How does 2 Chronicles 35:11 connect to the Passover instructions in Exodus 12? Setting the Scene The very first Passover (Exodus 12) took place on the night God delivered Israel from Egypt. Centuries later, King Josiah reinstituted that celebration at Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 35). Both passages record one unified act of obedience to God’s precise instructions. Key Verse Snapshot – 2 Chronicles 35:11 “They slaughtered the Passover animals, and while the priests sprinkled the blood that was handed to them, the Levites skinned the animals.” Original Passover Blueprint – Exodus 12 • Exodus 12:3–6 — each household was to select an unblemished lamb on the 10th day and keep it until the 14th. • Exodus 12:6–7 — “you are to slaughter it at twilight. Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.” • Exodus 12:8–10 — the meat was to be roasted and completely consumed that night. • Exodus 12:21–22 — Moses repeated the instructions: “Slaughter the Passover lamb, take a bundle of hyssop, dip it in the blood in the basin, and apply some of the blood to the lintel and two doorposts.” Point-by-Point Connections • Slaughter of the lambs – Exodus 12:6: families killed the animals. – 2 Chronicles 35:11: Levites handled the slaughter on behalf of the worshipers, honoring the same requirement in a temple-centered context. • Handling of the blood – Exodus 12:7, 22: blood applied as a sign of atonement and protection. – 2 Chronicles 35:11: priests “sprinkled the blood” on the altar, preserving the atonement symbolism within the sacrificial system (cf. Leviticus 17:11). • Preparation of the meat – Exodus 12:8–9: after slaughter, the lamb was prepared for eating. – 2 Chronicles 35:11: Levites “skinned the animals,” the first step before roasting (cf. 2 Chronicles 35:13). • Timing – Both events occur on the 14th day of the first month (Exodus 12:6; 2 Chronicles 35:1). Why the Differences Still Fit the Same Pattern • Household vs. National Worship – Exodus 12 took place before there was a priesthood or sanctuary; each father served as priest for his family. – By Josiah’s day, God had designated priests and a central altar (Deuteronomy 16:5–6). The function remains identical: shed blood stands between the worshiper and judgment. • Doorposts vs. Altar – In Egypt the blood covered the doorway; in Jerusalem it was sprinkled on the altar. Both actions publicly displayed faith in God’s promise that “when I see the blood, I will pass over you” (Exodus 12:13). Timeless Takeaways • God’s instructions never expire; they adapt to new settings without losing their core meaning. • The shedding and applying of innocent blood is central to redemption (Hebrews 9:22). • Josiah’s careful obedience demonstrates how later generations can return to the original word and experience renewal (2 Chronicles 34:31). |
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