Exodus 12:21-28

Exodus 12:21-28

[21] Then Moses  called  for all the elders  of Israel,  and said  unto them, Draw out  and take  you a lamb  according to your families,  and kill  the passover.  [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.  [23] For the LORD  will pass through  to smite  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  [24] And ye shall observe  this thing  for an ordinance  to thee and to thy sons  for  ever.  [25] And it shall come to pass, when ye be come  to the land  which the LORD  will give  you, according as he hath promised,  that ye shall keep  this service.  [26] And it shall come to pass, when your children  shall say  unto you, What mean ye by this service?  [27] That ye shall say,  It is the sacrifice  of the LORD'S  passover,  who passed  over the houses  of the children  of Israel  in Egypt,  when he smote  the Egyptians,  and delivered  our houses.  And the people  bowed the head  and worshipped.  [28] And the children  of Israel  and did  as the LORD  had commanded  Moses  and Aaron,  so did  they.

What does Exodus 12:21-28 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Hyssop grew commonly on rocks and walls in the Near East and Egypt ( Exodus 12:22). If it was the same plant that we identify as hyssop today, masses of tiny white flowers and a fragrant aroma characterized it. The Jews used it for applying blood to the door in the Passover ritual because of its availability and suitability as a liquid applicator. They also used it in the purification rite for lepers ( Leviticus 14:4; Leviticus 14:6), the purification rite for a plague ( Leviticus 14:49-52), and for the red heifer sacrifice ritual ( Numbers 19:2-6).
"The hairy surface of its leaves and branches holds liquids well and makes it suitable as a sprinkling device for purification rituals." [1]
"The people were instructed that the only way they could avert the "destroyer" was to put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts. Though the text does not explicitly state it, the overall argument of the Pentateuch ... would suggest that their obedience to the word of the Lord in this instance was an evidence of their faith and trust in him [2]." [3]
God through Moses stressed the significance and the importance of perpetuating the Passover ( Exodus 12:26).
"The Israelitish child will not unthinkingly practice a dead worship; he will ask: What does it mean? and the Israelitish father must not suppress the questions of the growing mind, but answer them, and thus begin the spiritualizing [3]4 of the paschal rite." [5]
Worship and obedience occur together again here ( Exodus 12:27-28). These are the two proper responses to God"s provision of redemption. They express true faith. These are key words in Exodus.
"The section closes with one of those rare notices in Israel"s history: they did exactly what the Lord had commanded ( Exodus 12:28)-and well they might after witnessing what had happened to the obstinate king and people of Egypt!" [6]
"By this act of obedience and faith, the people of Israel made it manifest that they had put their trust in Jehovah; and thus the act became their redemption." [7]