Topical Encyclopedia Introduction: The Passover Night is a pivotal event in the biblical narrative, marking the climax of God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. It is commemorated annually in the Jewish festival of Passover, which celebrates God's protection and the liberation of His people. The account of the Passover Night is primarily found in the Book of Exodus, chapters 11 and 12. Biblical Account: The Passover Night occurs during the final plague that God inflicts upon Egypt, the death of the firstborn. This event is the culmination of a series of ten plagues designed to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery. In Exodus 11:4-5 , Moses warns Pharaoh, "About midnight I will go throughout Egypt, and every firstborn son in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the servant girl behind the millstones, as well as all the firstborn of the cattle." Instructions to the Israelites: God provides specific instructions to the Israelites to ensure their protection during this devastating plague. In Exodus 12:3-11, the Israelites are commanded to select a lamb without blemish, slaughter it at twilight, and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintels of their homes. This act of faith and obedience serves as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" their houses, sparing them from the plague of death. The lamb is to be roasted and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and the people are to eat it in haste, with their loins girded, sandals on their feet, and staff in hand, ready for their imminent departure from Egypt. The Plague and Deliverance: At midnight, the Lord strikes down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as the firstborn of the livestock (Exodus 12:29-30). The wailing in Egypt is unprecedented, as there is not a house without someone dead. In response, Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron during the night and urges them to leave Egypt with the Israelites, their flocks, and herds, as they had requested. Significance and Observance: The Passover Night is not only a historical event but also a theological cornerstone, symbolizing God's redemptive power and faithfulness to His covenant promises. It establishes the Passover as a perpetual ordinance for the Israelites, as stated in Exodus 12:14 : "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." Typology and New Testament Fulfillment: In Christian theology, the Passover Night is seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. The Apostle Paul refers to Christ as "our Passover lamb" who has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7). The blood of the Passover lamb, which protected the Israelites from death, prefigures the sacrificial death of Christ, whose blood redeems believers from sin and eternal death. Conclusion: The Passover Night remains a profound testament to God's sovereignty, justice, and mercy. It underscores the importance of obedience and faith in God's deliverance and serves as a foundational event in the narrative of salvation history. Subtopics Passover: Christ Called "Our Passover" Passover: Jesus Crucified at the Time of Passover: Jesus in the Temple Courtyard at the Time of Passover: Observation of, Renewed by Hezekiah Passover: Observation of, Renewed by Josiah Passover: Observation of, Renewed by the Israelites Upon Entering Canaan Passover: Observation of, Renewed: After the Return from Babylonian Captivity Passover: Observed at the Place Designated by God Passover: Observed With Unleavened Bread (No Yeast) Passover: Penalty for Neglecting to Observe Passover: Peter Imprisoned at the Time of Passover: Prisoner Released At, by the Romans Passover: Re-Instituted by Ezekiel Passover: Strangers Authorized to Celebrate Passover: The Lamb Killed by Levites, for Those Who Were Ceremonially Unclean Passover: The Lamb of, a Type of Christ Passover: The Lord's Supper Ordained At Related Terms |