Exode 12
La Bible du Semeur
La Pâque
12 L’Eternel parla à Moïse et à Aaron en Egypte. Il leur dit : 2 Ce mois-ci[a] sera pour vous le premier mois de l’année. 3 Donnez à toute la communauté d’Israël les instructions suivantes : le dixième jour de ce mois, que chaque maison ou chaque famille se procure un agneau. 4 Si dans une maison on est trop peu nombreux pour manger un agneau, qu’on s’associe à la famille voisine la plus proche en tenant compte du nombre de personnes ; et l’on choisira l’agneau en fonction de ce que chacun peut manger. 5 Vous prendrez un agneau ou un chevreau sans défaut, un mâle âgé d’un an. 6 Vous le garderez jusqu’au quatorzième jour de ce mois : ce jour-là, tout l’ensemble de la communauté d’Israël immolera ces agneaux à la nuit tombante[b].
7 On prendra de son sang et l’on en badigeonnera les deux montants et le linteau de la porte des maisons où il sera mangé. 8 On en rôtira la viande et on la mangera cette nuit-là avec des pains sans levain et des herbes amères[c]. 9 Vous n’en mangerez rien qui soit à moitié cuit ou bouilli dans l’eau, tout sera rôti au feu avec la tête, les pattes et les abats. 10 Vous n’en garderez rien pour le lendemain. S’il reste quelque chose jusqu’au lendemain, vous le brûlerez. 11 Vous le mangerez à la hâte, prêts à partir : la ceinture nouée aux reins, les sandales aux pieds et le bâton à la main. Ce sera la Pâque[d] que l’on célébrera en l’honneur de l’Eternel. 12 Je parcourrai l’Egypte cette nuit-là et je frapperai tout premier-né dans le pays, homme et bête, et j’exercerai ainsi mes jugements contre tous les dieux de l’Egypte ; je suis l’Eternel. 13 Le sang sera pour vous un signe sur les maisons où vous serez ; je verrai le sang, je passerai par-dessus vous. Ainsi le fléau destructeur ne vous atteindra pas lorsque je frapperai l’Egypte.
La semaine des pains sans levain
14 De génération en génération, vous commémorerez ce jour par une fête que vous célébrerez en l’honneur de l’Eternel. Cette fête est une institution en vigueur à perpétuité. 15 Pendant sept jours, vous mangerez des pains sans levain[e]. Dès le premier jour, vous ferez disparaître tout levain de vos maisons ; car si quelqu’un mange du pain levé, entre le premier jour et le septième, il sera retranché du peuple d’Israël. 16 Vous aurez une assemblée cultuelle le premier jour, ainsi que le septième. Pendant ces deux jours-là, on ne fera aucun travail, sauf ce qui sera nécessaire pour préparer le repas de chacun. 17 Vous célébrerez la fête des Pains sans levain pour commémorer ce jour où j’aurai fait sortir vos tribus d’Egypte. Vous observerez ce jour-là de génération en génération comme une institution en vigueur à perpétuité. 18 A partir du soir du quatorzième jour du premier mois, vous mangerez des pains sans levain, jusqu’au soir du vingt et unième jour. 19 Pendant sept jours, on ne devra trouver aucune trace de levain dans vos maisons. Toute personne qui mangera du pain levé sera exclue de la communauté d’Israël, que ce soit un étranger ou l’un des vôtres. 20 Vous ne consommerez aucune pâte levée dans tous les lieux où vous habiterez, vous ne mangerez que des pains sans levain.
Dixième fléau : la mort des premiers-nés
21 Moïse convoqua tous les responsables d’Israël et leur dit : Allez chercher un agneau ou un chevreau par famille, prenez-le et immolez-le comme agneau pascal. 22 Ensuite, vous prendrez un bouquet d’hysope, vous le tremperez dans le bassin contenant le sang de l’animal et vous en badigeonnerez le linteau et les deux montants de vos portes. Aucun de vous ne passera la porte de sa maison pour sortir jusqu’au matin.
23 L’Eternel parcourra l’Egypte pour la frapper. Quand il verra le sang sur le linteau et sur les deux montants de vos portes, il passera par-dessus la porte et ne permettra pas au destructeur[f] de pénétrer dans votre maison pour porter ses coups.
