Commentary on the Pentateuch, Commentary 2 · Chapter 12 – Chapter 13
CHAP. XII. Ver. 1. And the Lord ſpake]
BEfore the ſlaughter of the firſt-born, yea before that plague was threatned. See Mr Torſhel his deſign for harmonizing the BIBLE.
Ver. 2. This monethmonth] Called Abib. Exod. 13.4. with us called March or April; when the daie lengthning, and the Sun aſſeending, each thing begin's to revive: To ſhew, ſaith one, that by the true paſſover Chriſt JESUS, not onelyonly is our time and all other things ſanctified, but alſo that wee ſhould in recent remembrance of that benefit of our Redemption, all our daies and years bee thankful to our gracious Redeemer, and that by his death, true life and reviving unto mankinde. [It ſhall bee the firſt monethmonth] viz. in reſpect of ſacred, not civil affairs, as Junius here prooveth out of Joſephus. Antiq. lib. 1. cap. 4.The Jubi…es began in September. Lev. 25.8. Exod. 23.16, 9, 10. The Creätion of the world began then, as ſom will have it: but Luther and others think it was in the Spring rather.
Ver. 3. In the tenth daie] The Paſchal-Lamb was taken up the tenth daie, but not ſacrificed till the fourteenth, that they might ſo kill the paſſover as firſt to ſanctiſie themſelvs and prepare their brethren. Hoſpin. de crig. …eſt. cap. 5.2 Chron. 35.6. For which cauſ alſo it was a received tradition among the the Jewes, that during thoſe four daies the Lamb was tied to their bed poſts.
Ver. 4. Shall make your count] ſeil. of Communicants; that the whole may bee eaten up, and everie one have enough. Spiritual bleſſings may bee divided in ſolidum, one may have as much as another, and all alike. The Gentiles alſo are called to fruition and feeding on the Lamb.
Ver. 5. Without blemiſh] Chriſt that immaculate Lamb of God was hereby typified. 1 Pet. 1.19. See the Note there. [From the ſheep, or from the goats] A lamb, to ſhew Chriſt's innocencie, meekneſs, patience, profitableneſs. Or a kid, to ſhew that hee was a ſinner: 1. By Imputation, for God made our ſins to meet upon him. Iſa. 53.6. 2. By Reputation, for hee made his grave with the wicked, ver. 9.
Ver. 6. Ʋntil the fourteenth daie] See the note on ver. 3. [In the evening] Chriſt came in the evening of the world. Heb. 1.2. in the laſt hour. 1 Job. 5. when all laie buried in darkneſs; in the even-tide of our ſin and death.
Ver. 7. And ſtrike it on the two ſide-poſts] Not on the threſhold. Wee may not tread under foot the Son of God, or count the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing. Heb. 10.29. but get our hearts ſprinkled therewith by the hyſop-bunch of Faith from an evil conſcience, that wee may ſerv the living God. Heb. 9.14.
Ver. 8. In that night] By candle-light: ſo muſt wee feed upon Chriſt, lumine ſupernaturali: Iſa. 53.by his knowledg doth God's righteous ſervant juſtifie manie. [Roſt with fire] Not raw: wee may not groſly conceiv of Chriſt, nor raſhly receiv him. Not boiled, bur roſt: to ſhew that Chriſt was roſted in the fire of his father's wrath: & ſicut toſtis cibariis non adhibentur alia, ut in …lixis fieri conſuevit: it à ſolum Chriſtum debemus apprehendere fide, Alſted.ſaith an Interpreter. [And unleavened bread] See the Note on 1. Cor. 5.7, 8. [And with bitter herbs] To teach, that looking upon Chriſt whom they have pierced men muſt bee in bitterneſs. Zach. 12.10. and feel what an evil and bitter thing ſin is. Jer. 2.19. beeing readie to ſuffer hardſhip with Chriſt, though hee ſhould feed us to the full with bitter herbs, and make us drunk with wormwood. Lam. 3.15.
Ver. 9. His head with his legs] To let us ſee our need of whole Chriſt, and our moſt perfect comunion with Him.
Ver. 10. And yee ſhall let nothing of it remain] Wee may not preſume to ſin in hope of pardon. Chriſt will not ſtand us for a ſinning-ſtock.
Ver. 11. With your loins girt] As preſt and intent to the ſervice: ſo wee ſhould bee at all times, but eſpecially when to depart out of the F…ypt of this life, and to take heaven by force. Then, if ever, wee ſhould hoc agere, gird up the loins of our minds, &c. 1 Pet. 1. [And yee ſh…ll …at it in haſt] As not doubting of deliverance, and waiting a call out of life. [It is the Lord's paſſover] A ſacramental expreſſion, like that of our Savior, This is my bodie. Mat. 26.26. ſee the Note there. The ſacraments of the old Teſtament were both ſaeraments and types: but thoſe of the New, are ſacraments onelyonly.
