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It’s all about studying the Scriptures
Leviticus 23:5-7 “The FOURTEENTH day of the first month, at TWILIGHT (H6153), is the PASSOVER of Yahweh; and the FIFTEENTH day of the same month is the feast of UNLEAVENED BREAD. For seven days you will eat unleavened bread. On the FIRST DAY (of the seven), you will hold a SACRED ASSEMBLY (H4744); YOU WILL DO NO HEAVY WORK.”
Main points:
- Two days, two names for the days.
- One of the days is a SACRED ASSEMBLY (H4744-miqra; something called out, i.e. a public meeting; also a rehearsal.)
- TWILIGHT/EVEN (H6153-eh-reb; (from H6150-to grow dusky at sundown)-dusk.
- Gesenius’ Hebrew Chaldee Lexicon adds this information about H6153: “….the two evenings; ONLY in the phrases used in Exodus 16:12; 30:8; used as marking the space of time during which the paschal lamb was slain, Ex. 12:6, Lev 23:5; Num. 9:3; and the evening sacrifice was offered, Ex. 29:39, 41; Num. 28:4; i.e. according to the opinion of the Karaites and Samaritans (which is favored by the words of 16:6), the TIME BETWEEN SUNSET AND DEEP TWILIGHT. The Pharisees, however and the Rabbinists considered the time when the sun began to descend to be called the first evening….when it begins to draw towards evening; and the second evening to be the real sunset….”
- Messiah told us, “The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moshe. You must therefore do and observe what they tell you; but DO NOT BE GUIDED BY WHAT THEY DO, since they DO NOT PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH.” Matt 23:2-3.
- Furthermore, according to an article put out by, Yahweh Restoration Ministries:
- “According to modern Jewish rabbis, "between the two evenings" indicates a time between noon and sunset. However, most scholars maintain that this phrase originally signified the time between sunset and complete darkness, which is about a 45-minute period. A number of modern translations interpret this Hebrew phrase as beginning at sunset or twilight, including: The New International Bible, Revised English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New King James Bible, James Moffatt Bible, Complete Jewish Bible, Lamsa Bible, The Holy Scriptures (JPS), and the Jewish TANAKH.
- Evidence shows that the Jews began only later to define this phrase as the time between noon and sunset. The Jerusalem Bible, in an Exodus 12:6 note, says: "Either between sunset and darkness (Samaritans) or between afternoon and sunset (Pharisees and Talmud). The Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance identifies this phrase as, "evening, twilight, dusk, the fading of the day; twilight can be extended to the dark of the night." The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, agrees noting, "between the two evenings, i.e. prob. between sunset and dark." The Harper Collins Study Bible gives this explanation, "Twilight, lit. ‘between the two settings,’ apparently between sunset and the last of the residual light in the sky." And The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible says, "The phrase ‘in the evening’ [literally, ‘between the evenings’] means the period between sunset and darkness, ‘twilight’ (Ex. 12:6; KJV, ‘in the evening’)."
- The 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, also backs up this position under, “Passover.”
- Most Judeans acknowledge the tradition, of a day starting at sundown, and ending the next sundown.
Apply the New Testament account: Luke 23:54 speaks of the time AFTER Messiah was dead. “It was preparation day, and the SABBATH was beginning to grow light (either sunlight or lamplight).” This study is for the three day and night account of Messiah’s burial and resurrection. So in understanding the “Sabbath” was not Friday, we know it was (15th) Unleavened Bread! And what was being “prepared” in Luke 22:8-13 then, BEFORE he died?! “ So Yahoshua sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.”
Then we know what happened during the night, and that he Messiah died daylight hours of the same day (14th). The next evening, was the start of a SABBATH, as spoken of in Leviticus 23:7.
Time to go to the Exodus 12 account:
12:6 “You must keep it till the FOURTEETH day of the month, when the whole assembly of Israel will slaughter it at TWILIGHT (H6153).” The same word is used for “twilight” or “evening”
H6153-eh-reb: (from H6150-to grow dusky at sundown)-dusk.
12:12 “That NIGHT (H3915)I shall go through Egypt and strike down all the first-born in Egypt….”
H3915- lah’-yel-aw: prop. a twist away (away of the light), i.e. night; fig. adversity.
Clear enough, the Passover happened during the night.
12:14 “This day must be COMMEMORATED (H2146) by you, and you must keep it as a FEAST (H2282)in Yahweh’s honour. You must keep it as a FEAST-DAY (H2287) for all generations; this is a decree for all time.”