24 Vous observerez toutes ces prescriptions comme une institution pour vous et pour toutes les générations à venir. 25 Lorsque vous serez arrivés dans le pays que l’Eternel vous donnera comme il l’a promis, vous accomplirez cette cérémonie. 26 Lorsque vos enfants vous demanderont ce qu’elle signifie pour vous, 27 vous leur répondrez : « C’est le sacrifice de la Pâque en l’honneur de l’Eternel qui a passé par-dessus les maisons des Israélites en Egypte lorsqu’il a frappé l’Egypte et qu’il a préservé nos familles. »
Le peuple s’agenouilla et se prosterna. 28 Puis les Israélites se retirèrent et accomplirent tout ce que l’Eternel avait ordonné à Moïse et à Aaron.
29 Au milieu de la nuit, l’Eternel frappa tous les fils aînés d’Egypte, depuis celui du pharaon, qui régnait sur le trône, jusqu’à celui du détenu qui se trouvait en prison, et aux premiers-nés des animaux. 30 Cette nuit-là, le pharaon se leva ainsi que tous ses hauts fonctionnaires et tous les Egyptiens. De grands cris furent poussés dans toute l’Egypte, car il n’y avait pas une maison où il n’y eût un mort.
L’Exode
31 En pleine nuit, le pharaon convoqua Moïse et Aaron et leur dit : Levez-vous, partez de chez nous, vous et les Israélites, et allez rendre un culte à l’Eternel comme vous l’avez demandé ! 32 Prenez avec vous votre bétail, gros et petit, comme vous l’avez dit, allez-vous-en et demandez pour moi la bénédiction de Dieu.
33 Les Egyptiens pressaient le peuple pour qu’il quitte rapidement le pays, car ils disaient : Nous allons tous mourir !
34 Le peuple emporta sa pâte à pain avant qu’elle n’eût levé, ils enveloppèrent leurs corbeilles à pétrir dans leurs manteaux et les chargèrent sur leurs épaules. 35 Par ailleurs, les Israélites s’étaient conformés aux instructions de Moïse : ils avaient demandé aux Egyptiens des objets d’argent et d’or ainsi que des vêtements. 36 L’Eternel leur avait fait gagner la faveur des Egyptiens qui leur avaient donné ce qu’ils demandaient. C’est ainsi qu’ils dépouillèrent les Egyptiens.
37 Les Israélites partirent de Ramsès en direction de Soukkoth[g]. Ils étaient environ six cent mille hommes de pied, sans compter les femmes et les enfants. 38 Une foule nombreuse et composite se joignit à eux ; de plus, ils emmenaient un cheptel important de gros et de menu bétail. 39 Comme ils avaient été chassés précipitamment d’Egypte sans pouvoir préparer de provisions de route, ils n’avaient emporté que la pâte non levée, ils se mirent donc à la cuire pour en faire des galettes sans levain. 40 Les descendants d’Israël avaient séjourné durant quatre cent trente ans en Egypte[h]. 41 Au terme de ces quatre cent trente ans, le jour de la Pâque, toutes les troupes de l’Eternel[i] quittèrent l’Egypte.
42 Comme l’Eternel veilla cette nuit-là, pour les faire sortir d’Egypte, cette nuit est réservée à l’Eternel : ce sera une nuit de veille pour les Israélites dans les générations à venir.
Les lois sur la participation à la Pâque
43 L’Eternel dit à Moïse et à Aaron : Voici les prescriptions au sujet de la Pâque : Aucun étranger n’en mangera. 44 Un esclave acquis à prix d’argent devra être circoncis, puis il prendra part au repas de la Pâque. 45 Mais le résident temporaire et l’ouvrier salarié n’y participeront pas. 46 On mangera chaque agneau à l’intérieur de la maison. Vous n’emporterez aucun morceau de viande à l’extérieur et vous ne briserez aucun os de l’animal[j]. 47 Toute la communauté d’Israël célébrera la Pâque. 48 Si un étranger en résidence chez toi désire célébrer la Pâque en l’honneur de l’Eternel, tous les hommes de sa famille devront d’abord être circoncis ; il pourra alors célébrer la fête au même titre que l’Israélite. Aucun incirconcis ne pourra y prendre part. 49 Une seule et même règle s’appliquera aux Israélites et aux étrangers séjournant parmi vous.
50 Tous les Israélites se conformèrent à ce que l’Eternel avait ordonné à Moïse et à Aaron. 51 C’est en ce jour précis que l’Eternel fit sortir les descendants d’Israël d’Egypte, comme une armée en bon ordre.
Footnotes
- 12.2 Le mois des épis (Abib, plus tard Nisân) débute avec la première pleine lune du printemps (mars-avril).
