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Het Paasfeest

12 De Heer zei tegen Mozes en Aäron: "Deze maand zal voortaan voor jullie de belangrijkste maand zijn. Hij zal de eerste maand van het jaar zijn. Zeg tegen het hele volk Israël: Op de tiende dag van deze maand moet iedereen een lam uit zijn kudde uitzoeken: één lam per gezin. Maar als iemands gezin daar te klein voor is, moet hij samendoen met een buurman. Er moet genoeg vlees zijn voor alle mensen van die twee gezinnen. Bij het uitzoeken van het dier moeten jullie rekening houden met hoeveel iedereen eet. Het moet een gezond mannetjes-dier zijn van één jaar oud. Het mag ook een geitje zijn van één jaar oud. Er mag helemaal niets mis mee zijn. Jullie moeten het bewaren tot de 14e dag van deze maand. Dan moeten alle Israëlieten die dieren slachten als het avond wordt. Daarna moeten jullie het bloed van de dieren aan de deurposten smeren, rond de deuren van de huizen waar jullie de dieren eten.

Diezelfde nacht nog moeten jullie het vlees opeten. Eet het gebraden, met brood van deeg zonder gist, en met bittere kruiden. Jullie mogen het vlees niet gekookt of rauw opeten. Jullie mogen het alleen gebraden eten. Jullie moeten het hele dier eten, met de kop, de poten en de ingewanden. 10 Jullie mogen er niets van bewaren tot de volgende dag. Wat ervan overblijft moeten jullie verbranden.

11 Jullie moeten het haastig eten. Sta onder het eten klaar om te vertrekken, met je schoenen aan en een staf in je hand. Het is het Paasoffer ('Pascha' = 'voorbijgaan') voor de Heer. 12 Want Ik zal vannacht door Egypte gaan en alle oudste zonen en alle eerstgeboren dieren doden. Ik zal alle goden van Egypte straffen. Ik ben de Heer. 13 Het bloed aan jullie huizen is een teken. Als Ik bloed aan een huis zie, zal Ik dat huis voorbijgaan. Zo zal er bij jullie niemand sterven als Ik Egypte straf.

14 Deze dag moet voortaan voor jullie een feestdag zijn, een feest voor Mij, de Heer. Al jullie families ná jullie moeten voor altijd dit feest vieren. 15 Zeven dagen lang moeten jullie brood eten dat zonder gist is gebakken. Op de eerste dag van het feest moeten jullie de gist uit jullie huizen wegdoen. Iedereen die tussen de eerste en de zevende dag iets met gist eet, moet worden gedood. 16 Op de eerste en de zevende dag moeten jullie voor Mij een bijeenkomst houden. Niemand mag op die dagen werken. Jullie mogen alleen de maaltijden klaarmaken. 17 Voortaan moeten jullie elk jaar dit Feest van de Ongegiste Broden vieren. Want op deze dag haal Ik jullie allemaal weg uit Egypte. Daarom moeten jullie deze dag voor altijd blijven vieren.

18 Dus vanaf de avond van de 14e dag van de eerste maand tot de avond van de 21e dag van die maand moeten jullie ongegist brood eten. 19 Zeven dagen lang mag er helemaal geen gist in jullie huizen zijn. Iedereen die iets eet dat met gist is klaargemaakt, moet worden gedood. Het maakt niet uit of hij een vreemdeling is of dat hij een Israëliet is. 20 Er mag niets worden gegeten dat met gist is klaargemaakt. Jullie mogen alleen ongegist brood eten, in het hele land."

21 Toen liet Mozes de leiders van Israël bij zich komen. Hij zei tegen hen: "Zorg ervoor dat iedereen een lam gaat uitkiezen voor zijn gezin en dat hij dat slacht. 22 Het bloed moet in een schaal opgevangen worden. Daarna moet iedereen een bosje van de hysop-plant indopen in de schaal en daarmee het bloed aan de deurposten smeren, rond de deur van zijn huis. Niemand mag zijn huis uitgaan tot de volgende morgen. 23 De Heer zal door het land trekken om de Egyptenaren te straffen. Als Hij het bloed rondom een deur ziet, zal de Heer die deur voorbijgaan. De vernietiger zal jullie huizen niet mogen binnengaan. Hij zal niemand van jullie mogen doden.

