6 And ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; and the whole congregation of the assembly of Israel shall kill it between the two evenings. v.6 Four Days. The four days that the lamb was to be kept up for is symbolic of the 3 1/2 years of the Lord’s public ministry. The Lord’s entire public ministry (3 ½ years) was an opportunity to examine the Lamb to see if any blemish could be found in Him. It was evident to God “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” and to man “never man spake like this man” that the lamb was without blemish and without spot. By contrast, there were four millennia of testing of the first man that showed he was totally ruined! There were of course four literal days before the cross where the Pharisees and Sadducees tempted Jesus. Also, we have four gospels that tell of His spotless character. The whole assembly was to kill it (singular) at the same time. In God’s mind there was only one Lamb in view. This reminds us of Hebrews 10:10 “the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” In another sense, the lamb was selected long before the tenth day. Peter says “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

• The head: Christ’s thoughts
• The legs: Christ’s walk 
• The inwards: Christ’s affections and motives

29 And it came to pass that at midnight Jehovah smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle. v.29 The Death of the Firstborn. Just as the Lord had promised, the judgment finally fell. All the firstborn in the land of Egypt were killed.

 

30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his bondmen, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house in which there was not one dead. 31 And he called Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, Rise up, go away from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve Jehovah, as ye have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and go; and bless me also. vv.30-32 Pharaoh Sends Israel Away. The horrible cry of anguish arose in the night at the discovery of the slain firstborn. What a horrible noise that would have been! The cry came up from all over, because “there was not a house in which there was not one dead”. Pharaoh called to Moses and Aaron in the night, but we have no reason to believe there was a face to face meeting. Just as the Lord had told Moses in ch.11 v.1, Pharaoh did send Israel away. This time there were no conditions; “both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve Jehovah, as ye have said. Also take your flocks and your herds…”. In the last expression we see on one hand Pharaoh’s fear, and on the other danger; he said “and bless me also”. Satan’s last compromise is that we would simply give him a little place in our hearts. Sadly, this is what happened for Israel. They went out of Egypt ready to be rid of the bondage of Egypt, but they retained in their hearts a desire for the pleasures of Egypt, and this later became their downfall.

 

33 And the Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We are all dead men! 34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened; their kneading-troughs bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35 And the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked of the Egyptians utensils of silver, and utensils of gold, and clothing. 36 And Jehovah had given the people favour in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they gave to them; and they spoiled the Egyptians. vv.33-36 The Egyptians Send Israel Away. The Egyptians also were desperate to be rid of the Hebrews. Amid their anguish for the loss of their firstborns, they were filled with a fear for their own lives also; “We are all dead men!” Could there be a more fitting statement to describe the men of this world? When it was time to leave, there was no time to prepare. Thankfully, Israel had “done according to the word of Moses” and had asked their neighbors for gold, silver, etc. In this way, Israel “spoiled the Egyptians”. In some sense, this was God, in His righteous government, recompensing Israel for their two-hundred and fifteen years of unrequited toil in the land of Egypt.

37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, besides children. 38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks and herds — very much cattle. 39 And they baked the dough that they brought forth out of Egypt into unleavened cakes, for it was not leavened; for they were driven out of Egypt, and could not wait; neither had they prepared for themselves any food. 40 And the residence of the children of Israel that they resided in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on that same day it came to pass that all the hosts of Jehovah went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night of observance to Jehovah, because of their being brought out from the land of Egypt: that same night is an observance to Jehovah for all the children of Israel in their generations. vv.37-42 Departure from Egypt. Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, which was a place to the east of Ramses, but still in the precincts of Egypt. This the first leg of Israel’s wilderness journey. The very night they were sheltered by the blood of the lamb, their wilderness experience began. So with us. The cross makes us strangers in this world. The number of the children of Israel is given as “six hundred thousand on foot that were men, besides children.” This implies a total population of over two million! This is especially remarkable considering that Israel came to Egypt with on 70 persons (Gen. 46:27). This requires roughly a 5% growth rate over 215 years! There are a few factors to consider. First, God caused Israel to multiply extremely quickly (Ex. 1:20). Second, it was a common practice for Hebrew men to marry multiple wives, and for each wife to have multiple children. There were two censuses taken in Numbers. The abled bodies men were numbered at 603,550 in Numbers 1:46, and 601,730 in Numbers 26:51 after the older generation had died and a new generation grown up. It also says “a mixed multitude went up also with them”, meaning Egyptians that left with Israel, and probably had intermingled with them by marriage. This same mixed-multitude later became the source of problems for Israel (Num. 11:4). Also with Israel came great flocks and herds. The reason is given why their bread was not leavened; because they could not wait. Later (ch.13) we find that when the feast was kept, they were to have no leaven in their houses on purpose. Finally, after 430 years, Israel was free from Egypt! This was such a momentous occasion that it became a “night of observance to Jehovah” for generations. 