H2146- zik-rone: (from H2142: TO MARK (so as to be RECOGNIZED), i.e. to REMEMBER….) a MEMENTO (or MEMORABLE THING, DAY or writing.
H2282- chag: a FESTIVAL, or a VICTUM therefor.
H2287- chagag: a prim. root; prop. to move in a circle, i.e. (spec.) to march in sacred procession, to observe a festival.
I will let YOU, the reader of this determine what is truly meant by the words in Exodus 12:14. But one thing I can tell you for sure, Passover is not a SABBATH. We see this is true in Lev. 23:7 and Luke22:8-13.
Now the Unleavened Bread statements in Exodus 12:
12:16 “On the first day you must hold a SACRED ASSEMBLY (H4744), and on the seventh day a SACRED ASSEMBLY (H4744). On those says, NO WORK may be done; you will prepare ONLY what each requires to eat.”
H4744- mik-raw: (from H7121- kaw-raw: a prim. root- TO CALL OUT; (i.e. prop. TO ADDRESS BY NAME) ) SOMETHING CALLED OUT, i.e. A PUBLIC MEETING; also A REHEARSAL.
NOTE*** Something to think about is, Passover could be eaten privately in the homes. But Unleavened Bread is an ASSEMBLY!!!
12:17 “You must keep the feast of UNLEAVENED BREAD BECAUSE it was on that SAME DAY (added) that I brought your armies out of Egypt.” Now although “selfsame” or “same day” is added, you can see why. So, we read that Unleavened Bread represents when they left Egypt. THIS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE SAME NIGHT AS THE PASSOVER/FIRST-BORNS DIED!!! Why? BECAUSE OF VESES 10 AND 22!!!
12:10 “You must not leave any of it (lamb) till MORNING (H1242); whatever is left till MORNING (H1242) you must BURN.”
12:22 “….door-posts; then let NONE OF YOU VENTURE OUT OF THE HOUSE TILL MORNING (H1242)”
H1242- bo-ker: prop. DAWN (as the BREAK OF DAY); gen. MORNING.
NOTE*** YOU CAN NOT STAY IN ALL NIGHT, TILL THE MORNING, AND THEN TRY TO SAY THE ISRAELITES LEFT EGYPT, THE SAME NIGHT AS PASSOVER!!!
And what does verses 26- 27 say??? “And when your children ask you, “What does this RITUAL (H5656)mean?” you will tell them, “It is the PASSOVER SACRIFICE in honour of Yahweh who PASSED OVER the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, and struck Egypt but spared our houses.”
H5656- ab-o-daw: (from H5657- ab-ood-daw: something wrought, i.e. (concr.) service) WORK OF ANY KIND.
NOTE*** The first day and last day of Unleavened Bread, IS A SABBATH, yet Exodus 12:26-27 speaks specifically of PASSOVER and calls it a, “Work/Service/Ritual” depending on the version. It is not a Sabbath, a day of rest. Yet, it is a day of preparation, for the next day, the Sabbath of Unleavened Bread, when the Israelites LEFT Egypt.
But someone could use the time of death (broad daylight/yet became dark: Matt 27:45-46) of our Messiah, as a reason to say otherwise! But remember what he said in Matt 23:2-3!!! AND REMEMBER WHAT THE MANY SCHOLARS SAID ABOUT HOW THE SAMARITAINS AND PHARISEES REGARD THE “EVENINGS” DIFFERENTLY?!?! AND MESSIAH ATE THE PASSOVER!!!
What else?! Yahoshua Messiah gave us a NEW WAY to honour HIS DEATH (yet coming at the time) at PASSOVER. Instead of killing lambs, we were to take the Redemption cup, and the Bread. Giving honour to HIS DEATH. Yahoshua asked us to remember him at Passover, when we partake of the wine and bread INSTEAD OF A LAMB SACRIFICE.
Luke 22:19-20 “Then he had took the BREAD, and when he had given thanks, he BROKE IT and gave it to them saying, “This is MY BODY given for you; DO THIS IN REMEMBERANCE OF ME.’ He did the same with the CUP AFTER SUPPER, and said, ‘THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT in my BLOOD poured out for you.”
If the Messiah fulfilled Passover BOTH the Samaritain/Sadducee/Karaite way AND, the Pharisee/Rabbinical way, then he did! But for me, the ORIGINAL time of keeping it, would trump the Pharisee time of keeping it. Since the Messiah actually ATE of the Passover when the Israelites in the Exodus account would have, then why wouldn’t I? Besides, the Pharisees are the ones Messiah called, “Sons of Snakes.”
