HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 432
EX O D U S 1 2
3 (Now
the Lord had caused the Egyptians
to look favorably on the people of Israel. And
Moses was considered a very great man in the
land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh’s officials
and the Egyptian people alike.)
4 Moses had announced to Pharaoh, “This
is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I
will pass through the heart of Egypt. 5 All the
firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt,
from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his
throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant
girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of
all the livestock will die. 6 Then a loud wail will
rise throughout the land of Egypt, a wail like
no one has heard before or will ever hear again.
7 But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful
that not even a dog will bark. Then you will
know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites. 8 All the
officials of Egypt will run to me and fall to the
ground before me. ‘Please leave!’ they will beg.
‘Hurry! And take all your followers with you.’
Only then will I go!” Then, burning with anger,
Moses left Pharaoh.
9 Now the Lord had told Moses earlier, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, but then I will do
even more mighty miracles in the land of
Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron performed these
miracles in Pharaoh’s presence, but the Lord
hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he wouldn’t let
the Israelites leave the country.
The First Passover
While the Israelites were still in the land
of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: 2 “From now on,
this month will be the first month of the year
for you. 3 Announce to the whole community of
Israel that on the tenth day of this month each
family must choose a lamb or a young goat for
a sacrifice, one animal for each household. 4 If
a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let
them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of
each family and how much they can eat. 5 The
animal you select must be a one-year-old male,
either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.
6 “Take special care of this chosen animal
until the evening of the fourteenth day of this
first month. Then the whole assembly of the
community of Israel must slaughter their lamb
or young goat at twilight. 7 They are to take
some of the blood and smear it on the sides
and top of the doorframes of the houses where
they eat the animal. 8 That same night they
must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along
with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat any of the meat raw or
boiled in water. The whole animal—including
the head, legs, and internal organs—must be
roasted over a fire. 10 Do not leave any of it until
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the next morning. Burn whatever is not eaten
before morning.
11 “These are your instructions for eating this
meal: Be fully dressed,* wear your sandals, and
carry your walking stick in your hand. Eat the
meal with urgency, for this is the Lord’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the
land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn
son and firstborn male animal in the land of
Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the
gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! 13 But the blood
on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking
the houses where you are staying. When I see
the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of
death will not touch you when I strike the land
of Egypt.
14 “This is a day to remember. Each year, from
generation to generation, you must celebrate it
as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law
for all time. 15 For seven days the bread you eat
must be made without yeast. On the first day
of the festival, remove every trace of yeast from
your homes. Anyone who eats bread made with
yeast during the seven days of the festival will
be cut off from the community of Israel. 16 On the
first day of the festival and again on the seventh
day, all the people must observe an official day
for holy assembly. No work of any kind may be
done on these days except in the preparation
of food.
17 “Celebrate this Festival of Unleavened
Bread, for it will remind you that I brought your
forces out of the land of Egypt on this very day.
This festival will be a permanent law for you;
celebrate this day from generation to generation. 18 The bread you eat must be made without
yeast from the evening of the fourteenth day of
the first month until the evening of the twentyfirst day of that month. 19 During those seven
days, there must be no trace of yeast in your
homes. Anyone who eats anything made with
yeast during this week will be cut off from the
community of Israel. These regulations apply
both to the foreigners living among you and to
the native-born Israelites. 20 During those days
you must not eat anything made with yeast.
Wherever you live, eat only bread made without yeast.”
21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or
young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. 22 Drain the blood into
a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches
and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop
across the top and sides of the doorframes of
your houses. And no one may go out through
the door until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass
through the land to strike down the Egyptians.
But when he sees the blood on the top and sides
12:11 Hebrew Bind up your loins.