Topical Bible: Israel: Instituted the Passover

◄ Israel: Instituted the Passover ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The institution of the Passover is a pivotal event in the history of Israel, marking the nation's deliverance from Egyptian bondage and the beginning of their journey as a covenant people under Yahweh. The Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is both a historical event and a recurring religious observance that commemorates God's mighty acts of salvation.

Biblical Account

The Passover is first instituted in the book of Exodus, where God commands Moses and Aaron to prepare the Israelites for their imminent departure from Egypt. The narrative is found in Exodus 12, where God provides specific instructions for the observance of the Passover. The Israelites are to select a lamb without blemish, a male a year old, on the tenth day of the first month. They are to keep it until the fourteenth day, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight (Exodus 12:3-6).

The blood of the lamb is to be applied to the doorposts and lintels of the houses where they eat the lamb. This act serves as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" the houses of the Israelites when He strikes down the firstborn of Egypt, sparing them from the plague of death (Exodus 12:7, 12-13). The meal itself is to be eaten in haste, with the Israelites dressed for travel, symbolizing their readiness to leave Egypt (Exodus 12:11).

Significance and Observance

The Passover is not merely a historical commemoration but a perpetual ordinance for the Israelites. God commands that it be observed annually as a lasting memorial of their deliverance (Exodus 12:14). The feast is to be kept throughout their generations, serving as a reminder of God's faithfulness and power.

The Passover also marks the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a seven-day period during which the Israelites are to eat bread made without yeast. This symbolizes the haste of their departure from Egypt and the purity required of God's people (Exodus 12:15-20).

Theological Implications

Theologically, the Passover is rich with symbolism and foreshadowing. The lamb without blemish prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The blood of the Passover lamb, which protected the Israelites from death, points to the atoning blood of Christ, which delivers believers from the penalty of sin.

The Passover also underscores the themes of redemption and covenant. It is a testament to God's sovereign power to save and His faithfulness to His promises. The event solidifies Israel's identity as a people set apart for God's purposes, bound to Him by the covenant established at Sinai.

Cultural and Historical Context

In the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel, the Passover served as a unifying ritual that reinforced communal identity and continuity. It was a time for families to gather, recount the account of the Exodus, and instill in each generation the importance of God's deliverance and the call to holiness.

Throughout Israel's history, the observance of the Passover has been a barometer of spiritual fidelity. During periods of apostasy, the Passover was neglected, but during times of revival, it was reinstated with renewed fervor, as seen in the reforms of King Hezekiah and King Josiah (2 Chronicles 30:1-27; 2 Kings 23:21-23).

In summary, the institution of the Passover is a foundational event in the narrative of Israel, encapsulating themes of deliverance, covenant, and divine faithfulness. It remains a central observance in Jewish tradition and holds profound significance for Christians as a precursor to the redemptive work of Christ.

Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 12:1-28
And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Were Christ and the Apostles Mistaken?
... "And they were to prove Israel by them ... feet until Shiloh come." Moses wrote of Christ,
when under divine direction he instituted the passover, as recorded ...
/.../concerning the assumptions of destructive criticism/iv were christ and the.htm

The Writing on God's Hands
... When Israel came out of Egypt, the Passover was instituted as 'a memorial unto all
generations,' or, as the same idea is otherwise expressed, 'it shall be for ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the writing on gods hands.htm

Exodus
... the incarnation of might (v.). Blow after blow falls from Israel's God upon ... the
first-born, an event in connexion with which the passover was instituted. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/exodus.htm

Hezekiah
... days usually allotted to the Passover feast passed ... Then all the children of Israel
returned, every ... Hezekiah and his associates instituted various reforms for ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 28 hezekiah.htm

Thought, Deed, Word
... It was instituted at the Passover and instead ... The purpose of the deliverance is to
make 'prophets of His law.' Such was the divine intention as to Israel. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/thought deed word.htm

"In Remembrance of Me"
... As He ate the Passover with His disciples, He instituted in its ... The Passover was
ordained as a commemoration of the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian ...
/.../white/the desire of ages/chapter 72 in remembrance of.htm

The Ordinances of the New Testament.
... accustomed, if we may call it a custom, to eating; but when God separated Israel
from Egypt and gave them a law, he instituted a supper called the Passover. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter viii the ordinances of.htm

The Assyrian Captivity
... and as speedily as possible instituted important reforms in ... A Passover celebration
was arranged for, and to ... was sounded "throughout all Israel, from Beersheba ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm

Samaria. Sychem.
... mount Gerizim, on the day of the Passover, and the ... here: "Then" (under Simeon the
Just) "Israel went into ... without the Temple of God, and instituted rites out ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 56 samaria sychem.htm

Prophecies Fulfilled.
... lamb had been slain, Christ, having eaten the Passover with His disciples, instituted
that feast ... priest, having made an atonement for all Israel, and thus ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /22 prophecies fulfilled.htm