Exodus 12 The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart

1 The Passover
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,

2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.

3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.

4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.

5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.

6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.

7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.

8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.

9 Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire—head, legs and inner parts.

10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.

11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.

12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both men and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.

13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.

15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.

16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat—that is all you may do.

17 “Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.

18 In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day.

19 For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And whoever eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born.

20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.”

21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.

22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.

23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.

24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.

25 When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.

26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’

27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped.

28 The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.

29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.

30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

31 The Exodus
During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested.

32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”

33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!”

34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing.

35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing.

36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.

37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.

38 Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.

39 With the dough they had brought from Egypt, they baked cakes of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.

41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt.

42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.

43 Passover Restrictions
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover:
“No foreigner is to eat of it.

44 Any slave you have bought may eat of it after you have circumcised him,

45 but a temporary resident and a hired worker may not eat of it.

46 “It must be eaten inside one house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.

47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.

48 “An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it.

49 The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you.”

50 All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron.

51 And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.

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Analysis of Exodus Chapter 12

Exodus Chapter 12 is a pivotal chapter in the Book of Exodus that describes the institution of the Passover, the final plague on Egypt, and the departure of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. This chapter is rich with theological significance, historical context, and ritual practices that have profound implications for the Judeo-Christian faith. In this analysis, we will dissect each section of the chapter to uncover its deeper meanings, exploring its relevance both in its historical setting and in broader religious tradition.

The Institution of the Passover (Exodus 12:1-28)

The chapter begins with God speaking to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, establishing the month of Nisan as the first month of the year for the Israelites (verses 1-2). This reordering of the calendar signifies a new beginning for the Hebrews—a rebirth of sorts as they prepare to leave their life of enslavement behind.

Verses 3-11: The Passover Lamb

In verses 3-11, God provides specific instructions for selecting and preparing the Passover lamb:

The lamb must be without defect, a year-old male (verse 5).
Each household should take a lamb, but if the household is too small, they are to share with their nearest neighbor (verse 4).
They are to take care of it until the fourteenth day of the month, then slaughter it at twilight (verse 6).
They should take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes where they eat the lamb (verse 7).
The meat must be roasted over the fire, and eaten with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast (verse 8).
Any leftovers must be burned; they should not keep anything for the next day (verse 10).
They are to eat the meal in haste, dressed for travel, to symbolize their readiness to depart (verse 11).

The lamb without defect symbolizes purity and foreshadows the significance of Jesus Christ in Christian theology, known as the “Lamb of God.” The use of blood on the doorposts is a testament to God’s promise to pass over the houses marked with blood, sparing them from the final plague (verse 13). This act of marking the homes serves as a symbol of faith and obedience to God’s command. The bitter herbs signify the bitterness of slavery, while the unleavened bread represents the haste of their departure from Egypt.

Verses 12-13: The Lord’s Judgment

In verses 12-13, God declares that He will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both human and animal. The blood on the houses where the Israelites live will be a sign, and He will “pass over” these houses, sparing them from destruction. This verse not only underscores God’s power over life and death but also highlights His protection and favor toward those who obey His commands. The judgment against the gods of Egypt (verse 12) signifies God’s supremacy over the false deities of the pagan land, portraying Him as the one true God.

Verses 14-20: The Feast of Unleavened Bread

Verses 14-20 outline the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a seven-day festival commemorating the Exodus:

On the first day, they are to remove all yeast from their houses (verse 15).
An assembly is to be held on the first and seventh days, during which no work is to be done (verse 16).
For seven days, they are to eat bread made without yeast, symbolizing their haste in leaving Egypt (verse 17).
Anyone who eats anything with yeast during this period will be cut off from Israel (verse 19).

The removal of yeast signifies purification and separation from sin, representing the Israelites’ new life apart from the corrupting influence of Egypt. The strict enforcement of this practice emphasizes the importance of obedience and ritual purity in the worship of God.

Verses 21-28: Execution of God’s Commands

Moses gathers the elders of Israel to relay God’s instructions (verses 21-27). They are to take hyssop, dip it in the blood of the lamb, and smear it on the doorframes. This act of obedience ensures their protection as the Lord strikes down the firstborn of Egypt. Moses also emphasizes the significance of the Passover as a lasting ordinance to be observed by future generations (verse 24). When children ask about the ceremony, it provides an opportunity to teach them about God’s deliverance (verse 26-27). The people of Israel bow down and worship, demonstrating their faith and reverence for God’s word (verse 27). Their prompt action in doing just what the Lord commanded (verse 28) underscores the importance of immediate and faithful obedience to divine instructions.