24 Dit moeten jullie altijd blijven doen en jullie familie ná jullie ook. 25 Ook als jullie in het land gekomen zijn dat de Heer jullie gaat geven zoals Hij beloofd heeft. 26 En als jullie kinderen later vragen: 'Waarom doen jullie dat?' dan moeten jullie antwoorden: 27 'Het is het Paasoffer voor de Heer. Want Hij ging in Egypte onze huizen voorbij, toen Hij de Egyptenaren strafte. Onze huizen sloeg Hij over."

Toen knielde het volk neer en boog zich diep voor de Heer. 28 Ze gingen naar huis en deden precies wat de Heer tegen Mozes en Aäron had gezegd.

De tiende ramp: de dood

29 Om middernacht doodde de Heer elke oudste zoon in Egypte. Hij doodde de oudste zoon van de farao die ná hem koning zou worden, tot en met de oudste zoon van de gevangene in de gevangenis. Ook alle eerstgeboren dieren van het vee. 30 De farao en alle Egyptenaren werden 's nachts wakker. Overal in het land werd luid gehuild. Want in elk huis was wel iemand gestorven. 31 De farao liet Mozes en Aäron halen. Hij zei tegen hen: "Maak dat jullie wegkomen uit mijn land! Jullie en alle andere Israëlieten! Ga de Heer aanbidden, zoals jullie hebben gevraagd. 32 Neem ook jullie schapen, koeien en geiten mee, zoals jullie hebben gevraagd. Ga weg! En zegen mij ook." 33 Ook de Egyptenaren smeekten het volk om snel uit het land te vertrekken. Want ze zeiden: "We gaan allemaal dood!"

Het volk Israël vertrekt uit Egypte

34 De Israëlieten deden het brooddeeg (waar nog geen gist in zat) in bakpannen. Die wikkelden ze in kleren en zo zetten ze die op hun schouders. 35 Verder deden de Israëlieten wat Mozes en Aäron hadden gezegd: ze vroegen aan de Egyptenaren om zilveren en gouden voorwerpen en om kleren. 36 En de Heer zorgde ervoor dat de Egyptenaren goud, zilver en kleren aan hen meegaven. Zo beroofden de Israëlieten de Egyptenaren. 37 Daarna trokken ze van Raämses naar Sukkot. Het waren ongeveer 600.000 mannen te voet. De vrouwen en kinderen waren daar nog niet bij meegeteld. 38 Ook trokken er nog allerlei andere mensen met hen mee. Verder heel veel schapen, geiten en koeien.

39 Ze bakten broden van het deeg dat ze uit Egypte hadden meegenomen. Die waren gebakken van deeg zonder gist. Want er was geen tijd geweest om het deeg te laten gisten. Want ze hadden haast, doordat ze uit Egypte waren weggejaagd. Ook was er geen tijd geweest om eten voor onderweg klaar te maken.

40 De Israëlieten hadden 430 jaar in Egypte gewoond.[a] 41 En na 430 jaar, precies op de dag af, vertrok het hele volk van de Heer uit Egypte. 42 De mensen moeten altijd blijven denken aan wat de Heer die nacht voor hen heeft gedaan. Daarom moeten de Israëlieten elk jaar deze nacht vieren.

Regels voor het Paasfeest

43 De Heer zei tegen Mozes en Aäron: "Wanneer jullie het Paasfeest vieren, moeten jullie je aan de volgende regels houden:

Geen één vreemdeling mag van het paaslam eten.