More to see:
Continuing the second half of Exodus 12.
12:29-34: (summary) It is gone over again, the time Yahweh struck the first-born, and that Pharaoh summoned both Moshe and Aaron, in the night. At the meeting, Pharaoh told the Israelites to go, before all of Egypt was dead. Verses 33-34 can make it seem, that the Israelites left right then.
But then comes verses 35-36 “The Israelites did as Moshe had told them and ASKED (H7592) the Egyptians for silver and golden jewelry, and clothing. Yahweh made the Egyptians so much impressed with the people that they gave them what they ASKED (H7592). So they despoiled the Egyptians.”
KJV uses the words, “BORROWED” and “LENT” for H7592. Even the NJB which I am quoting lightens up reality on this word.
H7592- shaw-ale: to inquire; by impl. to REQUEST; by extens. TO DEMAND.
Let’s just say, they were most-likely being pretty firm about it! So how long did it take for the Israelites to despoil the Egyptians? Verses 37-42 is all about the rest of that day (fourteenth/light hours- after they were allowed to leave their houses (in the MORNING)), and then in goes into WHAT TIME OF DAY they LEFT Egypt!!!
12:41-42 “And on the very day the four hundred and thirty years ended, all Yahweh’s armies LEFT EGYPT. The NIGHT (H3915), when Yahweh kept VIGIL (H8107) to BRING THEM OUT OF EGYPT MUST BE KEPT AS A VIGIL (H8107)in honour of Yahweh by all the Israelites, for all generations.”
H3915- lah’-yel-aw: prop. a twist away (away of the light), i.e. night; fig. adversity.
H8107- shim-moor (from H8104- shaw-mar: a prim. root; prop. to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; gen. to protect, attend to, etc.): AN OBSERVANCE.
It seems clear, they left Egypt at NIGHT, the start of the FIFTEENTH DAY.
Verses 43-50 (summary) are going over the Passover requirements. Verse 46 should be mentioned for further confirmation about staying indoors all NIGHT, “It (lamb) must be eaten in one house alone; YOU WILL NOT TAKE ANY OF THE MEAT OUT OF THE HOUSE; nor may you break any of its bones.”
Then verse 51 “and that SAME DAY (H3117)Yahweh brought the Israelites out of Egypt, and their armies.” SAY WHAT?!?!
KJV says, “selfsame day,” “selfsame”, or “same”…..NOT THERE!!! That is ADDED!!!
But the word “day” is there.
H3117- yome: from an unused root mean. to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether lit. (from sunrise to sunset or from one sunset to the next), or fig. (A SPACE OF TIME DEFINED BY AN ASSOCIATED TERM).
Think what you will! There is no reason to omit all the evidence we have had up to now! The text added a word, and that word ADDED CONFUSION!!! It is easy to see, verse 51 is summarizing the events together, with the word, “YOME,” which can mean a space of time, (like even today, the Passover season means more than one day.)
Not to be going on, and on, and on……but you know how it is!
Exodus 13:1-10 Is a focus on Unleavened Bread. Verse 6 “For seven days you will eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day, there must be a FEAST (H2282) in Yahweh’s honour.”
H2282- chag: a FESTIVAL, or a victum therefor.
13:3-4 “Moshe said to the people, ‘REMEMBER THIS DAY, ON WHICH YOU CAME OUT OF EGYPT, from the place of SLAVE LABOUR, for by the STRENGTH OF HIS HAND, YAHWEH BROUGHT YOU OUT OF IT; NO LEAVENED BREAD MAY BE EATEN. ON THIS DAY, IN THE MONTH OF ABIB, YOU ARE LEAVING,”
Numbers 33:3 “They left Ramses in the FIRST MONTH. It was the FIFTEENTH DAY of the FIRST MONTH, THE DAY FOLLOWING (H4283)THE PASSOVER.”
H4283- mokh-or-awth: (fem. From the same as H4279; mah-khar- prop. deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adv.) TOMORROW; indef. hereafter): the morrow of (adv.) TOMORROW.
Here is another word, that COULD HAVE BEEN used in the passage Numbers 33:3, but it WASN’T.
H1242- bo-ker: (from H1239 baw-kar- a prim. root; prop. to plough, or (gen.) break forth,….): prop. DAWN (as in the BREAK OF DAY); gen. MORNING.
I think it is safe to say, that even the Numbers 33:3 account of a timeline, shows a glimpse of the fourteenth being solely for Passover events, and the fifteenth being solely for Unleavened Bread events.
