (Joshua 3:17) This is similar to the cleansing that we must do before we keep the Passover. In Joshua 5 verses 1 through 5, Joshua circumcises all the males. The males had not been circumcised while Israel was traveling through the wilderness.

In verse 9 Yahweh says that He rolled away the reproach of Egypt. This means that he removed the shame of Egypt; the people here before Yahweh would not be as quick to do what their parents did in worshipping idols. Now that Israel was circumcised and healed from the circumcision they were able to partake of the Passover. In verse 10 we find that children of Israel kept the Passover on the 14th day of Abib between the evenings. In verse 11 and 12 we have the 15th of Abib or morrow after the Passover Israel eating the old corn or the corn of the land. The next day the manna stopped and they ate the new produce of the land. This shows that keeping with Passover and first fruits that Israel now was living off of the produce that Yahweh gave them through the land. This was the first Passover kept in the Holy Land of Israel.

Hezekiah is the next reference that we find of the Passover in the scriptures. II Chronicles 29:17 we find that the temple of Yahweh had to be cleansed and sanctified before it could be used to worship Yahweh. The temple had been defiled under the rule of Ahaz. In verse 2 of II Chronicles 29 we find that Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh. Let us read II Chronicles chapter 30. Hezekiah sent out a letter and proclaimed that all should come to keep the Passover. All of Israel and Judah were invited to keep this Passover. In his letter to Israel he writes that if the people return to Yahweh He will return to the remnant of them.

In verse 10 it is written that some of the people laughed at this edict and scorned the edict but in verse 11 we find that they changed their hearts and did come to keep the Passover before Yahweh. We too during Passover and Unleavened Bread are to make a change of heart and follow Yahweh. In verse 15 and 16 they killed the Passover and did it according to the law as it was recorded by Moses. This is the second month because they were unclean and the temple was unclean in the first month the cleansing had to be finished. Some of the multitude was still not clean so the levites spent a lot of time sanctifying all the people that gathered together for this Passover.

Hezekiah petitioned Yahweh on behalf of some of the people who where not clean. In verse 20 we find that Yahweh heard Hezekiah's prayers and healed those who were unclean. They ate unleavened cakes for seven days singing and praising Yahweh with loud instruments. They were so excited that they kept the feast for an extra week with Hezekiah giving more offerings to the people for them to sacrifice to Yahweh. As we read on into chapter 30 we find that this wasn't the end of Israel's zealousness. They destroyed idolatry through out Israel and in Ephraim. During Hezekiah's life Yahweh blessed him and Israel many times preventing destruction from the Assyrians. After his death Manasseh reigned over Israel but was evil in the sight of Yahweh because he worshipped pagan idols. After Manasseh's death Josiah was made king over Israel.

As we continue with Passover we find that Josiah kept the Passover according to the word of Yahweh but there were problems with his rule up until this time. (II Kings 22:15-20) Josiah took reign when he was only eight years old. (II Kings 22:1) When he was 18 years old he made a great effort to keep Yahweh from destroying him. Let us read II Kings 23 verse 1 through 20. Josiah made a lot of effort to destroy all that was evil in Israel even to keep the Passover to Yahweh. (II Chronicles 34) He destroyed all the evil that Manasseh had built up. Let us read II Kings 23:21-37 and II Chronicles 35. This was a Passover that was unlike any since the time of Samuel the Prophet.

Ezekiel 45:21 through verse 24 we find the last place in the Tanakh that the Passover is commanded. On the fourteenth day you shall have the Passover. Then showing the closeness of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread we see that it is written that seven days Unleavened Bread shall be eaten. Ezekiel lists the offerings during the feast.

Ezra is the last place in the Tanakh as far as time is concerned that we see Passover mentioned. In Ezra 6:19 through 22, once again after the house of Yahweh was dedicated and cleansed the offering of Passover could be offered. The children of Israel kept the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread because once again after the exile Yahweh put joy into their hearts.

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