1A ještě v zemi Micrajim řekl Hospodin Mošemu a Aharonovi: 2„Tento měsíc máte za počátek měsíců, máte ho za první z měsíců roku! 3Povězte celé obci Jisraele: Desátého dne tohoto měsíce vezměte každý pro svou rodinu jehně, jedno jehně na každý dům! 4A pokud by na jehně byla rodina malá, dohodnou se soused se sousedem podle počtu osob a podle toho, co každá rodina sní, aby jehně stačilo pro všechny. 5Vezměte jehně bez vady, ročního samce, z ovcí nebo koz je vezměte. 6A střezte je až do čtrnáctého dne tohoto měsíce a v podvečer je celá obec Jisraele zařízne. 7A vezmou z té krve a dají na obě veřeje a na překlad nade dveřmi domů, kde je budete jíst. 8Této noci jezte jen maso pečené na ohni a jezte je na macesech a na hořkých bylinách! 9Syrové z něj nebo vařené ve vodě nejezte, jezte je upečené v ohni s hlavou na nožkách a na břiše! 10A do rána z něj nic nenechte, co by zbylo, spalte do rána v ohni! 11Jíst ho budete takto: bedra opásaná, střevíce na nohou a v rukou hole, a jezte je ve spěchu, je to oběť Hospodinova přeskoku! 12Já této noci projdu zemí Micrajim a pobiji všechno prvorozené v zemi Micrajim od člověka po dobytek, a nad všemi božstvy Micrajim vynesu soudy, já Hospodin! 13Ale pro vás ta krev na domech, ve kterých jste, bude znamením, a uvidím tu krev a přeskočím vás, a tak na vás zhouba nenarazí, až budu v zemi Micrajim zabíjet. 14Tento den vám budiž památným a oslavujte ho jako Hospodinův svátek, po všechna vaše pokolení jej oslavujte, toť zákon navěky! 15Po sedm dní jezte macesy, a počínaje prvním dnem odstraňte kvásek ze svých domů, poněvadž duše každého z Jisraele, duše každého, kdo by od prvního do sedmého dne jedl kynuté, bude vyťata z Jisraele. 16A první den je dnem svatého svolání a také sedmý den je dnem svatého svolání, žádná práce nebude během nich konána, připravovat je možné jenom to, co bude všemi zúčastněnými snědeno! 17A tak jako budete zachovávat tento den co věčný zákon, dodržujte i příkaz macesů, jelikož jsem toho dne vyvedl vaše vojska ze země Micrajim. 18Od prvního dne, večera čtrnáctého dne měsíce, až do jednadvacátého dne měsíce večer jezte macesy! 19Po sedm dní ať se ve vašich domech nevyskytuje kvásek, poněvadž z obce Jisraele bude vyťata duše každého, kdo by jedl kynuté, ať už přistěhovalce nebo domorodce. 20Nic kynutého nejezte, ve všech svých sídlech jezte macesy!“ 21(Pátý volaný) A Moše svolal starší Jisraele a řekl jim: „Vyberte a vezměte pro své rodiny z bravu pesach, oběť přeskoku, a zařízněte ji. 22Pak vezměte svazek yzopu a namočte ho do krve, která je na prahu, a tou krví na prahu označte překlad na dveřích a obě veřeje, a žádný z vás až do rána ať nevyjde ze vchodu svého domu! 23A až bude Hospodin procházet, aby ranil Micrajim, a uvidí tu krev na překladu a obou veřejích, přeskočí u vchodu a zhouba nebude moci vaše domy ranit. 24Toto slovo zachovávejte pro sebe a pro své syny navěky jako svůj zákon! 25A až přijdete do té země, již vám Hospodin dá, jak řekl, dodržujte tuto službu! 26A řeknou-li vám vaši synové: Čím je pro vás tato služba, řekněte: 27Je to oběť přeskoku Hospodina, jenž přeskočil domy synů Jisraele v Micrajim, a když porážel Micrajim, uchránil naše domy!“, a lid se uklonil a klaněl se k zemi. 28A synové Jisraele šli a činili, jak Hospodin přikázal Mošemu a Aharonovi, aby tak učinili. 29(Šestý volaný) Tak nastala ta půlnoc, a Hospodin pobil všechno prvorozené země Micrajim od prvorozeného syna faraonova, sedícího na jeho trůnu, po prvorozené syny zajatců ve vězení a všechny prvorozené kusy dobytka. 30A faraon v noci vstal, on a všichni jeho služebníci a všichni Micrijci, a v Micrajim propukl velký nářek, protože nebylo domu, v němž by nebyl mrtvý. 31A v noci volal Mošeho a Aharona a vzkázal jim: „Seberte se a odtáhněte z mého lidu, vy a synové Jisraele, jděte, služte Hospodinu, jak vám pravil! 32Vezměte si svůj brav a skot, jak jste povídali, a odejděte a orodujte také za mne!“ 33Sami Micrijci naléhali na ten lid a spěchali je dostat ze země, poněvadž říkali: Všichni jsme mrtví! 34A své těsto, dříve než vykynulo, odnesli zabalené do pokrývek. 35A synové Jisralele učinili dle Mošeho slova a vyžádali si od Micrijců stříbrné a zlaté náčiní a pokrývky. 36A oni jim půjčili, protože Hospodin dal tomu lidu v očích Micrijců přízeň, a vyklidili Micrajim. 37Synové Jisraele, na šest stovek tisíců pěších, dospělých mužů kromě dětí, vycestovali z Rameses do Sukotu. 38Vystoupila s nimi i početná směsice lidu a brav a skot, velmi úctyhodné stádo. 39A z toho těsta, které vynesli z Micrajim a nevykynulo, pekli nekvašené placky, protože byli z Micrajim vyhnáni a nemohli otálet a také si neudělali zásoby. 40Doba pobytu synů Jisraele, kdy sídlili v Micrajim, byla čtyři sta třicet let. 41A koncem těch čtyř set třiceti let se na den přesně stalo, že všechna Hospodinova vojska vyšla ze země Micrajim. 42Je to noc, zachovaná Hospodinem pro jejich východ ze země Micrajim, je to tato Hospodinova noc, zachovávaná v jejich pokoleních syny Jisraele. 43Hospodin řekl Mošemu a Aharonovi: „Toto je nařízení o oběti přeskoku: cizinec z ní nebude jíst. 44A měl-li bys koupeného otroka, nejdřív ho obřež, a potom ať z ní jí! 45Ať z ní nejí cizinec nebo nájemný dělník. 46Každá jednotlivá oběť bude celá snědena v jednom domě, z tohoto masa nevynášejte nic ven z domu a nezlomte v něm žádnou kost! 47Obětovat ji bude celá obec Jisraele! 48A usadí-li se s tebou přistěhovalec, obřež mu každou mužskou osobu a pak ať přistoupí k oběti stejně jako domorodec, ale žádný neobřezanec ať z ní nejí! 49Pro domorodce a přistěhovalce, jenž se usadil mezi vámi, platí stejný zákon!“ 50A všichni synové Jisraele učinili, jak Mošemu a Aharonovi přikázal Hospodin, aby činili. 51Téhož dne vyvedl Hospodin syny Jisraele ze země Micrajim po jejich vojscích.
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.