arose from all the land of Egypt, because there was death in every house.
And Pharao arose in the night, and, struck with terror, he besought Moses and Aaron to go with the Israelites, and take with them their herds and all they possessed. “Go”, he said, “and, departing, bless me.” The Egyptians themselves pressed[1] the people to go forth speedily, saying: “We shall all die.” Then the people of God rose up in haste, while it was yet night, and began their journey, taking the unleavened bread with them. Moses also carried the bones of Joseph[2] with him.
The descendants of Jacob had lived in Egypt four hundred and thirty years. Leaving Egypt, they numbered six hundred thousand men[3], besides women and children. Moses commanded the people, saying: “Remember this day, in which, with a strong hand[4], the Lord brought you forth out of this place, that you eat none but unleavened bread.” He also told them to sanctify[5] unto the Lord every first-born, because the Lord had spared their first-born children on the night on which He slew every first-born of the Egyptians.
COMMENTARY.
The Paschal Lamb was a figure of Jesus, who died on the Cross for the sins of men. As the destroying angel dared not enter the houses of the Jews that were sprinkled with the blood of the lamb, so the devil has no power over those Christians who receive worthily the Body and Blood of our Lord in Holy Communion. In Pharao we behold a sad picture of a man grown old in sin. When oppressed by calamity he seemed to repent, but as soon as the danger was past, he fell back into his pride and hardness of heart.
- ↑ Pressed. Forced them to go.
- ↑ The bones of Joseph. In fulfilment of Joseph's dying wish (Chapt. XXVII).
- ↑ Six hundred thousand men. Such men as were capable of fighting in time of war. The whole number of living souls was over two millions.
- ↑ With a strong hand. With great might, by which he overcame the stubbornness of Pharao.
- ↑ Sanctify . All the first-born of clean beasts had to be sacrificed to the Lord. The first-born of those which were unclean had to be redeemed with money. All first-born sons were consecrated to God, to be the priests of the family. Soon after this, however, the tribe of Levi was substituted for the firstborn (Chapt. XXXIX), and thenceforward the first-born sons had to be redeemed with money from the special service of God. Almighty God, to whom everything belongs, laid a special claim to the first-born of the Israelites, because He had spared their first-born in Egypt.
