When Israel left Egypt
Was wondering if anyone else noticed what Moshe told the children of Israel in Exodus 12: 22–
“and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. ”
To backtrack first, when Moshe and Pharaoh have their last face-to-face meeting (Ex 10:28-29), Pharaoh sends Moshe away and threatens his life if Pharaoh sees him again;
Moshe then agrees that he will not see Pharaoh again.
Moshe also tells Pharaoh (Ex 11: 8) that Pharaoh’s courtiers will go down to Moshe to implore Moshe and his people to leave Egypt. And that is what happens. (Ex 12:31)
During the night, Pharaoh, thru his courtiers, summons ( definition: a request, demand, or call to do something) Moshe to leave Egypt.
Moshe does not leave the house he is in to go see Pharaoh, the courtiers come to him, because the Israelites were commanded to stay indoors till morning.
So, just as with Moshe, the children of Israel could not leave Egypt during the night.
They had to wait till morning to go out of their homes to leave Egypt.
OFFICIALLY, as commanded by Pharaoh, Israel is SET FREE this night of Pesach (Ex 12:41-42),
Deut 16:1 is in agreement (The Israel Bible):
Observe the month of Abib, and offer a Pesach sacrifice to Yehovah your God, for it was in the month of Abib, at night, that Yehovah your God FREED you from Egypt.
If you read the King James Version, it leads you to think that Israel left Egypt that night. That couldn’t be so because of the command to not leave their homes till morning (Exodus 12: 22).
KJV: (Deut 16:1) Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
Once again, Israel did NOT leave Egypt that night of Pesach but, they were OFFICIALLY FREED that night, making it “a night to be much observed”. Israel left Egypt in the morning when they could leave their homes.
Donna
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February 9, 2019 at 11:57 pm /
Wow Donna, thank you for pointing all of that out! When I was reading through the passage this time around, I had picked up on the part about Pharoah saying you won’t see me again and Moshe agreeing. But then as I continued reading, I didn’t follow what had happened because it seemed as though he DID see him again later to continue the conversation. Thank you for taking the time to illuminate all of those details. I am looking forward to re-reading it all with that in mind!
February 10, 2019 at 1:30 am /
Janlyn, your welcome! I’ve spent years trying to work out this section of scripture and with the reading of the Hebrew translations of the JPS and Israel Bible, more things coalesced to understand and clarify this topic. Having the Hebrew really helps.
If you check out the topic “Was The First Passover On The Night of the 14th or the 15th?”, I added more info about that night and it’s meaning. Hope it helps.
Donna
January 31, 2019 at 3:24 am /
I think using the term “this night of Pesach” has caused some confusion. I’ve looked at as many English bibles as I can, including the Israel Bible, and I am not seeing this term. I replied to Dale’s post mentioned below about this issue but it was late and I needed a night’s sleep to make this more clear.
I believe the confusion arises from the Jewish tradition which labels Chag HamMoetzee (Feast of Unleavened Bread) with the NAME, Pesach. HapPesach, The ‘passover’ is the goat or lamb brought into the house for 5 days in Egypt, slaughtered, eaten roasted by fire with unleavened bread, and burned if any left over by morning. The ‘passover’ was EATEN in haste and NOT TO BE EATEN by a foreigner, only the Israelite or a sojourner male who has been circumcised may EAT it. The ‘passover’ is not a day or name for a day or a title of a feast. It is food! It is a food with special instructions once in Egypt and as a memorial to that first night the Pesach was slaughtered , its blood put on the doorpost, and it was roasted and eaten.
Now, this doesn’t change the interesting notion of the OP. It clearly says they should not have left their homes until morning. Great observation! Thanks for sharing this, I have missed this before.
January 31, 2019 at 9:52 am /
Sven, YES, you get it too! Instead of calling that night, the 15th, the 1st Night/Day of Unleavened Bread they called it Pesach which has confused everyone. The killing of the Pesach offering was done late in the day of the 14th just prior to the beginning of the 15th.
Can you re-post your message under the topic, “Was the first Passover on the Night of the 14th or the 15th?” by Barbara Stewart. This way we can keep all these comments together under this topic.
Can’t write more now, time for work. But have one question, what is OP?
Donna
January 30, 2019 at 9:40 am /
Shalom Donna,
Good Observations which our Abba Father YHVH has brought to my Attention as well and which Serve to further confirm that the day as Abba Created it begins at sunrise and not at evening as the Day which Abba led Moshe and the people of Yisra’el out Mitsrayim was Day 15 – the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
“And you shall Guard the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same Day I brought your divisions out of the land of Mitsrayim. And you shall Guard this Day throughout your generations, and Everlasting Appointment.” – Shemoth 12:17
Have Shared more on this matter in the post titled “When does the day begin? Another witness…” found in the “Reflections on Exodus/Shemot” section of this forum.
Todah Raba Abba YHVH!
Thank You Very Much Abba YHVH!
Dale
January 30, 2019 at 9:47 am /
Please forgive my typo as this post referenced is to be found on the Exodus/Shemot Board and not in the Reflections discussion ?
January 30, 2019 at 10:18 am /
Oh yes, you’re right Dale. Didn’t notice about the sections, it was very late at night.
Keith, do I have to resend this thread in the right section or can it be moved by your trusty computer?
Donna
Off to work.
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