1Y habló Jehovah (el Eterno) a Moisés, y a Aharón en la tierra de Mizraim, al decir: 2Este mes os será principio de los meses; este os será primero en los meses del año. 3Hablad a toda la congregación de IsraeL, al decir: A los diez de este mes tómese cada uno un cordero por las familias de los padres, un cordero cada familia: 4Mas si la familia fuere pequeña que no baste a comer el cordero, entonces tomará a su vecino cercano de su casa, y según el número de las personas, cada uno según su comida, echaréis la cuenta sobre el cordero. 5El cordero será a vosotros un macho perfecto, de un año de edad, el cual tomaréis de las ovejas, o de las cabras: 6Y lo guardaréis hasta el día catorce de este mes: y lo degollará toda la asamblea de la congregación de IsraeL entre las dos tardes. 7Y tomarán de la sangre, y pondrán en los dos postes, y en el dintel de las casas, en las cuales lo han de comer. 8Y aquella noche comerán la carne asada al fuego, y panes sin levadura; con yerbas amargas lo comerán. 9Ninguna cosa comeréis de él cruda, no cocida en agua, sino asada al fuego; su cabeza con sus pies y sus intestinos. 10Ninguna cosa dejaréis de él hasta la mañana; y lo que habrá quedado hasta la mañana, lo quemaréis en el fuego. 11Y lo comeréis así: Ceñidos vuestros lomos, y vuestros calzados en vuestros pies: y vuestro bastón en vuestra mano, y lo comeréis apresuradamente. Esto es la Pasada de Jehovah (el Eterno). 12Y yo pasaré esta noche en la tierra de Mizraim; y heriré a todo primer nacido en la tierra de Mizraim, de entre hombre y hasta bestia: y haré juicios en todos eLohei de Mizraim. Yo Jehovah (el Eterno). 13Y la sangre os será por señal en las casas donde vosotros estuviereis; y veré la sangre, y pasaré por encima de vosotros, y no habrá en vosotros plaga de mortandad, al yo herir a la tierra de Mizraim. 14Y os será este día en memoria; y lo celebraréis solemne a Jehovah (el Eterno) por vuestras generaciones; por estatuto perpetuo lo celebraréis. 15Siete días comeréis panes sin levadura; ciertamente el primer día haréis que no haya levadura en vuestras casas, porque cualquiera que comiere algo con levadura, desde el primer día hasta el séptimo, esa alma será cortada de IsraeL. 16El primer día os será santa convocación, y así mismo el séptimo día os será santa convocación: ninguna obra se hará en ellos, solamente lo que toda persona hubiero de comer, esto solamente se aderece para vosotros. 17Y guardaréis la fiesta de los panes sin levadura, porque en este mismo día saqué vuestros ejércitos de la tierra de Mizraim, entonces guardaréis este día por vuestras generaciones en estatuto perpetuo. 18En el primero, a los catorce días del mes, a la tarde, comeréis los panes sin levadura, hasta la tarde del día veintiuno del mes. 19Por siete días no se hallará levadura en vuestras casas, porque cualquiera que comiere algo con levadura, así extranjero como natural de la tierra, esa alma será cortada de la congregación de IsraeL. 20No comeréis nada con levadura; en todas vuestras habitaciones comeréis panes sin levadura. 21Y Moisés convocó a todos los ancianos de IsraeL, y les dijo: Sacad, y tomad vosotros en el rebaño para vuestras familias, y sacrificad <el cordero de> la Pasada. 22Y tomad un conjunto de hisopo, y mojadlo en la sangre que estará en un lebrillo, y tocad el dintel y los dos postes con la sangre que estará en el lebrillo; y ninguno de vosotros salga de las puertas de su casa hasta la mañana. 23Porque Jehovah (el Eterno) pasará hiriendo a los de Mizraim; y como verá la sangre en el dintel, y en los dos postes, Jehovah (el Eterno) pasará aquella puerta, y no dejará entrar al heridor en vuestras casas para herir. 