What Happened at Passover in Exodus 12?

At the Passover in Exodus 12, the LORD passed over the Israelite homes marked with the blood of a lamb and brought His people out of Egypt. Before this took place, the LORD gave Moses and Aaron detailed instructions for preparing the lamb and observing the Passover. Exodus 12 shows how those commands were carried out and what happened that night.

How Did Israel Prepare for That Night?

The LORD instructed the whole community of Israel to take a lamb for each family. If a household was too small for a whole lamb, it was to share one with a neighboring household, taking into account the number of people and how much each person would eat. The animal had to be a one-year-old male without defect and could be chosen from either the sheep or the goats.

The Israelites were to keep the lamb until the appointed day and slaughter it at twilight. They were to put some of its blood on the two doorposts and the lintel of the house where they ate the meat. The meat was to be roasted over a fire and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Anything left until morning had to be burned.

They were also given specific instructions about how to eat the meal. They were to eat it in haste, with their cloaks tucked into their belts, sandals on their feet, and staffs in their hands. The LORD declared that it was His Passover.

What Sign Did the Lamb’s Blood Provide?

The LORD said that He would pass through the land of Egypt that night and strike down every firstborn. The blood on the houses where the Israelites lived, however, would serve as a sign for them. When the LORD saw the blood, He would pass over that house, and the destructive plague would not touch them.

Moses delivered these instructions to the elders of Israel. He told them to slaughter the Passover lambs for their families, dip a bundle of hyssop into the blood, and apply it to the lintel and both doorposts. He also commanded everyone to remain inside their homes until morning.

The Israelites did exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. The passage states that the LORD passed over the homes marked with blood and did not allow the destroyer to enter and strike them.

How Did Israel Leave Egypt That Night?

At midnight, the firstborn throughout Egypt died, and a great cry arose across the land. Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and told the Israelites to leave Egypt. The Egyptians also urged the people to depart quickly.

The Israelites wrapped their bowls of unleavened dough in clothing and carried them on their shoulders. Because they had been driven out of Egypt and could not delay, they baked the dough they had brought into unleavened bread. They traveled from Rameses to Sukkoth, taking many livestock with them.

Exodus 12 records that on that very day, the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions. Passover was established as a lasting observance to remember how the LORD passed over the homes of the Israelites and delivered them. When their children asked what the ceremony meant, they were to tell them about this act of salvation.

One Thing to Notice in Exodus 12 Today

Today, read all of Exodus 12 and write one sentence describing what the LORD commanded Israel to do before bringing them out of Egypt. As you read, notice what the passage repeatedly emphasizes about preparing the lamb, applying the blood to the doors, and eating the meal in haste. One simple statement drawn directly from the passage is enough, such as: “The LORD gave Israel His commands, and they did exactly as He commanded.”

Biblical References

• Exodus 12:1–20
• Exodus 12:21–28
• Exodus 12:29–42
• Exodus 12:43–51