The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
The verse stands where the Exodus narrative resumes with Israel encamped at Sinai, in the account of their journeys toward Kadesh-barnea. It belongs to the keeping of the first Passover after leaving Egypt while camped at Horeb, where they remained for nearly or quite a year. That Passover was observed only once in the wilderness after Israel left Egypt, then omitted until the people entered Canaan.
Those prevented by ceremonial uncleanness or defilement, or by other valid reason and absolute necessity, from keeping the Passover in the first month were permitted to keep it on the fourteenth day of the second month at evening. The Passover was the one exception to the rule that the yearly feasts had to be observed only at the time when they were due. This exception for absolute necessity still preserves a specific date for the observance within the year. It does not authorize observing the Passover one day early.
The second-month Passover on the fourteenth day at evening is kept by eating the paschal lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Eating bitter herbs was required only on the Passover day. Every bone of the lamb was kept unbroken, no part was allowed to touch the oven, and any part where fat dropped back on it was cut off. The company reclined on couches after the lamps were lighted, drank cups of red wine mixed with water with benediction and hand-washing, and ate from a table holding bitter herbs, unleavened bread, the lamb, and a dish of dates, raisins and other fruits mixed with vinegar to the consistency of lime in commemoration of the mortar in Egypt.
The head man dipped bitter herbs and gave to each, the meaning of the feast was told by repeating the deliverance from Egypt, and the meal was accompanied by the Hallel, with Psalms 113 and 114 before the meal prayer and Psalms 115, 116, 117 and 118 to close it. The observance involved restrictions including avoiding defilement by the dead and dissipation, and keeping its forms without sincere worship reduced it to mockery. The bread and herbs mark the verse as part of the ceremonial law of feast days that is abolished, distinguished from the Sabbath of the moral law. Regarding the day or esteeming every day alike means regarding or not regarding that required eating.
Afterward the Jews kept two feast days instead of one, keeping two days in each case instead of keeping only the first and last days of the feast as a sabbath, and to make assurance doubly sure keeping New Year's Day on two successive days, a duplication since extended to all the great feast days.
The verse stands where the Exodus narrative resumes with Israel encamped at Sinai, in the account of their journeys toward Kadesh-barnea. It belongs to the keeping of the first Passover after leaving Egypt while camped at Horeb, where they remained for nearly or quite a year. That Passover was observed only once in the wilderness after Israel left Egypt, then omitted until the people entered Canaan.
Those prevented by ceremonial uncleanness or defilement, or by other valid reason and absolute necessity, from keeping the Passover in the first month were permitted to keep it on the fourteenth day of the second month at evening. The Passover was the one exception to the rule that the yearly feasts had to be observed only at the time when they were due. This exception for absolute necessity still preserves a specific date for the observance within the year. It does not authorize observing the Passover one day early.
The second-month Passover on the fourteenth day at evening is kept by eating the paschal lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Eating bitter herbs was required only on the Passover day. Every bone of the lamb was kept unbroken, no part was allowed to touch the oven, and any part where fat dropped back on it was cut off. The company reclined on couches after the lamps were lighted, drank cups of red wine mixed with water with benediction and hand-washing, and ate from a table holding bitter herbs, unleavened bread, the lamb, and a dish of dates, raisins and other fruits mixed with vinegar to the consistency of lime in commemoration of the mortar in Egypt.
The head man dipped bitter herbs and gave to each, the meaning of the feast was told by repeating the deliverance from Egypt, and the meal was accompanied by the Hallel, with Psalms 113 and 114 before the meal prayer and Psalms 115, 116, 117 and 118 to close it. The observance involved restrictions including avoiding defilement by the dead and dissipation, and keeping its forms without sincere worship reduced it to mockery. The bread and herbs mark the verse as part of the ceremonial law of feast days that is abolished, distinguished from the Sabbath of the moral law. Regarding the day or esteeming every day alike means regarding or not regarding that required eating.
Afterward the Jews kept two feast days instead of one, keeping two days in each case instead of keeping only the first and last days of the feast as a sabbath, and to make assurance doubly sure keeping New Year's Day on two successive days, a duplication since extended to all the great feast days.