Numbers 28:16-25: (summary) other info about Passover and Unleavened Bread. There is once again, a clear separation on the days. Verses 16-17 “THE FOURTEENTH DAY of the first month is the PASSOVER OF YAHWEH, and the FIFTEENTH DAY of this month, is a FEAST DAY (H2282).”
H2282- chag: a FESTIVAL, or a victum therefor.
Verse 18 “On the FIRST DAY there will be a SACRED ASSEMBLY (H4744)….. Verse 25 “On the SEVENTH DAY you will hold a SACRED ASSEMBLY (H4744); you will do no heavy work.”
H4744- mik-raw: (from H7121- kaw-raw: a prim. root- TO CALL OUT; (i.e. prop. TO ADDRESS BY NAME)) SOMETHING CALLED OUT, i.e. A PUBLIC MEETING; also A REHEARSAL.
Again, Passover was kept in the HOME. Unleavened Bread was an ASSEMBLY and a SABBATH……..
Deuteronomy 16:1-8: (summary) is a reminder to keep the times of Passover, and Unleavened Bread. It is true, that it is the most confusing words in regards to the two days in the entire Bible!
In it, we read: (Verse 1) “….brought you out of Egypt by NIGHT.” (Verse 3) “…you will REMEMBER the DAY when you CAME OUT OF EGYPT.” (Verse 4) “For SEVEN days NO LEAVEN must be found in any house throughout your territory, nor must any of THE MEAT that you SACRIFICE in the EVENING of the FIRST DAY, be kept OVERNIGHT until the NEXT DAY.”
Since we went over so much already, you read verse 4, and wonder why things are not more precise. When you read this passage, is does sound like it’s possible that Passover and Unleavened Bread, is the same night. There are two possibilities as to why this is written in this way:
- The meaning was understood already. This was a summary of Passover, AND days 1-7 of Unleavened Bread.
- Passover and Unleavened Bread were merged.
In the New Jerusalem Bible, under article (a.), we read the following: “….The juxtaposition of these two feasts here is a literary device. The two feasts, celebrated much at the same time of year, together MERGED only after the times of Josiah….”
Encyclopaedia Judaica says, "The feast of Passover consists of two parts: the Passover ceremony, and the feast of Unleavened Bread. ORIGINALLY, BOTH PARTS EXISTED SEPARATELY; but at the beginning of the [Babylonian] exile they were COMBINED" (vol. 13, p. 169).
Almost finished!
Deuteronomy 16:6-8 “…you must sacrifice the Passover in the EVENING (H6153)at SUNSET (H935+ H8121), at the HOUR (H4150) YOU CAME OUT OF EGYPT. ….and in the MORNING (H1242) you must return to your tents. For SIX DAYS you will EAT UNLEAVENED BREAD; on the SEVENTH DAY there will be an ASSEMBLY (H6116) for Yahweh your Elohim; and you must do not work.”
H6153-eh-reb; (from H6150- a prim. root identical to H6148 through the idea of COVERING with a TEXTURE) to grow dusky at sundown)-dusk.
H6148- aw-rab: a prim. root; TO BRAID, i.e. INTERMIX…….
H935- bo: a prim. root; to go or come ( in a wide variety of applications)
H8121- sheh’-mesh; from an unused root mean. to be brilliant; the SUN; by imp. in the east; fig. a ray….
H4150- mo-ade: prop. an APPOINTMENT, i.e. a FIXED TIME or SEASON; spec. A FESTIVAL; conventionally a year; by imp. an ASSEMBLY (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the CONGREGATION; by ext. the PLACE OF THE MEETING; also A SIGNAL (as appointed before hand).
H1242- bo-ker: (from H1239 baw-kar- a prim. root; prop. to plough, or (gen.) break forth,….): prop. DAWN (as in the BREAK OF DAY); gen. MORNING.
H6116- ats-aw-raw: an ASSEMBLY, esp. a FESTIVAL or HOLIDAY (HOLY DAY)
**When looking at all of these words, we see how complex and beautiful the Hebrew language really is.
Back to business!
I gave you more information on H6153 this time! Isn’t it CLEAR that this word is being used for explaining, SUNSET? We even have H935 + H8121, where KJV said, “at the going down of the sun.” (16:6) Then the reference to H1242 being DAWN and MORNING….. So therefore, isn’t is just as CLEAR, the Israelites did NOT LEAVE Egypt the same night as Passover?! It should be my friends.
It is interesting that the Deut. 16:1-8 passage, DOESN’T MENTION THE FIRST DAY OF UNLEAVENED BREAD BEING A SABBATH AT ALL (but we know it is right?) Here, the seventh day is focused on, with a word (ats-aw-raw) that looks like great joy! A SIGNAL even! No wonder many believe that is the day the Israelites crossed the sea! Remember the joy?
