The Passover, known as Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the most significant feasts in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The regulations for observing Passover are detailed primarily in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These regulations were given by God to Moses and the Israelites and have been observed by Jewish communities for millennia.

Institution of Passover

The Passover was instituted by God as a perpetual ordinance for the Israelites. In Exodus 12, God commands Moses and Aaron regarding the observance of the Passover. The Israelites were to select a lamb without blemish on the tenth day of the first month, Nisan, and keep it until the fourteenth day. On the evening of the fourteenth, the lamb was to be slaughtered, and its blood applied to the doorposts and lintel of each house. This act served as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" the houses of the Israelites during the final plague on Egypt, the death of the firstborn (Exodus 12:13).

The Passover Meal

The Passover meal, or Seder, was to be eaten in haste, with the participants dressed for travel. The meal included roasted lamb, unleavened bread (matzah), and bitter herbs. The unleavened bread symbolized the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, having no time to let their dough rise. The bitter herbs served as a reminder of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:8-11).

Feast of Unleavened Bread

Following the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread was observed for seven days. During this time, no leaven was to be found in the homes of the Israelites. The first and seventh days were to be days of holy assembly, with no work to be done except for the preparation of food (Exodus 12:15-16). This feast served as a continued reminder of the Israelites' swift departure from Egypt.

Participation and Observance

Participation in the Passover was initially limited to the Israelites and those who had joined themselves to the community through circumcision. In Exodus 12:48-49, it is stated, "If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in his household must be circumcised, and then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised man may eat of it. The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you" .

Commemoration and Teaching

The Passover was not only a time of remembrance but also an opportunity for teaching future generations about God's deliverance. In Exodus 12:26-27, the Israelites are instructed to explain the significance of the Passover to their children: "And when your children ask you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’ you are to reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck down the Egyptians and spared our homes’” .

Annual Observance

The Passover was to be observed annually, as a lasting ordinance. In Leviticus 23:4-5, the Lord reiterates the importance of the Passover: "These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times. The Passover to the LORD begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month" .

Passover in the New Testament

The Passover holds significant typological importance in the New Testament, where Jesus Christ is identified as the Passover Lamb. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:7, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" . The Last Supper, which Jesus shared with His disciples, was a Passover meal, during which He instituted the Lord's Supper, signifying the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:14-20).

The Passover regulations, as outlined in the Old Testament, continue to hold deep spiritual significance, symbolizing redemption, deliverance, and the faithfulness of God to His covenant people.