Passover (Exodus 12:1-51)

The celebration of Passover or Pesach in Exodus 12 is one of the most important parts of the whole Bible. It commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. In this text, the significant word form is the verb פָּסַח [pāsaḥ]. Its first occurrence is at Ex 12:13 (in the form of וּפָסַחְתִי which is Qal perfect), where its meaning is defined as "skip" or "spare." This meaning is also obvious from the context of the verse which is expressing what Passover is. Everyone who has submitted and listened to the Lord's word has been spared and thus skipped from the destruction. Therefore, the word Passover names the whole event to which other parts of the Bible are referring back.

The story tells that on the evening of the 14th day of Abib month (subsequently termed Nisan), the Israelites gathered within their families to conduct the sacrificial ritual of slaying yearling sheep or a goat. Utilizing hyssop, they applied the blood of the lambs to the lateral and upper sections of their door frames, proceeding to roast the lambs. Additionally, they prepared bitter herbs and unleavened bread. The Israelites consumed this meal expeditiously, donning sandals as an indication of their preparedness for an imminent departure. The Lord caused the death of Egypt's firstborn, but Israel was miraculously protected.

Exodus 12:26-27 show that when future generations will ask for the significance of Passover, they will be informed that it symbolizes the Lord's act of "sparing" פָּסַח [pāsaḥ] the Israelites during the night in which the Egyptians were struck down.

Exodus 13:3-10 then highlights the constitution and importance of commemorating Passover for future generations, as a reminder of God's deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is also mentioned, which is a seven-day festival that begins on the first day of Passover.

When looking further in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 23:4-8, God instructs Moses on the observance of Passover as part of the larger set of instructions for Israel's religious festivals. Passover is to be observed on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) at twilight, followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

One year after the Exodus from Egypt, in Numbers 9:1-14, the second Passover is described. It also provides instructions for those who were unable to participate in the Passover due to ritual impurity or being away on a journey.

In Deuteronomy 16:1-8, Moses instructs the Israelites on the proper observance of Passover once they enter the Promised Land. They are to slaughter the Passover lamb at the place God chooses, eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and not leave any of it until morning. It is first celebrated in the Promised Land during Joshua's leadership (Joshua 5:10-12).  

Later, there were two great Passover celebrations. The first was during Hezekiah's rule (2 Kings 23:21-23, 2 Chronicles 30:1-27), and another during Josiah's reign (2 Chronicles 35:1-19), both of which are associated with significant revolutions in Israel.

In Ezra 6:19-22, the returned exiles from Babylon celebrate Passover after completing the construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

In the New Testament, it is the Lord's Supper that refers to a Passover meal (Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-39, and John 13:1-17:26). When Jesus distributed the bread to his disciples, informing them that it represented his body and instructing them to partake of it, he may have been alluding to himself as the Passover lamb. In this context, Jesus Christ is characterized elsewhere in the New Testament as the "Passover lamb" (1 Corinthians 5:7), and as "the Lamb who was slain" (Revelation 5:12). The Gospel of John emphasizes that none of Jesus' bones were fractured during his crucifixion, drawing a parallel to the stipulation that no bones of the Passover lamb should be broken (John 19:33-37; cf. Exodus 12:46).