Exodus 12:3

"“This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you."

Key Reflection

Exodus 12:3 marks a pivotal shift in Israel's calendar and identity, declaring that the month of Abib (later known as Nisan) would become the first month of the religious year for the Israelites. This change not only established a new beginning for their annual observances but also symbolized their liberation from Egypt, positioning Passover as the cornerstone of their faith and tradition, setting the stage for future festivals and rituals centered around this month.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

A lamb -The Hebrew word is general, meaning either a sheep or a goat - male or female - and of any age; the age and sex are therefore epecially defined in the following verse. The direction to select the lamb on the tenth day, the fourth day before it was offered, was intended to secure due care in the preparation for the great national festival. The custom certainly fell into desuetude at a later period, but probably not before the destruction of the temple.

More from Exodus 12

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion