Exodus 12 - Introduction

The last Plague. The departure from Egypt. Laws relating to the Passover, Maẓẓoth and the First-born. Journey to Etham

Regulations for the observance of the Passover, Exodus 12:1-13 (P), and of he feast of Maẓẓoth(i.e. Unleavened Cakes), Exodus 12:14-20 (P); communication to the people by Moses of directions (not the same as those given to him in Exodus 12:1-13) for the observance of the Passover, Exodus 12:21-28 (J); the death of the Egyptian first-born, and preparations of the Israelites for the Exodus 12:29-36 (J and E); their journey from Rameses to Succoth, Exodus 12:37-42 (E and P); supplementary regulations respecting the Passover, Exodus 12:43-51 (P); the dedication of the first-born to Jehovah, Exodus 13:1-2 (P); promulgation by Moses to the people of directions respecting the feast of Maẓẓoth, Exodus 13:3-10 (J), and the dedication of the first-born, Exodus 13:11-16 (J); the journey from Succoth to Etham, Exodus 13:17-22. The double origin of the laws in this section of Exodus is particularly evident; the marks of P in the passages assigned to him are very numerous and clear; and regulations respecting the Passover, Maẓẓoth, and the first-born, are all given in duplicate. Exodus 12:25-27 a, Exodus 13:3; Exodus 13:5; Exodus 13:8-9; Exodus 13:11; Exodus 13:14-16 may be parenetic expansions of the original text by the compiler of JE: they approximate to style and tone to Deuteronomy. Cf. the Introd. p. 17.

Exodus 12:1. Regulations for the Passover, according to P.