1Hospodin Mojžíšovi a Áronovi v egyptské zemi řekl: 2„Tento měsíc pro vás bude počátkem měsíců, bude pro vás první mezi měsíci roku. 3Mluvte k celé izraelské obci: Desátého dne tohoto měsíce ať každý otec vezme beránka pro svou rodinu. Každá rodina ať má beránka. 4Kdyby byla rodina na beránka moc malá, přibere k sobě nejbližšího souseda. Počítejte s beránkem podle počtu osob a podle toho, kolik kdo sní. 5Budete mít beránka bez vady, ročního samce; vezmete jej z ovcí nebo koz. 6Budete ho mít u sebe až do čtrnáctého dne tohoto měsíce, kdy ho za soumraku celé shromáždění izraelské obce zabije. 7Pak vezmou trochu krve a potřou jí obě veřeje i nadpraží domů, v nichž ho budou jíst. 8Tu noc budou jíst maso pečené na ohni a nekvašené chleby; budou je jíst s trpkými bylinami. 9Nejezte z něj nic syrového nebo vařeného ve vodě – jen pečené na ohni, s hlavou, nohama i vnitřnostmi. 10Nic z něho nenecháte do rána. Pokud z něj do rána něco zbude, spálíte to v ohni. 11A takto ho budete jíst: budete mít přepásaná bedra, na nohou obuv a v ruce hůl. Jezte ho chvatně, je totiž Pesach – Minutí Hospodinovo. 12V tuto noc projdu egyptskou zemí a pobiji všechny prvorozené v Egyptě – jak lidi, tak dobytek. Tehdy vykonám soud nad všemi egyptskými bohy: Já jsem Hospodin. 13Tu krev budete mít na svých domech jako znamení. Až udeřím na egyptskou zem, spatřím tu krev a ušetřím vás. Tak se vám ta zhoubná rána vyhne. 14Tento den pro vás bude památný. Budete jej slavit jako Hospodinovu slavnost, budete jej slavit ve všech svých pokoleních – to je věčné ustanovení. 15Po sedm dní budete jíst nekvašené chleby; hned první den odstraníte ze svých domů kvas. Kdokoli by mezi prvním a sedmým dnem jedl něco kvašeného, bude vyobcován z Izraele. 16Prvního a stejně tak sedmého dne budete mít svaté shromáždění. V těch dnech se nesmí dělat žádná práce; smíte pouze připravit, co každý potřebuje k jídlu. 17Budete zachovávat svátek nekvašených chlebů, neboť právě toho dne jsem vyvedl vaše zástupy z Egypta. Tento den budete zachovávat ve všech svých pokoleních – to je věčné ustanovení. 18Od večera čtrnáctého dne prvního měsíce až do večera jedenadvacátého dne téhož měsíce budete jíst nekvašené chleby. 19Po sedm dní se ve vašich domech nenajde kvas. Kdokoli by jedl něco kvašeného, bude vyloučen z izraelské obce, ať to bude host anebo domácí. 20Nebudete jíst nic kvašeného; ve všech svých příbytcích budete jíst nekvašené chleby.“ 21Mojžíš tedy svolal všechny stařešiny Izraele a řekl jim: „Jděte, vezměte si ze stáda kus pro své rodiny a zabijte jej pro Hod beránka. 22Pak vezměte svazek yzopu, namočte jej do misky s krví a tou krví potřete nadpraží i obě veřeje. Nikdo z vás nesmí až do rána vyjít ze dveří svého domu, 23neboť Hospodin půjde bít Egypt. Když spatří nade dveřmi a na obou veřejích krev, mine Hospodin ty dveře a nedovolí zhoubci vejít do vašich domů a ranit vás. 24Toto slovo dodržujte, neboť je to věčné ustanovení pro tebe i pro tvé syny. 25Až přijdete do země, kterou vám Hospodin dá, jak zaslíbil, zachovávejte tento obřad. 26Až se vás vaši synové zeptají: ‚Co pro vás tento obřad znamená?‘ 27odpovíte: ‚Pesach je oběť beránka Hospodinu, který v Egyptě ušetřil domy Izraelitů. Udeřil na Egypt, ale naše rodiny zachránil.‘“ Tehdy lid padl na kolena a klaněl se. 28Synové Izraele šli a zachovali se přesně tak, jak Hospodin přikázal Mojžíšovi. 29O půlnoci pak Hospodin v egyptské zemi pobil všechny prvorozené – od prvorozeného syna faraonova, jenž měl sedět na jeho trůnu, až po prvorozeného syna vězně v žaláři, dokonce i všechno prvorozené z dobytka. 30Té noci byl farao vzhůru, tak jako všichni jeho dvořané a všichni Egypťané. V Egyptě propukl hrozný nářek, neboť nebylo domu, kde by nebyl mrtvý. 31Té noci si dal zavolat Mojžíše a Árona. „Seberte se a jděte pryč od mého lidu – vy i ti vaši Izraelité!“ řekl jim. „Jděte a služte Hospodinu, jak jste žádali! 32Vezměte si svůj brav i skot, jak jste žádali, jen už jděte! A požehnejte i mně.“ 33Egypťané pak lid pobízeli, aby urychlili jeho odchod ze země, neboť si říkali: „Všichni pomřeme!“ 34Lid tedy vzal těsto, ještě než vykynulo, díže zabalil do šatů a nesl je na ramenou. 35Synové Izraele se zachovali podle Mojžíšova slova a požádali Egypťany o stříbrné a zlaté šperky i o šaty. 36Hospodin naklonil Egypťany k lidu tak příznivě, že jim vyhověli. Dočista Egypt obrali! 37Synové Izraele pak vytáhli z Ramesesu do Sukotu – jen pěších mužů bylo asi 600 000, kromě žen a dětí. 38Vyšlo s nimi také množství přimíšeného lidu a obrovské stádo bravu i skotu. 39Z těsta, které vynesli z Egypta, pak napekli nekvašené chlebové placky, protože ještě nevykynulo. Byli totiž z Egypta vyhnáni a nemohli se zdržovat, takže si ani nepřipravili jídlo na cestu. 40Pobyt synů Izraele v Egyptě trval 430 let. 41Právě toho dne, kdy uplynulo 430 let, vyšly všechny Hospodinovy zástupy z Egypta. 42To je ta noc, kdy Hospodin držel stráž, aby je vyvedl z Egypta. To je ta noc, jež patří Hospodinu, noc, kdy všichni synové Izraele ve svých pokoleních budou držet stráž. 43Hospodin Mojžíšovi a Áronovi řekl: „Toto jsou ustanovení o Hodu beránka: Nesmí ho jíst žádný cizinec. 44Každý otrok koupený za peníze ho smí jíst, bude-li obřezán. 45Nesmí ho jíst přistěhovalec ani nádeník. 46Musí být sněden v jednom domě – nic z jeho masa nevyneseš z domu ven. Nezlámete v něm jedinou kost. 47Tak to bude činit celá izraelská obec. 48Kdyby chtěl Hospodinův Hod beránka slavit přistěhovalec žijící u tebe, ať je u něj obřezán každý mužského pohlaví. Potom může přistoupit, aby jej slavil, a bude brán jako domácí. Žádný neobřezanec ho však jíst nesmí. 49Pro domácího i hosta žijícího u vás bude platit stejný zákon.“ 50A všichni synové Izraele se zachovali přesně tak, jak Hospodin přikázal Mojžíšovi a Áronovi. 51Právě toho dne vyvedl Hospodin syny Izraele z egyptské země houf za houfem.
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.
