1Jahve řekl Mojžíšovi a Áronovi v egyptské zemi: 2„Tento měsíc bude pro vás v čele ostatních měsíců, bude pro vás prvním měsícem v roce. 3Promluvte k celé Izraelově obci a řekněte jí: Ať každý desátého dne tohoto měsíce vezme jednoho beránka na rodinu, jednoho beránka na domácnost. 4Je-li domácnost tak málo početná, že nestačí na jednoho beránka, přibere podle počtu osob nejbližšího souseda domácnosti. Toho beránka vyberete podle toho, co každý stačí sníst. 5Ten beránek bude bezvadný, rok starý samec. Vyberete si ho z jehňat nebo kůzlat. 6Ponecháte si ho až do čtrnáctého dne onoho měsíce a pak ho za soumraku celá Izraelova obec podřízne. 7Vezmou z něho trochu krve a pomažou jí obě veřeje a příčný trám domu, v němž se bude jíst. 8Té noci se bude jíst maso upečené na ohni; bude se jíst s nekvašenými chleby a hořkými bylinami. 9Nejezte z něho nic syrového ani vařeného ve vodě, jen upečené na ohni, s hlavou, nožkami i vnitřnostmi. 10Do rána z něho nic neponecháte, co by zbylo do rána, spálíte v ohni. 11Budete jej jíst takto: s přepásanými bedry, opánky na nohou a holí v ruce. Sníte jej co nejrychleji, je to Jahvova pascha. 12Té noci projdu Egyptem a pobiji všechny prvorozence v egyptské zemi, jak lidi, tak zvířata, a já Jahve vykonám soud nad všemi egyptskými bohy. 13Krev bude vaším znamením na domech, v nichž přebýváte. Když uvidím krev, projdu kolem a vy uniknete ničivé pohromě, až budu bít egyptskou zemi. 14Ten den si budete připomínat a budete jej slavit jako Jahvův svátek, budete jej slavit ve svých pokoleních, je to trvalé nařízení. 15Po sedm dní budete jíst nekvašené chleby. Hned prvního dne odstraníte ze svých domů kvas, neboť kdokoli v době od prvního do sedmého dne pojí kvašeného chleba, bude vyloučen z Izraele. 16Prvního dne budete mít posvátné shromáždění a sedmého dne posvátné shromáždění. Tehdy nebudete konat žádné dílo, připravíte jen to, co každý sní. 17Svátek nekvašených chlebů budete zachovávat, neboť onoho dne jsem vyvedl vaše oddíly z egyptské země. Budete zachovávat ten den ve svých pokoleních, je to trvalé nařízení. 18V prvním měsíci budete večer čtrnáctého dne a až do večera jedenadvacátého dne jíst nekvašené chleby. 19Po sedm dní se ve vašich domech neoctne kvas, neboť kdokoli pojí kvašeného chleba, bude vyloučen z Izraelovy obce, ať je to cizinec nebo domorodec. 20Nebudete jíst kvašený chléb, všude, kde budete pobývat, budete jíst nekvašené chleby.“ 21Mojžíš svolal všechny starší Izraele a řekl jim: „Jděte a obstarejte si pro své rodiny po beránku a obětujte paschu. 22Potom vezmete svazek yzopu, smočíte ho v krvi, jež je v míse, a tou krví z mísy se dotknete příčného trámu i obou veřejí. A z vás ať nikdo nepřekročí až do rána práh svého domu. 23Až bude Jahve procházet Egyptem, aby ho bil, uvidí krev na příčném trámu a na obou veřejích, projde kolem těch dveří a nedovolí Zhoubci vniknout do vašich domů a bít. 24Toto ustanovení budete zachovávat jako nařízení navěky pro tebe i pro tvé syny. 25Až vejdete do země, kterou vám Jahve dá, jak to řekl, budete tento obřad zachovávat. 26A když vám vaši synové řeknou: ‘Co pro vás tento obřad znamená?’ 27vy jim řeknete: ‘To je oběť paschy pro Jahva, který přešel kolem domů Izraelitů v Egyptě, když bil Egypt, naše domy však šetřil.’“ Tu lid poklekl a klaněl se. 28Izraelité odešli a učinili, co Jahve přikázal Mojžíšovi a Áronovi. 29Uprostřed noci pobil Jahve všechny prvorozence v egyptské zemi, jak faraonova prvorozence, který měl zasednout na jeho trůn, tak prvorozence zajatce ve vězení, a všechno prvorozené z dobytka. 30Faraon v noci vstal, stejně tak jeho služebníci a všichni Egypťané, a v Egyptě propukl veliký nářek, neboť nebylo domu, v němž by nebyl nějaký mrtvý. 31Faraon zavolal v noci Mojžíše a Árona a řekl jim: „Vy i Izraelité vstaňte a odejděte zprostřed mého lidu a jděte sloužit Jahvovi, jak jste si žádali. 32Vezměte si také svůj brav a skot, jak jste si žádali, odejděte a dejte také mně požehnání.“ 33Egypťané naléhali na lid a spěšně jej měli k odchodu ze země; říkali totiž: „Všichni pomřeme.“ 34Lid si odnášel na ramenou v dížích zabalených do plášťů těsto, ještě než stačilo vykynout. 35Izraelité udělali, co jim řekl Mojžíš, a vyžádali si od Egypťanů stříbrné předměty, zlaté předměty a šatstvo. 36Jahve způsobil, že lid nalezl v očích Egypťanů milost, a oni jim to poskytli. Takto Egypťany oloupili. 37Izraelité v počtu asi šesti set tisíc pěších mužů - jen mužů, jejich rodiny se v to nepočítají - odešli z Ramsesu směrem na Sukot. 38S nimi šla všelijaká cháska a rovněž obrovská stáda bravu a skotu. 39Z těsta, které odnesli z Egypta, si napekli nekvašené placky, neboť to těsto nenakynulo: když je vyháněli z Egypta, nemohli se zdržovat ani si přichystat zásoby na cestu. 40V Egyptě Izraelité pobyli čtyři sta třicet let. 41Právě toho dne, kdy končilo údobí oněch čtyř set třiceti let, vykročily všechny Jahvovy oddíly z egyptské země. 42Ona noc, v níž Jahve bděl nad jejich odchodem z Egypta, má být pro všechny Izraelity, pro jejich pokolení, nocí bdění pro Jahva. 43Jahve řekl Mojžíšovi a Áronovi: „Takový bude řád paschy: žádný cizinec z ní nebude jíst. 44Ale každý otrok získaný za peníze z ní smí, když ho obřežeš, pojíst. 45Přistěhovalec ani námezdník z ní jíst nebudou. 46Jíst se bude jen v jednom domě a nevynesete z toho domu ani kousek masa. Žádnou kost z ní nezlomíte. 47Bude ji konat celá Izraelova obec. 48Jestliže cizinec, který u tebe sídlí, chce konat paschu pro Jahva, musí být obřezán v jeho domě každý, kdo je mužského pohlaví; pak mu bude dovoleno ji konat, bude v zemi jako domorodec; ale žádný neobřezanec z toho pojíst nesmí. 49Zákon bude týž pro domorodce i pro cizince sídlícího mezi vámi.“ 50Všichni Izraelité učinili, jak Jahve nařídil Mojžíšovi a Áronovi. 51Právě toho dne Jahve vyvedl Izraelity podle jejich oddílů z egyptské země.
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.