Passover in Goshen

The words

1. Aaron

   The LORD addresses Moses and Aaron together in Egypt, giving instructions for each household to prepare for Passover.

   Did you know?

   Exodus gives Aaron’s age as 83 when he and Moses speak to Pharaoh, before the Passover instructions.

   Exodus 12:1–3 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 7:7 (opens a new tab)

2. Bitter Herbs

   The household is told to eat the roasted meat with unleavened bread and bitter herbs on the Passover night.

   Exodus 12:8 (opens a new tab)

3. Bondage

   Before Passover, God promises Moses to free Israel from Egyptian bondage, having heard the groaning of the people held in slavery.

   Exodus 6:5–6 (opens a new tab)

4. Bread

   Unleavened bread accompanies the Passover meal; Exodus later describes the departing people carrying their dough before it has leavened.

   Did you know?

   The departing people carry their kneading troughs wrapped in clothing on their shoulders, a small detail of the hurried departure.

   Exodus 12:8 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 12:34 (opens a new tab)

5. Egyptians

   After the deaths of the firstborn, the Egyptians urge Israel to leave quickly, fearing that they too will die.

   Exodus 12:29–33 (opens a new tab)

6. Firstborn

   Exodus describes the final plague killing Egypt’s firstborn at midnight, from Pharaoh’s household to a captive’s, and including cattle.

   Exodus 12:29 (opens a new tab)

7. Goshen

   Goshen is where Israel lives in Egypt; in an earlier plague announcement, God says no swarms of flies will be there.

   Did you know?

   Genesis already places Israel in Goshen, describing the family gaining possessions and growing greatly there before the events in Exodus.

   Exodus 8:22 (opens a new tab) · Genesis 47:27 (opens a new tab)

8. Hyssop

   Moses instructs the elders to dip a bunch of hyssop in blood and use it to mark the doorway.

   Did you know?

   First Kings describes Solomon speaking about plants from Lebanon’s cedar to hyssop growing out of a wall.

   Exodus 12:21–22 (opens a new tab) · 1 Kings 4:32–33 (opens a new tab)

9. Lamb

   Here the KJV allows a young sheep or goat.

   Each household selects an unblemished young male animal for slaughter; its blood marks the doorway before the Passover meal.

   Exodus 12:3–8 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 12:6–11 (opens a new tab)

10. Lintel

    The lintel receives blood along with the two side posts; the people are instructed to stay inside their houses until morning.

    Exodus 12:22 (opens a new tab)

11. Moses

    Moses gathers Israel’s elders and tells them to select the Passover animal for their families, then explains how to mark the doorway.

    Exodus 12:21–22 (opens a new tab)

12. Passover

    Exodus names the observance for the LORD passing over Israel’s marked houses while Egypt is struck, sparing those inside.

    Exodus 12:13 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 12:26–27 (opens a new tab)

13. Plagues

    The LORD announces “one plague more” before Israel’s release; Exodus then describes the death of Egypt’s firstborn.

    Exodus 11:1 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 12:29 (opens a new tab)

14. Side Posts

    Blood is applied to both side posts and the lintel, marking the doorway of each house where the Passover meal is eaten.

    Exodus 12:7 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 12:22 (opens a new tab)

15. Unleavened

    The Passover instructions require seven days of unleavened bread and the removal of leaven from the houses on the first day.

    Did you know?

    Exodus later connects the unleavened cakes baked from the travelers’ dough with their departure in haste, without time to delay.

    Exodus 12:15 (opens a new tab) · Exodus 12:39 (opens a new tab)