24Y guardaréis esto por estatuto para vosotros y para vuestros hijos hasta siempre. 25Y será, que cuando entrareis en la tierra que Jehovah (el Eterno) os dará, como habló, y guardaréis este rito; 26Y cuando os dijeren vuestros hijos: ¿Qué rito es este vuestro? 27Vosotros responderéis: Esta es la víctima de la Pasada de Jehovah (el Eterno), el cual pasó por encima de las casas de los hijos de IsraeL en Mizraim, cuando hirió a los de Mizraim, y libró nuestras casas. Entonces el pueblo se inclinó, y adoró. 28Y los hijos de IsraeL fueron, e hicieron como Jehovah (el Eterno) había mandado a Moisés y a Aharón, así lo hicieron. 29Y aconteció que, a la media noche Jehovah (el Eterno) hirió a todo primer nacido en la tierra de Mizraim, desde el primer nacido de Faraón, que estaba sentado sobre su trono, hasta el primer nacido del cautivo que estaba en la cárcel, y a todo primer nacido de los animales. 30Y se levantó aquella noche Faraón, él y todos sus siervos, y todos los de Mizraim, y había un gran clamor en Mizraim; porque no había casa donde no hubiese muerto. 31E hizo llamar a Moisés y a Aharón de noche, y les dijo: Levantaos; salid de en medio de mi pueblo vosotros y los hijos de IsraeL; e id, servid a Jehovah (el Eterno), como habéis dicho. 32Tomad también vuestras ovejas, también vuestras vacas, como habéis dicho, e ídos, y bendecídme también a mí. 33Y los de Mizraim apremiaban al pueblo, para apresurarse a dejarlos ir de la tierra, porque decían: Todos somos muertos. 34Y llevó el pueblo su masa antes que se leudase, sus masas envueltas, en sus sábanas sobre sus hombros. 35E hicieron los hijos de IsraeL conforme al mandamiento de Moisés, consiguiendo, de los de Mizraim, vasos de plata, y vasos de oro, y vestidos. 36Y Jehovah (el Eterno) dio gracia al pueblo delante de los de Mizraim, y consiguieron de ellos, y despojaron a los de Mizraim. 37Y partieron los hijos de IsraeL de Rameses a Sucot como seiscientos mil hombres de a pie, sin los niños. 38Y también subió con ellos una numerosa mezcla <de extranjeros>, y ovejas y vacas, y ganados muy muchos. 39Y cocieron la masa, que habían sacado de Mizraim e hicieron tortas sin levadura, porque no habían leudado, pues echándolos de Mizraim, entonces no habían podido detenerse, y no hicieron comida para ellos. 40El tiempo que los hijos de IsraeL habitaron en Mizraim, fue cuatrocientos treinta años. 41Y pasados cuatrocientos treinta años en el mismo día salieron todos los ejércitos de Jehovah (el Eterno) de la tierra de Mizraim. 42Esta es noche de guardar a Jehovah (el Eterno), por haberlos sacado en ella de la tierra de Mizraim. Esta noche deben guardar a Jehovah (el Eterno) todos los hijos de IsraeL por sus edades. 43Y Jehovah (el Eterno) dijo a Moisés y a Aharón: Esta será la ordenanza de la Pasada. Ningún extraño comerá de ella. 44Y todo siervo humano comprado por dinero, comerá de ella después que le hubieres circuncidado. 45El extranjero, y el salariado no comerán de ella. 46En una casa se comerá, y no llevarás de aquella carne fuera de casa, y hueso no quebraréis de él. 47Toda la congregación de IsraeL le sacrificará. 48Mas si contigo peregrinare algún peregrino, y quisiere hacer la Pasada a Jehovah (el Eterno), ser circuncidado séale todo varón, y entonces se llegará a hacerla, y será como el natural de la tierra, y ningún incircunciso comerá de ella. 49La misma ley será para el natural y para el peregrino que peregrinare entre vosotros. 50Y todos los hijos de IsraeL hicieron como Jehovah (el Eterno) lo mandó a Moisés y a Aharón, así lo hicieron. 51Y en aquel mismo día Jehovah (el Eterno) sacó a los hijos de IsraeL de la tierra de Mizraim por sus escuadrones.
Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary 1 The Lord makes all things new to those whom he delivers from the bondage of Satan, and takes to himself to be his people. The time when he does this is to them the beginning of a new life. God appointed that, on the night wherein they were to go out of Egypt, each family should kill a lamb, or that two or three families, if small, should kill one lamb. This lamb was to be eaten in the manner here directed, and the blood to be sprinkled on the door-posts, to mark the houses of the Israelites from those of the Egyptians. The angel of the Lord, when destroying the first-born of the Egyptians, would pass over the houses marked by the blood of the lamb: hence the name of this holy feast or ordinance. The passover was to be kept every year, both as a remembrance of Israel's preservation and deliverance out of Egypt, and as a remarkable type of Christ. Their safety and deliverance were not a reward of their own righteousness, but the gift of mercy. Of this they were reminded, and by this ordinance they were taught, that all blessings came to them through the shedding and sprinkling of blood. Observe, 1. The paschal lamb was typical. Christ is our passover,
1Cor 5:7. Christ is the Lamb of God,
John 1:29; often in the Revelation he is called the Lamb. It was to be in its prime; Christ offered up himself in the midst of his days, not when a babe at Bethlehem. It was to be without blemish; the Lord Jesus was a Lamb without spot: the judge who condemned Christ declared him innocent. It was to be set apart four days before, denoting the marking out of the Lord Jesus to be a Saviour, both in the purpose and in the promise. It was to be slain, and roasted with fire, denoting the painful sufferings of the Lord Jesus, even unto death, the death of the cross. The wrath of God is as fire, and Christ was made a curse for us. Not a bone of it must be broken, which was fulfilled in Christ,
John 19:33, denoting the unbroken strength of the Lord Jesus. 2. The sprinkling of the blood was typical. The blood of the lamb must be sprinkled, denoting the applying of the merits of Christ's death to our souls; we must receive the atonement,
Roma 5:11. Faith is the bunch of hyssop, by which we apply the promises, and the benefits of the blood of Christ laid up in them, to ourselves. It was to be sprinkled on the door-posts, denoting the open profession we are to make of faith in Christ. It was not to be sprinkled upon the threshold; which cautions us to take heed of trampling under foot the blood of the covenant. It is precious blood, and must be precious to us. The blood, thus sprinkled, was a means of preserving the Israelites from the destroying angel, who had nothing to do where the blood was. The blood of Christ is the believer's protection from the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the damnation of hell,
Roma 8:1. 3. The solemn eating of the lamb was typical of our gospel duty to Christ. The paschal lamb was not to be looked upon only, but to be fed upon. So we must by faith make Christ our own; and we must receive spiritual strength and nourishment from him, as from our food, see
John 6:53,
John 6:55. It was all to be eaten; those who by faith feed upon Christ, must feed upon a whole Christ; they must take Christ and his yoke, Christ and his cross, as well as Christ and his crown. It was to be eaten at once, not put by till morning. To-day Christ is offered, and is to be accepted while it is called to-day, before we sleep the sleep of death. It was to be eaten with bitter herbs, in remembrance of the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt; we must feed upon Christ with sorrow and brokenness of heart, in remembrance of sin. Christ will be sweet to us, if sin be bitter. It was to be eaten standing, with their staves in their hands, as being ready to depart. When we feed upon Christ by faith, we must forsake the rule and the dominion of sin; sit loose to the world, and every thing in it; forsake all for Christ, and reckon it no bad bargain,
Hebre 13:13,
Hebre 13:14. 4. The feast of unleavened bread was typical of the Christian life,
1Cor 5:7,
1Cor 5:8. Having received Christ Jesus the Lord, we must continually delight ourselves in Christ Jesus. No manner of work must be done, that is, no care admitted and indulged, which does not agree with, or would lessen this holy joy. The Jews were very strict as to the passover, so that no leaven should be found in their houses. It must be a feast kept in charity, without the leaven of malice; and in sincerity, without the leaven of hypocrisy. It was by an ordinance for ever; so long as we live we must continue feeding upon Christ, rejoicing in him always, with thankful mention of the great things he has done for us.
21 That night, when the first-born were to be destroyed, no Israelite must stir out of doors till called to march out of Egypt. Their safety was owing to the blood of sprinkling. If they put themselves from under the protection of that, it was at their peril. They must stay within, to wait for the salvation of the Lord; it is good to do so. In after-times they should carefully teach their children the meaning of this service. It is good for children to ask about the things of God; they that ask for the way will find it. The keeping of this solemnity every year was, 1. To look backward, that they might remember what great things God had done for them and their fathers. Old mercies, to ourselves, or to our fathers, must not be forgotten, that God may be praised, and our faith in him encouraged. 2. It was designed to look forward, as an earnest of the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God in the fulness of time. Christ our passover was sacrificed for us; his death was our life.
29 The Egyptians had been for three days and nights kept in anxiety and horror by the darkness; now their rest is broken by a far more terrible calamity. The plague struck their first-born, the joy and hope of their families. They had slain the Hebrews' children, now God slew theirs. It reached from the throne to the dungeon: prince and peasant stand upon the same level before God's judgments. The destroying angel entered every dwelling unmarked with blood, as the messenger of woe. He did his dreadful errand, leaving not a house in which there was not one dead. Imagine then the cry that rang through the land of Egypt, the long, loud shriek of agony that burst from every dwelling. It will be thus in that dreadful hour when the Son of man shall visit sinners with the last judgment. God's sons, his first-born, were now released. Men had better come to God's terms at first, for he will never come to theirs. Now Pharaoh's pride is abased, and he yields. God's word will stand; we get nothing by disputing, or delaying to submit. In this terror the Egyptians would purchase the favour and the speedy departure of Israel. Thus the Lord took care that their hard-earned wages should be paid, and the people provided for their journey.
37 The children of Israel set forward without delay. A mixed multitude went with them. Some, perhaps, willing to leave their country, laid waste by plagues; others, out of curiosity; perhaps a few out of love to them and their religion. But there were always those among the Israelites who were not Israelites. Thus there are still hypocrites in the church. This great event was 430 years from the promise made to Abraham: see
Galat 3:17. So long the promise of a settlement was unfulfilled. But though God's promises are not performed quickly, they will be, in their season. This is that night of the Lord, that remarkable night, to be celebrated in all generations. The great things God does for his people, are to be not only a few days' wonder, but to be remembered throughout all ages; especially the work of our redemption by Christ. This first passover-night was a night of the Lord, much to be observed; but the last passover-night, in which Christ was betrayed and in which the first passover, with the rest of the Jewish ceremonies, was done away, was a night of the Lord, much more to be observed. Then a yoke, heavier than that of Egypt, was broken from off our necks, and a land, better than that of Canaan, set before us. It was a redemption to be celebrated in heaven, for ever and ever.
43 In times to come, all the congregation of Israel must keep the passover. All that share in God's mercies should join in thankful praises for them. The New Testament passover, the Lord's supper, ought not to be neglected by any. Strangers, if circumcised, might eat of the passover. Here is an early indication of favour to the gentiles. This taught the Jews that their being a nation favoured by God, entitled them to their privileges, not their descent from Abraham. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us,
1Cor 5:7; his blood is the only ransom for our souls; without the shedding of it there is no remission; without the sprinkling of it there can be no salvation. Have we, by faith in him, sheltered our souls from deserved vengeance under the protection of his atoning blood? Do we keep close to him, constantly depending upon him? Do we so profess our faith in the Redeemer, and our obligations to him, that all who pass by may know to whom we belong? Do we stand prepared for his service, ready to walk in his ways, and to separate ourselves from his enemies? These are questions of vast importance to the soul; may the Lord direct our consciences honestly to answer them.