Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Exodus 12

Exo 12:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

Israel (history), vs. 1-13; Exo 13:17-22. (Gen 12:2, 3; Rom 11:26.)

Exo 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

first month of the year

i.e. April.

Exo 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

lamb

Sacrifice (typical). vs. 3-11, 27; Exo 17:15. (Gen 4:4; Heb 10:18.)

Exo 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

unleavened bread

Leaven. vs. 8, 15-20, 34, 39; Exo 13:3, 6, 7. (Gen 19:3; Mat 13:33.)

Exo 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.

LORD'S passover

The Passover, type of Christ our Redeemer (Exodus 12:1-28; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:6, 7; 1 Peter 1:18, 19):

1. The lamb must be without blemish, and to test this it was kept up for four days (Exodus 12:5, 6). So our Lord's public life, under hostile scrutiny, was the testing which proved his holiness (Luke 11:53, 54; John 8:46; 18:38).
2. The Lamb thus tested must be slain (Exodus 12:6; John 12:24; Hebrews 9:22).
3. The blood must be applied (Exodus 12:7). This answers to appropriation by personal faith, and refutes universalism (John 3:36).
4. The blood thus applied of itself, without anything, constituted a perfect protection from judgment (Exodus 12:13; 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 10:10, 14).
5. The feast typified Christ as the bread of life, answering to the memorial supper. (Matthew 26:26-28; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). To observe the feast was a duty and privilege, but not a condition of safety. As a matter of fact, the bread was not eaten by the Israelites on the night in which, nevertheless, they were preserved from the judgment upon the firstborn. (Exodus 12:34-39).

Exo 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread

Exo 13:6.

Exo 12:22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood

Heb 11:28.

Exo 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

seeth the blood upon the lintel

Heb 12:24.

will not suffer the destroyer

2Sa 24:16; Heb 12:24.

Exo 12:28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

did as the LORD had commanded

Faith. vs. 21-28; Exo 14:21, 22. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

Exo 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt

Miracles (O.T.). vs. 29, 30; Exo 14:21-31. (Gen 5:24; Jon 2:1-10.)

Exo 12:35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

borrowed

Literally asked.

Exo 12:36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

lent

Literally gave.

Exo 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

mixed multitude

This mixed multitude, standing for unconverted church-members, was a source of weakness and division, then as now (see Numbers 11:4-6). There had been a manifestation of divine power, and men were drawn to it without change of heart. Cf. Luke 14:25-27.

Exo 12:46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

neither shall ye break a bone thereof

See John 19:36.