Ver. 12. And will ſmite all the firſt-born] This croſſeth not that in Ezek. 18. The ſon ſhall not bear the iniquitie of his father: for God never puniſheth the innocent, becauſ all are guiltie before Him. Theſe Egyptians had ſlain Iſraël God's firſt-born. And it is the obſervation of Theodoret, that when God ſmote Pharaoh's firſt-born, hee drew blood of the arm for the cure of the head: which becauſ it mended not thereupon, came alſo to confuſion. [and upon all the Gods of Egypt] As hee did here upon the Popiſh Idols in the begining of the Reformation, by detecting their vanitie and laying their honor in the duſt.
Ver. 13. I will paſs over you] Or, over-skip you. So hee dealeth oft by his, who ſhould therefore keep a paſſover for our ſafetie.
Ver. 14. By an Ordinance for ever] Till Chriſt our paſſover ſhould bee ſacrificed for us; and then the Chriſtian paſſover was to ſucced.
Ver. 15. Yee ſhall put away leaven] All unſoundneſs in point of Faith, and inſinceritie in point of Practice. See the Note on 1 Cor. 5.7.
Ver. 16. An boli… convocation] This ſame word (in the Hebrew) ſignifieth the holie Scriptures; Nehem. 8 9.to teach us, ſaith one, that the Scriptures ought to be read in the Congregation, and holie Aſſemblies.
Ver. 17. In this ſelf-ſame daie] Heb. In the bodie or ſtrength of this daie: ſo the mid-daie is called. Art thou delivered, helped? write up the time and place.
Ver. 18. Ʋntil the ane and twentieth dai…] As Auſtin ſaid of the feaſt of Pentecoſt, might theſe of the Paſſover, may wee of the Powder plot; Gaudet produci haec ſolemnitas. It were well i… this holie-daie were a double-daie.
Ver. 19. No leaven found] See the Note on ver. 15. [Shal bee cut off] For a ſmal fault, as it may ſeem to ſom: but the leſs the matter, the greater is the contempt in denying to do it. Keep therefore God's commandement as the ſight of thine eie. Look to thoſe minntula Legi…, that yee may live.
Ver. 20. Yee ſhal eat nothing leavened] Watch carefully againſt corruption in life and doctrine: bee punctual in your preparation to, and participation of the Chriſtian paſſover.
Ver. 21. All the elders of Iſraël] The maſters of Families; who in this Familie-ſervice were to kill and eat, and ſet before the reſt of the houſhold, as prieſts at home; and to ſhew them the meaning of that myſterie.
Ver. 22. A bunch of hyſop] An herb of a purging propertie. See 1 Cor. 6.11. [The blood that is in the baſon] The remembrance of Chriſt's bloodie paſſion muſt bee kept freſh in our hearts. [Strike the lintel] Profeſs Chriſt crucified, T…m recent mil…i nunc Chriſtus ac ſi hac borâ … diſſ…t ſanguinem. Luth.honor him by a holie converſation, minde him in your out-goings and in comings [None of you ſhal go out] Bee not of thoſe that withdraw to perdition, but of them that believ to the ſalvation of the ſoul. Heb. 10.39. Mingle no more with the Egyptians.
Ver. 23. Will not ſuffer the deſtroier] Angels delight to bee executioners of God's judgments, and Saviors of his people.
Ver. 24. For ever] See the Note on ver. 15.
Ver. 25. Yee ſhal keep this ſervice] yet with ſom variation of circumſtance.
Ver. 26. When your children] Children are to bee carefully catechiſed and informed. Eph. 6.4. See the note there. Luther ſcorned not to profeſs himſelf diſcipulum Catechiſmi, a Catechiſm Scholar.
Ver. 27. Bowed the head] In token of ſubmiſſion to the command and thank fulneſs for ſuch a ſalvation.
Ver. 28. Went away and did &c.] They that will not timouſly obeie God's ſweet precepts, ſhal one daie have no other command to obeie but that bitter, Ite maledicti, Go yee curſed, &c.
Ver. 29. From the firſt-born of Pharaoh] See ver. 12.
Ver. 30. For there was not an houſ] Neither is there an houſ amongſt us (hardly) where not one, but manie are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins. Our land even ſtink's again with ſuch, as Egypt did with the frogs.
Ver. 31. And bee called for Moſes] That is, hee ſent them to bee packing. See chap. 10.29.
Ver. 32. Bleſs mee alſo] So Maximinus the Perſecutor beeing ſorely diſeaſed, ſent to beg the praiers of the Church. In their monethmonth you ſhal finde theſe wilde aſſes. Jer. 2.24.
