Sunday, September 16, 2007

Deuteronomy 16:1–8

Deuteronomy 16:1–8: Passover

Synopsis

In this passage Moses reiterates the rules for celebration of the Passover. I’m not necessarily presenting them in the order that Moses did, in this passage.
  • Passover is to be celebrated on the anniversary of the day the Israelites left Egypt (in the month of Abib).
    • The Passover starts on the anniversary of the day they left Egypt, and goes for seven days. The sacrifice (described next) is to happen on the evening of the first day.
  • They are to go to the Tabernacle/Temple, and sacrifice the appropriate animals there.
    • They are to eat the animals with bread made without yeast (“unleavened” bread). In fact, they are to eat unleavened bread for seven days—they’re not even to have yeast in their possession, during this time. They are to do this to remind themselves that they had to leave Egypt in haste.
    • They are to eat all of the meat on the first day of Passover; none of it is to remain until morning.
  • On the seventh day, they are to hold an assembly, and do no work.

Thoughts

I believe that the fact that the bread is unleavened symbolizes the haste with which they left Egypt; I guess if you were going to make bread in a hurry, you’d do it without yeast. I have to admit, though, that I know absolutely nothing about making bread. So I’m just inferring.

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