Passover Archives | School Portal NG

PASSOVER (EXODUS 12:1-30, 19, 20, 34) The tenth plague is called the Passover. It happened on the fourteenth day of the month. The Israelites were to offer one-year-old lamb per family. If a family was too small, they were to share the lamb with their neighbours. If a lamb was not available, a one-year-old goat could also be used. They were told to: Slaughter the lamb/goat; smear some of the blood on the sides and tops of the door- frames of their houses. Roast the meat and eat it with bitter herbs and unleavened bread (bread without yeast). If there were any leftovers they were to burn them with fire. Eat in a hurry while fully dressed and having packed their belongings. They were told to borrow silver, clothings, jewellery, and gold from the Egyptians. That on the same night, the ‘angel of death’ would kill every first born both males and animals in the houses without blood. The angel of death would pass over the houses with blood sparing them. The blood was a sign to indicate this is a house of Israelites. When the Lord sees the blood, He will pass over that house (V.13). The Israelites were told to celebrate / commemorate from generation to generation the Passover as a festival to the Lord. The Israelites were not allowed to come out of their houses on the night of Passover. At midnight, the Lord struck down all firstborn in Egypt from Pharaoh’s household to the firstborn of the prisoners and firstborn of livestock. There was loud wailing over Egypt. Every house had someone dead. Significance of items used during the Passover 1) Roasted Meat – this is the easiest method of preparing food since the Israelites were to leave in a short time. 2) Bitter herbs – was a reminder of the suffering and hardships and slavery experienced in Egypt. 3) Eating while standing. Deliverance was near, hence the need to leave in a hurry 4) Eating while fully dressed with their stuff at hand This signified a quick deliverance; hence Israelites should be ready to leave Egypt at once. 5) Eating unleavened bread – the bread was to be eaten and none left over hence there was no need to add yeast for preservation. 6) Collecting Jewellery – God had promised Abraham that after slavery for four hundred and thirty years, his descendants shall be freed with great possessions. 7) Remaining indoors – for security from death. Anyone outside was killed. 8) Blood on doorposts – a sign for deliverance. The angel of death would pass over doors with blood.