Passover 101: Questions Answered

After publishing the Passover 101 article brethren brought up some valid questions that I would like to discuss here. This is meant to help bring some clarity to the discussion of Passover.

What is meant by "they left in the night"?

Deuteronomy 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Yahweh thy Elohim: for in the month of Abib Yahweh thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

The answer is that they didn't leave at night but were freed at night. The scriptures teach that the death angel passed through Egypt killing all the first born of Egypt but by Yahweh's mercy the Israelites were spared because they had put a blood marking on their dwellings. When Moses writes here that Yahweh brought Israel forth he is actually speaking of their release from Pharaoh's rule. Clarification of this is found in Exodus 12:42.

Exodus 12:42 It is a night to be much observed unto Yahweh for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of Yahweh to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

In context with verse 43 of Exodus 12 this is the night of when the sacrifice lamb, the paschal lamb is eaten in haste. Notice in verse 41 of Exodus 12 that this day is the selfsame day that Israel entered into bondage 430 years beforehand. Notice the use of "selfsame day" through out Exodus 12.

Exodus 12:51 "And it came to pass the selfsame day, that Yahweh did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies."

Numbers 33:1 These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. 2 And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of Yahweh: and these are their journeys according to their goings out. 3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. 4 For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which Yahweh had smitten among them: upon their deities also Yahweh executed judgments. 5 And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth.

Numbers 33 gives evidence that Israel left while Egypt was burying their dead on the fifteenth. They left with a high hand or in plain sight of the Egyptians. It wasn't until the next leg of the journey that Yahweh provided a pillar of fire by night for Israel to travel. (Exodus 13:21)

One final note is that the Chaldee paraphrases Deuteronomy 16:1b, "brought thee forth out of Egypt by night," as "Because they came out of Egypt by daylight." Yahweh brought Israel out by night; they were set free from Pharaoh's rule so that they might be able to go into the wilderness to serve Yahweh.

Why do the scriptures say that the service is to be kept on the fourteenth?

"In the fourteenth day of this month, at even (between the evenings), 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)

The question is usually followed by the statement, "it all has to be done on the fourteenth." The fact that this verse gives a time is often left out of the discussion but it is of course an important inspired part of the verse. This time mentioned gives the time when the lamb is to be sacrificed. (Exodus 12:6, Deuteronomy 16:6) The appointed season or appointed time of Passover starts with the killing of the lamb and progresses to the eating of the lamb and unleavened bread. It is impossible to fit all of this into the time between the evenings whether it is an hour and a half or three and a half hours. One explanation is that the appointed season is referring to the starting point of the Passover observance. Another explanation is that this verse is simply pointing to the ordinance (rites and ceremonies) of how the lamb is to be sacrificed between the evenings on the fourteenth of Abib. (Ex. 12:6, 7, 21, 22)

When were the Egyptians spoiled and when did they lend to the Israelites?

The Egyptians may have given the Israelites a lot of items to help them leave hastily as pointed out in the following verses.

Exodus 12:33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. 34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36 And Yahweh gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

How does this verse fit in context with all that was going on? In verse 2-3 of Exodus 11 we find that borrowing from the Egyptians was the first thing that Yahweh had the people of Israel do before the final plague.

Exodus 11:2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold. 3 And Yahweh gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

The Egyptians allowed the Israelites to borrow from them because Yahweh intervened for Israel and Moses was held in high esteem by the Egyptians. In perspective with this being the first thing that Yahweh requested of the people before the final plague it is easier to understand why the Egyptians would lend great things to the Israelites.

Did Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh the night Israel was released?

Originally I thought this might have been possible but with further research there are some significant scriptures that need to be taken into consideration.

Exodus 10:28 And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die. 29 And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.

Pharaoh and Moses both agree here that they will not see each other again. Yet as we read Exodus 12:29-33 Pharaoh called for Moses.

Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight Yahweh smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as ye have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

As we have seen in movies and as it sounds in the KJV and many other translations that Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh one last time. The Hebrew word for "called" is "kawraw" which means to bewray [self], that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. Notice in Bollinger's notes for Exodus 12:31, "called for" i.e. "sent a message to".

"Ver. 31. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, &c.] Not that Pharaoh went in person, but he sent his servants to call them; for they never saw his face more after he had drove them from his presence; but now was fulfilled what Moses told him, that his servants should come to him in a very suppliant manner, and entreat him and his people to get away in all haste, #Ex 10:28,29 11:8. Where Moses and Aaron now were is not certain, probably in the city, or suburbs of it, where Pharaoh's palace was, for it is not likely that they were gone to Goshen:" (John Gill's Expositor)

The scriptures verify that Moses and Aaron did not break Yahweh's command to not leave their dwellings during the night. "And the children of Israel went away, and did as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they." (Exodus 12:28)