ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Exodus 12

Ex. 12:1–28 The people of Israel are called to act obediently so that the Lord will “pass over” them during the tenth plague.

Ex. 12:2 The events of the plagues and the exodus are so significant for Israel’s identity as an emerging nation that the month they come out of Egypt will become for them the first month of the year.

Ex. 12:8 The Passover lamb is to be eaten with unleavened bread. Israel would be leaving Egypt so quickly that they would have packed up their dough before it rose (vv. 34, 39).

Ex. 12:11 Similar to the instruction about unleavened bread (v. 8), Israel is to eat the Passover dressed in a way that symbolizes their leaving Egypt in the middle of the night (vv. 31–34).

Ex. 12:12 Yahweh is the only true God of heaven and earth, and he is acting on the Israelites’ behalf. This is being displayed in judgment on Egypt’s land, animals, people, king, and gods.

Ex. 12:13 The blood placed on the doorway of the houses of Israel functioned both as the sign that they were a part of the Lord’s people and as the signal that their house should be protected by the Lord (see also vv. 21–23).

Ex. 12:14–20 The instructions in this section relate particularly to the way that Israel will celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the Promised Land.

Ex. 12:15 that person shall be cut off from Israel (also v. 19). Eating leavened bread during the Passover was a serious sin. Although being “cut off” is the punishment for several violations of the law (e.g., Gen. 17:14; Lev. 7:20–21; 20:17), it is not usually stated whether the community or the Lord will carry out the punishment (see note on Ex. 31:14–15). In this case, it is possible that the people themselves were to remove the violator from the celebration of the Passover. This would have been a merciful warning against disregarding the covenant so that the person would not be “cut off” forever.

Ex. 12:19 a sojourner or a native of the land. See vv. 43–49. The sojourners were non-Israelites, living among Israel. Often they were converts to the Lord.

Ex. 12:22 hyssop. A bushy shrub used as a brush in cleansing ceremonies (see Lev. 14:4–7; Num. 19:6, 18).

Ex. 12:23 when he sees the blood. See note on v. 13.

Ex. 12:35–36 Israel’s asking for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing (v. 35) fulfills what the Lord had promised Moses at the burning bush (3:22) and what he had promised Abraham—that his descendants would come out (of Egypt) “with great possessions” (Gen. 15:14).

Ex. 12:37 While the sons of Jacob and their families arrived in Egypt with 70 persons (see 1:5), the people of Israel who were going out of the land now numbered more than six hundred thousand . . . , besides women and children. This would suggest a total of about 2 million people.

Ex. 12:39 Israel’s inability to prepare any provisions for themselves is merciful because the Lord will continually demonstrate his provision for them. Israel needs to fully trust the Lord during the journey to Sinai (see 15:24; 16:2; 17:2–3).

Ex. 12:41 The reference to Israel as the hosts of the Lord (also vv. 17; 51; 7:4) brings to mind a military image. The pharaoh mentioned in 1:8 had enslaved Israel because he feared they would form a military alliance with one of Egypt’s enemies (1:10). Yet now, when Israel is equipped for battle, it is not to fight Egypt but to be ready to go into the land the Lord has promised them (13:18).

Ex. 12:43–49 The rules related to the Passover were necessary in light of the “mixed multitude” that went out of Egypt with Israel (v. 38). Participation in the feasts required that a person be identified as a part of God’s people by being circumcised (v. 48).