44 Slaven die door iemand zijn gekocht, mogen er alleen van eten als ze besneden zijn.[b]

45 Vreemdelingen en knechten uit een ander land mogen er niet van eten.

46 Jullie moeten het paaslam in huis opeten. Jullie mogen er niets van mee naar buiten nemen, het huis uit.

Jullie mogen geen één bot van het paaslam breken.

47 Het hele volk van Israël moet dit feest vieren.

48 Als een vreemdeling die bij jullie woont graag voor de Heer het Paasfeest wil vieren, dan mag dat. Maar alleen als hij zich eerst met alle mannen die bij zijn gezin horen, laat besnijden. Pas dán mag hij het Paasfeest meevieren. Want als hij besneden is, telt hij mee als iemand die in het land geboren is. Maar iemand die niet is besneden, mag niet van het paaslam eten.

49 Deze regels gelden voor de Israëlieten én voor de vreemdelingen die bij jullie wonen."

50 De Israëlieten deden alles precies zoals de Heer aan Mozes en Aäron had bevolen. 51 Op die dag nam de Heer het hele volk van Israël uit Egypte mee.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 12:40 God had lang daarvóór al tegen Abraham gezegd dat dit zo zou gebeuren. Lees Genesis 15:13 en 14.
  2. Exodus 12:44 Wie niet besneden was, hoorde niet bij Gods verbond. Lees Genesis 17:10-14. En wie niet bij Gods verbond hoorde, mocht niet meedoen met de feesten van de Heer.

12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,

This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

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:

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.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

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.

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.

And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

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.

The Passover Instituted(A)

12 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, (B)“This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

  1. Exodus 12:5 perfect or sound
  2. Exodus 12:5 a year old
  3. Exodus 12:11 Made ready to travel
  4. Exodus 12:15 soul
  5. Exodus 12:15 Put to death
  6. Exodus 12:17 hosts
  7. Exodus 12:23 Crosspiece at top of door
  8. Exodus 12:29 in prison
  9. Exodus 12:40 Length of the stay
  10. Exodus 12:40 Sam., LXX Egypt and Canaan
  11. Exodus 12:42 night of vigil
  12. Exodus 12:48 As a resident alien

The Passover

12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, (A)“This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb (B)according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be (C)without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the (D)fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.[a]

“Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the (E)two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with (F)unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but (G)roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And (H)you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with (I)your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. (J)It is the Lord's Passover. 12 For (K)I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on (L)all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: (M)I am the Lord. 13 (N)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 no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

14 “This day shall be (O)for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a (P)statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. 15 (Q)Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, (R)that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a (S)holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for (T)on this very day I brought your (U)hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 (V)In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 (W)For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, (X)that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, (Y)whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”

21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves (Z)according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of (AA)hyssop and (AB)dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch (AC)the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. (AD)None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 (AE)For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on (AF)the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and (AG)will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 25 And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, (AH)as he has promised, you shall keep this service. 26 And (AI)when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, (AJ)‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people (AK)bowed their heads and worshiped.

28 Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn

29 (AL)At midnight the (AM)Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, (AN)from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was (AO)a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, (AP)both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. 32 (AQ)Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

The Exodus

33 (AR)The Egyptians were urgent with the people to 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, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had (AS)asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. 36 (AT)And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that (AU)they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

37 And the (AV)people of Israel journeyed from (AW)Rameses to Succoth, (AX)about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 A (AY)mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because (AZ)they were thrust out of Egypt and (BA)could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.

40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of (BB)430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a (BC)night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.

Institution of the Passover

43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every slave[b] that is (BD)bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. 45 (BE)No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. 46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and (BF)you shall not break any of its bones. 47 (BG)All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 (BH)If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he (BI)shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 There shall be (BJ)one law for the native and for the (BK)stranger who sojourns among you.”

50 All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the (BL)Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their (BM)hosts.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 12:6 Hebrew between the two evenings
  2. Exodus 12:44 Or servant; the Hebrew term ‘ebed designates a range of social and economic roles (see Preface)