Exodus 12

Deuteronomy 16

Comments

Exodus 12:3, 22:
“they will each take for themselves a lamb for the family, a lamb for the household … And you will not go out, anyone from the doorway of his house, until morning.”

Deuteronomy 16:2, 5–6:
“And you shall offer the Passover sacrifice to Yahweh your God from among your flock and herd at the place that Yahweh will choose, to let his name dwell there … You are not allowed to offer the Passover sacrifice in one of your towns that Yahweh your God is giving to you, but only at the place that Yahweh your God will choose, to make his name dwell there.”

According to Exodus 12, the Israelites are to celebrate the Passover in individual homes. Deuteronomy, however, demands that it be celebrated at the central sanctuary (“the place that Yahweh will choose, to make his name dwell there”; compare Deut 12:5).

Exodus 12:7:
“And they will take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.”

Not mentioned

According to Exodus, the Israelites are to apply some of the blood to the doorposts and lintels of their houses. Deuteronomy omits this because the people are not to celebrate Passover in their homes.

Not mentioned

Deuteronomy 16:7:
“And you may turn in the morning, and go to your tents.”

Since the people are celebrating the feast at home in the Exodus laws, there is no need for them to go to their tents. The phrase “go to your tents” is a Hebrew idiom for returning home (Josh 22:4; 1 Kings 8:66), a perfectly natural command since many would have had to journey to the central sanctuary for the feast.