- 12.6 En hébreu : entre les deux soirs, c’est-à-dire entre le coucher du soleil et la nuit totale.
- 12.8 Laitue sauvage, chicorée ou autres plantes.
- 12.11 Dans la maison, on ne portait ni sandales, ni ceinture. Les mettre ici était un acte de foi dans l’ordre imminent de départ. Le mot hébreu rendu par Pâque vient d’un terme signifiant : passer par-dessus (v. 13, 23, 27).
- 12.15 C’est pourquoi la Pâque est souvent aussi appelée la fête des Pains sans levain (Lv 23.6 ; Lc 22.7 ; Ac 12.3). Plus tard, de manière négative, le levain symbolisera souvent l’hypocrisie (Lc 12.1), « le mal et la méchanceté » (1 Co 5.8).
- 12.23 Un ange chargé d’exécuter ce jugement de Dieu (voir Gn 19.13 ; 2 S 24.16 ; Hé 11.28).
- 12.37 Ramsès: voir 1.11 et note. Soukkoth: ville du delta du Nil.
- 12.40 Le Pentateuque samaritain et l’ancienne version grecque ajoutent : et en Canaan. Voir Gn 15.13 ; Ga 3.17.
- 12.41 Allusion à l’ordre bien réglé, comme celui d’une armée, de ceux qui partaient (voir 6.26).
- 12.46 Voir Nb 9.12 ; verset cité dans Jn 19.36.
Exodus 12
New King James Version
The Passover Instituted(A)
12 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 (B)“This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the (C)tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man’s need you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be (D)without[a] blemish, a male [b]of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the (E)fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that (F)night; (G)roasted in fire, with (H)unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but (I)roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails. 10 (J)You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. 11 And thus you shall eat it: [c]with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. (K)It is the Lord’s Passover.
12 ‘For I (L)will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and (M)against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: (N)I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
14 ‘So this day shall be to you (O)a memorial; and you shall keep it as a (P)feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast (Q)by an everlasting ordinance. 15 (R)Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, (S)that [d]person shall be [e]cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day there shall be (T)a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. 17 So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for (U)on this same day I will have brought your [f]armies (V)out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. 18 (W)In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For (X)seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’ ”
21 Then (Y)Moses called for all the (Z)elders of Israel and said to them, (AA)“Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 (AB)And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and (AC)strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. 23 (AD)For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the (AE)blood on the [g]lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and (AF)not allow (AG)the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. 24 And you shall (AH)observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. 25 It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, (AI)just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 (AJ)And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 that you shall say, (AK)‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ ” So the people (AL)bowed their heads and worshiped. 28 Then the children of Israel went away and (AM)did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.
The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn(AN)
29 (AO)And it came to pass at midnight that (AP)the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was [h]in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of (AQ)livestock. 30 So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
The Exodus
31 Then he (AR)called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, (AS)both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have (AT)said. 32 (AU)Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.”
33 (AV)And the Egyptians (AW)urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians (AX)articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 (AY)And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus (AZ)they plundered the Egyptians.
37 Then (BA)the children of Israel journeyed from (BB)Rameses to Succoth, about (BC)six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38 A (BD)mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of (BE)livestock. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because (BF)they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.
40 Now the [i]sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in [j]Egypt was (BG)four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that (BH)all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is (BI)a [k]night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations.
Passover Regulations(BJ)
43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is (BK)the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. 44 But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have (BL)circumcised him, then he may eat it. 45 (BM)A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. 46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, (BN)nor shall you break one of its bones. 47 (BO)All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And (BP)when a stranger [l]dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. 49 (BQ)One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.”
50 Thus all the children of Israel did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 (BR)And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt (BS)according to their armies.
Footnotes
- Exodus 12:5 perfect or sound
- Exodus 12:5 a year old
- Exodus 12:11 Made ready to travel
- Exodus 12:15 soul
- Exodus 12:15 Put to death
- Exodus 12:17 hosts
- Exodus 12:23 Crosspiece at top of door
- Exodus 12:29 in prison
- Exodus 12:40 Length of the stay
- Exodus 12:40 Sam., LXX Egypt and Canaan
- Exodus 12:42 night of vigil
- Exodus 12:48 As a resident alien
Exodus 12
King James Version
12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord's passover.
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
26 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.
32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
36 And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.
42 It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
43 And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
La Bible Du Semeur (The Bible of the Sower) Copyright © 1992, 1999 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