 

43 And Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: No stranger shall eat of it; 44 but every man’s bondman that is bought for money — let him be circumcised: then shall he eat it. 45 A settler and a hired servant shall not eat it. vv.43-45 Who Should Keep It. It is interesting that in the instructions for the ordinance of the Passover there is much said about eating the lamb, but nothing said about applying the blood. This is because the blood of Christ is applied once-for-all to the soul, and never needs to be repeated. Feeding on Christ as the Lamb of God however is something we ought continually to do! There are a number of different classes here. First, a “stranger” would be a Gentile, not of the children of Israel. These represent unbelievers, who have no part with Christ, and no ability to feed on Him. Second, a “bondman that is bought for money” would be one that was the property of an Israelite. These represent those who have come among the people of God without their own choice, yet they are redeemed. Such were permitted to eat the Passover, so long as they were circumcised. Circumcisions speaks of putting the flesh in the place of death. In other words, it didn’t matter how you got there, any redeemed soul can feed on Christ if they have acknowledged what the cross means to nature, to the flesh, and to the world. Third, the “settler” or tenant-farmer and the “hired-servant” were not allowed to eat the Passover. They represent those those who approach God on a legal basis; giving something to get something. No soul in this state can feed on Christ. There is a fourth category as well, in v.48, “a sojourner sojourneth with thee”. This represents the Gentiles generally, who dwell in the tents of Shem, brought into blessing by faith, and therefore able to feed on Christ.

 

46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth any of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. v.46 Carefulness. There was to be a carefulness with the Passover. Even though neighbors could share the lamb in a case where one house was too small, it was important that the lamb not be carried outside into the streets as a common thing; “thou shalt not carry forth any of the flesh abroad out of the house”. This also shows that God intended to fulfill His promise, and bring them to Canaan. In the wilderness they would dwell in tents, but in Canaan they would have permanent dwellings. Another thing was that they should handle the lamb carefully; “neither shall ye break a bone thereof”. This last part is prophetic of Christ, as John 19 shows us.

Not a bone of the Passover lamb was to be broken, and so with the Messiah when He died. This scripture is quoted in John 19:33-36 in connection with the Lord being dead before the soldiers reached Him with their clubs. This shows the Passover was completely filled by Christ. Scripture doesn't say exactly why it was important that a bone of the Messiah would not be broken. God willed it that the legs of His Son would not be broken; His body was precious. Here are several possible reasons. (1) To break a bone of the Lamb would introduce the thought of “crushing” or forcibly ending life. It was imperative that Christ lay down His own life in obedience to His Father’s will (John 10:18). No man took it from Him. And yet, while no man took His life from Him, God holds man responsible for their intentions... murder. Accordingly, in the book of Revelation, Jesus appears as "a lamb as it had been slain" (Rev. 5:6). The symbol of a "slain lamb" has the idea of an innocent victim subjected to a violent death. It says in Zech. 12:10 that Israel "shall look upon me whom they have pierced". God holds them responsible. (2) Bones are the frame of a person, and the Person of our Lord was not broken by the sufferings of the cross. His sufferings did not make Him less than He was. (3) We are not saved by his walk (leg bones) by by his blood (pierced side).

 

47 All the assembly of Israel shall hold it. 48 And when a sojourner sojourneth with thee, and would hold the passover to Jehovah, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and hold it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 49 One law shall be for him that is home-born and for the sojourner that sojourneth among you. vv.47-49 The Requirement of Circumcision. The Passover was unique to Jehovah’s covenant people, the children of Israel. All the assembly of Israel was to hold the ceremony, without exception. When a sojourner was dwelling in the land long-term and wanted to honor the God of that land, they were permitted to hold the Passover as long as all the males were circumcised. The sign of God’s covenant with Abraham must be taken by any who would partake of the Passover, without exception; “he shall be as one that is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof”. This was a permanent step, which could not be reversed, and therefore not to be entered into lightly. As literal circumcision was physically the “cutting off” of the flesh, so it morally represents the believer passing judgment on the flesh. In Colossians circumcision is applied to the believer in this way. In Col. 2:11 it is viewed as something that a believer does when they believe the gospel. Before we partake of the precious things of Christ, there should first be that solemn step of agreeing with God about the flesh, and all that man is by nature.

 

50 And all the children of Israel did as Jehovah had commanded Moses and Aaron; so did they. v.50 Obedience. As in v.28, the children of Israel obey. Obedience is the key to blessing!

51 And it came to pass on that same day, that Jehovah brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their hosts. v.51 Conclusion. The great result of the Passover, the tenth plague of Egypt, was that Jehovah delivered Israel from the land of Egypt. Mention is made of their “hosts”, which indicates the Lord’s purpose to use Israel to accomplish a work later on.