Commentary on Genesis and Exodus, Book 2 · Chapter 12 · Analysis
1. The method and Argument.
IN this Chapter, containing the deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt, with the signe and assurance thereof the institution of the Passeover, there are three things principally handled: The institution of the Passeover, to vers. 29. then the manner of the deliverance and departure of Israel out of Egypt, to vers. 41. Lastly, the perpetuall Law of the Passeover repeated, to vers. 51.
1. In the first part: first there is the commandement of God to Moses concerning the Passeover, to vers. 21. then the relation thereof by Moses to the people, to vers. 29.
The commandement is either concerning the Passeover to be solemnized and kept at that time, to vers. …4. or the perpetuall observation thereof, to vers. 21.
In the first there is prescribed, 1. the preparation of the Passeover, both when, in the first monethmonth, vers. …. and the tenth day. 2. By whom the preparation shall be made, vers. 3▪ 4 and what: a lambe without blemish of a yeere old, vers. 5.2. The killing and eating of the lambe: to the killing belongeth the description of the time, at even, vers. 6. and what they shall doe with the bloud, strike it upon the dore-posts, vers. 7. To the eating belongeth▪ both how it shall be eaten, with unleavened bread and sower herbes, vers. 8. how it should be dressed, rosted with fire, vers. 9. what they should eat, even all, reserving nothing, vers. 10. and in what manner and habit, vers. 11.
3. The use, to be a signe upon their houses of their deliverance, where is shewed, what shall befall the Egyptians that night, vers. 12. and how the Israelites shall escape the plague, vers. 13.
In the commandement for the perpetuall observation: 1. The solemnity of the time is prescribed, of the first day, vers. 14. of seven dayes to be kept with unleavened bread, vers. 15. and of the first and seventh day, in abstaining from all kinde of worke, with an exception of the labour about their meat and drinke, vers. 16. and the reason of this solemnity, their deliverance, vers. 17.
2. The manner of keeping it with unleavened bread is more fully described, both how long they shall eat it, vers. 18. the danger, in not observing this ceremony, vers. 19. and it must bee kept generally of all, vers. 20.
In the relation of Moses to the people; 1. he repeateth the manner, where and how they shall strike the bloud, vers. 22. 2. To what end, because by this meanes the Angel of God will passe by their houses. 3. The celebration of the day is commanded, with the end, for a perpetuall commemoration thereof to their children, vers. 27. 4. The obedience of the people is shewed, vers. 28.
2. In this second part, which containeth the history of the peoples deliverance and departure▪ 1. The occasion is set forth, which shewed how the Lord destroyed the first borne in Egypt, vers. 29. then Pharaoh in haste called for Moses and Aaron, and bad them goe with all they had, vers. 31.32. and the Egyptians forced them, vers. 33. 2. The manner of their going forth is described, they went in hast with dow trussed upon their shoulders, vers. 34.35. and they went out richly, having received jewels of gold and silver of the Egyptians, vers. 35. then the reason thereof is shewed, the Lord gave them favour, vers. 36.
3. The circumstances belonging to their departure are expressed. First, of the place from whence and whither they went. Secondly, of the persons, by their numbers, vers. 37. and divers kindes, vers. 38. Thirdly, the time, after the space of 430. yeeres.
3. In the 3. part concerning the law of the Passeover, there is the prescription, then the execution, and in the prescription three things are described: 1. Of the persons that shall be admitted to eat thereof, or not admitted, vers. 44, 45. 2. Of the place where it shall be eaten, vers. 46. 3. The manner required in the thing, a bone must not be broken, vers. 47. in the persons, they must be circumcised that eat thereof, vers. 48, 49. then followeth the execution by the people, vers. 50.