The song of Victory:
Exodus 15:1-21
It was then that Moses and the Israelites sang this song in Yahweh's honour:
I shall sing to Yahweh, for he has covered himself in glory, horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
Yah is my strength and my song, to him I owe my deliverance.
He is my El and I shall praise him, my father's Elohim and I shall extol him.
Yahweh is a warrior; Yahweh is his name.
Pharaoh's chariots and army he has hurled into the sea,
the pick of his officers have been drowned in the Sea of Reeds.
The ocean has closed over them; they have sunk to the bottom like a stone.
Your right hand, Yahweh, wins glory by its strength, your right hand, Yahweh, shatters your foes,
and by your great majesty you fell your assailants; you unleash your fury, it consumes them like chaff.
A blast from your nostrils and the waters piled high;
the waves stood firm as a dyke; the bed of the sea became firm ground.
The enemy said, 'I shall give chase and overtake, 'I shall share out the spoil and glut myself on them,
'I shall draw my sword, my hand will destroy them.'
You blew with your breath, the sea closed over them;
they sank like lead in the terrible waters.
Yahweh, who is like you, majestic in sanctity,
who like you among the el’s, fearsome of deed, worker of wonders?
You stretched your right hand out, the earth swallowed them!
In your faithful love you led out the people you had redeemed,
in your strength you have guided them to your holy dwelling.
Hearing of this, the peoples tremble; pangs seize on the people of Philistia;
the chieftains of Edom are dismayed, Moab's princes -- panic has seized them,
all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
On them fall terror and dread; through the power of your arm they are still as stone
while your people are passing, Yahweh, while the people you have purchased are passing.
You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain which is your heritage,
the place which you, Yahweh, have made your dwelling,
the sanctuary, Yahweh, prepared by your own hands.
Yahweh will be king for ever and ever.
For when Pharaoh's cavalry, with his chariots and horsemen, had gone into the sea,
Yahweh brought the waters of the sea back over them,
though the Israelites went on dry ground right through the sea.
The prophetess Miriam, Aaron's sister, took up a tambourine,
and all the women followed her with tambourines, dancing,
while Miriam took up from them the refrain:
Sing to Yahweh, for he has covered himself in glory, horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
The Key’s
H4744- mik-raw: (from H7121- kaw-raw: a prim. root- TO CALL OUT; (i.e. prop. TO ADDRESS BY NAME) ) SOMETHING CALLED OUT, i.e. A PUBLIC MEETING; also A REHEARSAL.
H6153-eh-reb; (from H6150-to grow dusky at sundown)-dusk.
H3915- lah’-yel-aw: prop. a twist away (away of the light), i.e. night; fig. adversity.
H2146- zik-rone: (from H2142: TO MARK (so as to be RECOGNIZED), i.e. to REMEMBER….) a MEMENTO (or MEMORABLE THING, DAY or writing.
H2282- chag: a FESTIVAL, or a VICTUM therefor.
H2287- chagag: a prim. root; prop. to move in a circle, i.e. (spec.) to march in sacred procession, to observe a festival.
H1242- bo-ker: (from H1239 baw-kar- a prim. root; prop. to plough, or (gen.) break forth,….): prop. DAWN (as in the BREAK OF DAY); gen. MORNING. prop. DAWN (as the BREAK OF DAY); gen. MORNING.
H5656- ab-o-daw: (from H5657- ab-ood-daw: something wrought, i.e. (concr.) service) WORK OF ANY KIND.
H7592- shaw-ale: to inquire; by impl. to REQUEST; by extens. TO DEMAND.
H8107- shim-moor (from H8104- shaw-mar: a prim. root; prop. to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; gen. to protect, attend to, etc.): AN OBSERVANCE.
H3117- yome: from an unused root mean. to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether lit. (from sunrise to sunset or from one sunset to the next), or fig. (A SPACE OF TIME DEFINED BY AN ASSOCIATED TERM).
H4283- mokh-or-awth: (fem. From the same as H4279; mah-khar- prop. deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adv.) TOMORROW; indef. hereafter): the morrow of (adv.) TOMORROW.
H6148- aw-rab: a prim. root; TO BRAID, i.e. INTERMIX…….
H935- bo: a prim. root; to go or come ( in a wide variety of applications)
H8121- sheh’-mesh; from an unused root mean. to be brilliant; the SUN; by imp. in the east; fig. a ray….