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn (Exodus 12:29-32)

At midnight, the Lord strikes down all the firstborn in Egypt, from Pharaoh’s firstborn son to the firstborn of prisoners and livestock (verse 29). There is a loud wailing throughout the land, as there is no house without someone dead (verse 30). This devastating plague breaks the hard-heartedness of Pharaoh, who summons Moses and Aaron and urges them to leave Egypt immediately, along with their people and livestock, asking for a blessing (verses 31-32). This event marks the climax of God’s judgment on Egypt, demonstrating His sovereignty and the fulfillment of His promises to Israel. The distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites through this plague serves as a powerful testimony to God’s covenant relationship with His chosen people.

The Exodus (Exodus 12:33-42)

The Egyptians, desperate to be rid of the Israelites, urge them to leave quickly, fearing further devastation (verse 33). The Israelites, in obedience to Moses’ instructions, ask the Egyptians for articles of silver, gold, and clothing, and the Egyptians willingly comply (verses 35-36). This act of “plundering” the Egyptians fulfills God’s earlier promise to Moses that the Israelites would leave with great wealth (Exodus 3:21-22).

Approximately 600,000 men, along with women, children, and a mixed multitude, leave Egypt on foot (verses 37-38). They travel from Rameses to Succoth, taking with them unleavened dough, as they had no time to prepare more provisions (verses 39). The mention of a “mixed multitude” indicates that others, possibly non-Israelites, chose to join the Hebrews in their journey to freedom.

Verses 40-42 recount the fulfillment of the long-awaited prophecy: the Israelites leave Egypt 430 years after they had settled there. These verses underscore God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises despite the passage of centuries.

Additional Passover Regulations (Exodus 12:43-51)

The chapter concludes with further regulations regarding the observance of the Passover:

Only circumcised males are allowed to eat the Passover meal (verses 43-44).
Slaves, when circumcised, may partake in it (verse 44).
Foreigners and hired workers are excluded (verse 45).
The meal must be eaten inside the house, and no bone of the lamb is to be broken (verses 46).
The entire community of Israel is to celebrate the Passover (verse 47).
If a foreigner residing among them wishes to celebrate the Passover, he and all the males of his household must be circumcised (verses 48-49).

These regulations emphasize the importance of covenantal identity and inclusion. Circumcision, as a sign of the Abrahamic covenant, serves as a prerequisite for participation in the Passover, underscoring the necessity of being part of the covenant community.

Verse 50 notes that the Israelites followed all the Lord’s commands given to Moses and Aaron, highlighting their obedience. Finally, verse 51 reiterates that on the very day the Lord had decreed, He brought the Israelites out of Egypt, demonstrating His sovereignty and faithfulness.

Conclusion

Exodus Chapter 12 is a profound and multifaceted passage that lays the foundations for key religious practices and theological themes. The institution of the Passover serves as a perpetual reminder of God’s deliverance and faithfulness. The precise instructions and regulations underscore the importance of obedience, ritual purity, and the covenantal relationship between God and His people. The dramatic narrative of the final plague and the Exodus highlights God’s power and justice, as well as His unwavering commitment to His promises.

The chapter’s enduring significance is reflected in its continued observance within Jewish tradition and its typological interpretations in Christian theology. The Passover lamb as a precursor to Jesus Christ, the “Lamb of God,” exemplifies the deep connections between the Old and New Testaments. As such, Exodus Chapter 12 remains a cornerstone of biblical faith, rich with historical, theological, and spiritual insights that continue to resonate with believers today.

Understanding the Key Messages in Exodus 12: Insights and Explanation

In Exodus 12, God sends the tenth plague on Egypt, where every firstborn son is killed. The Israelites are commanded to prepare for the Passover by sacrificing a lamb and putting its blood on their doorframes. The Lord passes over the Israelites' houses, sparing their firstborn. Pharaoh finally lets the Israelites go, and they leave Egypt in haste.

Notes

This chapter introduces the institution of the Passover, one of the significant feasts in the Old Testament. It also showcases the consequences of Pharaoh's hardened heart and the fulfillment of God's promise to free the Israelites.