“And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof.”
This verse is part of the instructions given by the Lord to Moses and Aaron regarding the Passover, which commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. Let’s explore the context and meaning of this verse.
In Exodus 12, God provides detailed instructions to Moses and Aaron regarding the observance of the Passover. The Passover was a significant event in Israelite history, marking the final plague that resulted in the release of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. It involved the sacrifice and consumption of a lamb or goat, the application of its blood on the doorposts and lintel of the Israelites’ houses, and the subsequent eating of the roasted meat along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
In Exodus 12:43, God specifically addresses Moses and Aaron, informing them of an ordinance or regulation related to the Passover meal. The ordinance states that no stranger or foreigner should partake of the Passover lamb. This instruction emphasized that the Passover was a unique observance for the Israelites, symbolizing their distinct relationship with God as His chosen people.
The prohibition against strangers participating in the Passover had a couple of reasons behind it. First, the Passover was a religious event that carried deep symbolic meaning for the Israelites. By restricting participation to the Israelite community, God emphasized the covenantal relationship He had established with them. It served as a reminder of their deliverance and their identity as a chosen people.
Second, the Passover meal was intimately connected to the broader narrative of the Exodus. It symbolized the sparing of the Israelite households from the tenth plague-the death of the firstborn in Egypt. As such, it was a ritual rooted in the historical and cultural context of the Israelites. Allowing strangers to partake in the Passover might dilute the significance and purpose of the event.
It’s worth noting that this verse does not imply a permanent exclusion of foreigners from partaking in Israelite religious practices. Elsewhere in the Bible, provisions are made for foreigners who embraced the faith of Israel to participate in certain religious observances (e.g., Numbers 9:14). This verse specifically pertains to the Passover observance at that particular time.
Overall, Exodus 12:43 highlights the exclusive nature of the Passover meal, intended for the Israelite community to commemorate their liberation and covenant relationship with God. It underscores the importance of understanding the historical and cultural context of biblical passages to grasp their meaning fully.