Ver. 33. Wee bee all dead men] Quis autem vult mori? prorſus nemo. foreign. Ariſtot.Everie thing make's much of life, from the higheſt Angel to the loweſt worm.
Ver. 35. And they borrowed] For their uſe at that ſolemn feaſt they were to keep in the wilderneſs: Pons aureus fugient… hoſtiextr…e…du….The Egyptians denied them nothing; as willing to bee rid of them upon anie terms.
Ver. 36. Spoiled the Egyptians] See the note on chap. 8.2.
Ver. 37. About 600000] So that promiſe to Abraham was fulfilled Gen. 15.14. and that to Jacob. Gen. 46.3.
Ver. 38. And a mixed multitude] Of ſtrangers, that took hold of the skirts of theſe Jews and ſaid, Wee will go with you. Zac…. 8.23. but aferwards turned tippet. Num. 11.4. luſted greatly and greedily; and made Iſraël to ſin. Coals touched, will either burn or ſullie us.
Ver. 39. And they baked unleavened cakes] A memorial of which ſweet merciemercy they kept on foot by that yearly feaſt of unleavened cakes. Deut. 16.3.
Ver. 40. Was four bundred and thirtie years] ſcil. from the time that Abrabam began to ſojourn in the Land of Canaan, and to paſs into Egypt. Gen. 12.10. See Gal. 3.17. with the Note there.
Ver. 41. Even the ſelf-ſame daie] God (ſaith one) had wellnigh forfeited his bond; but e're the Sun went down hee paied the debt. His promiſes are good ſure-hold. At midnight the firſt-born were ſlain, becauſ then exactly the four hundred and thirtie years were exſpired.
Ver 42. This is That night] That, with an accent. God, expect's our returns ſhould bee anſwerable to our receipts. God's bleſſings are binders: and of all things hee can leaſt abide to bee forgotten.
Ver. 43. There ſhall no ſtranger, &c.] Strangers are excluded; to ſhew, that the faithful onelyonly have fellowſhip with Chriſt; contra quam Lutherani ineptiunt, ſaith one.
Ver. 44. When thou hast circumeiſed him] And ſo admitted him into the fellowſhip of the faithful. A man muſt live before hee can bee nouriſhed, bred, before hee can bee fed.
Ver. 45. A forreigner] Unleſs a Proſelyte.
Ver. 46. In one bouſ] To teach them unitie; which indeed is not anie where found, but in the Church. Cam. 6.9. My Dove is but one, &c.
Ver. 47. Shall keep it] or periſh for their neglect. Aut faciendum aut patiendum: either men muſt do it, or die for it.
CHAP. XIII. Ver. 2. It is mine]
BY right of Redemption alſo. Hee that is ſaved is not his own, but his that ſaved him. Servati ſumus ut ſerviamus. Luk. 1.74.
Ver. 3. Remember] Heb. To remember indefinitely, q. d. Remember perpetually, and commemorate.
Ver. 3. In the monethmonth Abib] The flowrie-monethmonth, as Macarius call's it. See the Note on chap. 12.2.
Ver. 5. Aland flowing with milk and honie] Where fulneſs may breed forget fulneſs ſaturitie, ſecuritie.
Ver. 6. Seven daies] Figuring our whole life.
Ver. 7. See the Note on chap. 12.19.20.
Ver. 8. And thou ſhalt ſhew] See the Note on chap. 12.26.
Ver. 9. And for a memorial] See the Note on Mat. 23.5.
Ver. 12. The males ſhall bee the Lords] This God did, that with the firſt-born ſon (commonly beſt beloved) hee might draw all the love to himſelf.
Ver. 13. And every firſtling of an Aſs] This God would not have paid him in kinde, eò quòd Aſinus tardum & pigrum animal, Tuſc. Quaeſt. lib. quinto.as Bellarmine give's the reaſon The zealous God hate's dulneſs. Tardis mentibus virtus non facilè committitur.
Ver. 14. That thou ſhalt ſaie unto him] Plantas tenellas frequentiùs adaquare proderit: Primaſ. Greg. Mag.young plants muſt bee often watered.
Ver. 17. That God led them not] Hee carefully choſe their waie out of Egypt; not the nearer, but the ſafer. Hee tempt's not above what wee are able: but ſo order's the matter, that evils are not readie for us. till wee for them.
Ver. 18. God led the people about] Philo writeth that it was not much above three d…ies iournie from Egypt to Canaan the next waie: Sed Dei volu tas eſt ſumma neceſſitas.Tertul.
Ver. 20. From Su…ot… ] their firſt Rendevouz chap. 12.37.
Ver. 21. And the …ord] See Pſal. 105.39. Iſa. 4.5, 6. God prot ct's, direct's and everie waie ſuit's the neceſſities of his people.