The Passover

9 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month^(A) of the second year after they came out of Egypt.^(B) He said, ² “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover^(C) at the appointed time.^{(D) 3} Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month,^(E) in accordance with all its rules and regulations.^(F)”

⁴ So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover,^{(G) 5} and they did so in the Desert of Sinai^(H) at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.^(I) The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.^(J)

⁶ But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean^(K) on account of a dead body.^(L) So they came to Moses and Aaron^(M) that same day ⁷ and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?^(N)”

⁸ Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”^(O)

⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰ “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body^(P) or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate^(Q) the Lord’s Passover, ¹¹ but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month^(R) at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.^{(S) 12} They must not leave any of it till morning^(T) or break any of its bones.^(U) When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.^{(V) 13} But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people^(W) for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

¹⁴ “‘A foreigner^(X) residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

The Passover^(A)

16 Observe the month of Aviv^(B) and celebrate the Passover^(C) of the Lord your God, because in the month of Aviv he brought you out of Egypt by night. ² Sacrifice as the Passover to the Lord your God an animal from your flock or herd at the place the Lord will choose as a dwelling for his Name.^{(D) 3} Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction,^(E) because you left Egypt in haste^(F)—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.^{(G) 4} Let no yeast be found in your possession in all your land for seven days. Do not let any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening^(H) of the first day remain until morning.^(I)

⁵ You must not sacrifice the Passover in any town the Lord your God gives you ⁶ except in the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name. There you must sacrifice the Passover in the evening, when the sun goes down, on the anniversary^[a](J) of your departure from Egypt. ⁷ Roast^(K) it and eat it at the place the Lord your God will choose. Then in the morning return to your tents. ⁸ For six days eat unleavened bread and on the seventh day hold an assembly^(L) to the Lord your God and do no work.^(M)

Josiah Celebrates the Passover^(A)

35 Josiah celebrated the Passover^(B) to the Lord in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. ² He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the Lord’s temple. ³ He said to the Levites, who instructed^(C) all Israel and who had been consecrated to the Lord: “Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve the Lord your God and his people Israel. ⁴ Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions,^(D) according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and by his son Solomon.

⁵ “Stand in the holy place with a group of Levites for each subdivision of the families of your fellow Israelites, the lay people. ⁶ Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves^(E) and prepare the lambs for your fellow Israelites, doing what the Lord commanded through Moses.”