Exodus 12:6

"Your lamb shall be without defect, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep or from the goats."

Key Reflection

In Exodus 12:6, God commands the Israelites to select a perfect one-year-old lamb, either from the flock of sheep or goats, for the Passover sacrifice. This requirement underscores the importance of holiness and obedience, as only the flawless animal could symbolize the purity necessary for redemption. The cultural context reflects the meticulous attention to detail in ancient sacrificial practices, where even minor imperfections rendered an offering unacceptable.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Until the fourteenth day -It should be observed that the offering of our Lord on the self-same day is an important point in determining the typical character of the transaction. A remarkable passage in the Talmud says: “It was a famous and old opinion among the ancient Jews that the day of the new year which was the beginning of the Israelites’ deliverance out of Egypt should in future time be the beginning of the redemption by the Messiah.” In the evening -The Hebrew has between the two evenings. The meaning of the expression is disputed. The most probable explanation is that it includes the time from afternoon, or early eventide, until sunset.

More from Exodus 12

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