Chametz and Matzah in Pesach Mitzrayim/2

Chametz and Matzah in Pesach Mitzrayim

Exegetical Approaches

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Seven Day Prohibition of Chamtez

The Israelites celebrated a seven day holiday in Egypt, just as they did in future generations.  Chametz was prohibited for the entire week.

Sources:Tanna Kama in Tosefta PesachimPesachim 8:21About the Tosefta, RambanShemot 12:21-51Shemot 13:2Vayikra 23:2Bemidbar 9:1Devarim 16:2Devarim 16:2About R. Moshe b. Nachman, AbarbanelShemot 12:15About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel

No Prohibition of Chametz

In Egypt, the Children of Israel ate the Pesach sacrifice with matzah but were not prohibited from eating chamtez, nor obligated to eat matzah the week afterwards.

Sources:Mishna PesachimPesachim 9:5About the Mishna, Ibn EzraShemot Long Commentary 12:14-51Shemot Long Commentary 13:8Shemot Long Commentary 40:2Shemot Short Commentary 12:14Shemot Short Commentary 13:5About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Yosef ibn KaspiShemot 12:15:21About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi, ShadalShemot 12:14Shemot 12:21Shemot 13:3About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto, R. David Zvi HoffmannShemot 12, IntroductionShemot 12:14-15Shemot 12:39Shemot 12:46, 50About R. David Zvi Hoffmann

Which commands were relayed to the nation in Egypt? According to these commentators, although Hashem told Moshe both about Chag HaPesach (12:1-13) and about Chag HaMatzot (12:14-20)¹ already in the beginning of Nissan, only the commands about Pesach were relayed to the people before the Exodus (12:21-27). The people were fist told about the seven day Holiday of Matzot and the prohibition of chametz only after they left, as described in 13:3-8. 

One Day Prohibition of Chametz

Sources:R. Yose Ha Gelili in Tosefta PesachimPesachim 8:21About the Tosefta, Bavli PesachimPesachim 96a-bAbout the Bavli

¹ Chag HaPesach refers to the eating of the Pesach sacrifice, on the 14th of Nissan a twilight, while Chag Hatzot refers to the following seven day holiday in which the nation was supposed to eat matzah and refrain from eating chametz. See Pesach and Chag HaMatzot – A Two for One? for a discussion of the distinct nature of the two celebrations and when they appear to have merged into one holiday.