Exodus 12:21–51

²¹Then Moses sent for all of the elders of Israel. He said to them, “Go at once. Choose the animals for your families. Each family must kill a Passover lamb. ²²Get a branch of a hyssop plant. Dip it into the blood in the bowl. Put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you can go out the door of your house until morning.

²³“The Lord will go through the land to strike the Egyptians down. He’ll see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. He will pass over that house. He won’t let the destroying angel enter your homes to kill you.

²⁴“Obey all of these directions. It’s a law for you and your children after you for all time to come. ²⁵The Lord will give you the land, just as he promised. When you enter it, keep this holy day.

²⁶“Your children will ask you, ‘What does this holy day mean to you?’ ²⁷Tell them, ‘It’s the Passover sacrifice in honor of the Lord. He passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt. He spared our homes when he struck the Egyptians down.’ ”

Then the people of Israel bowed down and worshiped. ²⁸They did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.

²⁹At midnight the Lord struck down every oldest son in Egypt. He killed the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne. He killed all of the oldest sons of prisoners, who were in prison. He also killed all of the male animals that were born first to their mothers among the livestock.

³⁰Pharaoh and all of his officials got up during the night. So did all of the Egyptians. There was loud crying in Egypt because someone had died in every home.

The People of Israel Leave Egypt

³¹During the night, Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, “Get out of here! You and the Israelites, leave my people! Go. Worship the Lord, just as you have asked. ³²Go. Take your flocks and herds, just as you have said. And also give me your blessing.”

³³The Egyptians begged the people of Israel to hurry up and leave the country. “If you don’t,” they said, “we’ll all die!”

³⁴So the people took their dough before the yeast was added to it. They carried it on their shoulders in bread pans that were wrapped in clothes.

³⁵They did just as Moses had directed them. They asked the Egyptians for articles that were made out of silver and gold. They also asked them for clothes. ³⁶The Lord had caused the Egyptians to treat the people of Israel in a kind way. So they gave them what they asked for. The people of Israel took many expensive things that belonged to the Egyptians.

³⁷The Israelites traveled from Rameses to Succoth. There were about 600,000 men who were old enough to go into battle. The women and children went with them. ³⁸So did many other people. The Israelites also took large flocks and herds with them.

³⁹They brought dough from Egypt. With it they baked bread without yeast. The dough didn’t have any yeast in it. That’s because the people had been driven out of Egypt before they had time to prepare their food.

⁴⁰The people of Israel lived in Egypt for 430 years. ⁴¹At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all of the Lord’s people marched out of Egypt like an army.

⁴²The Lord kept watch that night to bring them out of Egypt. So on that same night every year all of the Israelites must keep watch. They must do it to honor the Lord for all time to come.

Rules for the Passover

⁴³The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, “Here are the rules for the Passover.

“No one from another country is allowed to eat the Passover meal. ⁴⁴Any slave you have bought is allowed to eat it after you have circumcised him. ⁴⁵But a hired worker or someone who lives with you for a while is not allowed to eat it.

⁴⁶“It must be eaten inside a house. Do not take any of the meat outside. Do not break any of the bones. ⁴⁷The whole community of Israel must celebrate the Passover.

⁴⁸“Suppose an outsider who is living among you wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover. Then all of the males in that home must be circumcised. After that, the person can take part, just like an Israelite. Only males who are circumcised can eat it.

⁴⁹“The same law applies to Israelites and to outsiders who are living among you.”

⁵⁰All of the people of Israel did just what the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. ⁵¹On that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt like an army on the march.