Purpose of the Pesach/2

Purpose of the Pesach

Exegetical Approaches

Protection Ritual

The Pesach served to protect the Israelites from the plague wrought on the Egyptian firstborns. Commentators differ in their understandings of the character of this ritual:

Apotropaic Blood Rite

The blood of the Pesach was a sign which warded off evil and deterred the destroying angel from entering the Israelite homes.

Sources:JubileesChapter 49About Jubilees, R. Avraham Ibn DaudSefer HaEmunah HaRamah, Maamar 3, Ibn EzraShemot Long Commentary 4:25Shemot Long Commentary 12:7Shemot Long Commentary 12:13Shemot Long Commentary 12:27Shemot Short Commentary 12:7Shemot Short Commentary 12:11Shemot Short Commentary 12:13About R. Avraham ibn Ezra,¹ R. Yosef Bekhor ShorShemot 12:7Shemot 12:13Shemot 12:14About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor²

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Redemption of the Firstborn (פדיון בכור)

The Paschal lambs served as an exchange for the lives of the Israelite firstborns, and their blood symbolized the consecration of the Israelites to God's worship.

Sources:U. CassutoShemot 12:5About U. Cassuto

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Petitionary Offering

The Pesach was brought as a request for Hashem's protection, and the sheep represented the Israelites' dependence on Hashem to be their shepherd.

Sources:R. D"Z HoffmannShemot 12:12-13About R. D"Z Hoffmann,³ Zvi KarlCommentary on Mishnayot Pesachim, pp.12-15

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Demonstrative Act Against Idolatry

The Pesach was an educational/religious act which declared the Israelites' loyalty to Hashem and His supremacy over the Egyptian gods. This approach subdivides regarding the intended audience.

Educating the Israelites

The Pesach was intended to transform the Israelites into a God-fearing nation that rejected Egyptian idolatry.

Sources:R. Matya b. Charash and R. Eliezer HaKappar in the Mekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelBo Pischa 5About the Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, R. Yosi HaGelili in Mekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelBo Pischa 11About the Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, R. Eliezer in Mekhilta DeRashbiShemot 12:21About Mekhilta DeRashbi, Shemot Rabbah16:2About Shemot Rabbah, RashiShemot 12:6About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, Seikhel TovShemot 12:6About R. Menachem b. Shelomo, RambamMoreh Nevukhim 3:46About R. Moshe Maimonides, R. BachyaShemot 12:13R. Bachya b. Asher, RalbagShemot 12:3Shemot 12:7Shemot 12:9Shemot 12:13Shemot 12:22-23Shemot 12 Toelet 3About R. Levi b. Gershon, Tzeror HaMorShemot 12:3About R. Avraham Saba, Akeidat YitzchakShemot #38About R. Yitzchak Arama, AbarbanelShemot 12, Question 4Shemot 12:3-14About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, R"M AlshikhShemot 12 IntroductionShemot 12:7-9About R. Moshe Alshikh, HaKetav VeHaKabbalahShemot 12:13About R"Y Mecklenburg, R. S"R HirschShemot 12:3-8Shemot 12:11Shemot 12:24About R. S"R Hirsch, U. CassutoShemot 12:5About U. Cassuto

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Proclaiming to the Egyptians

The public sacrifice of the sheep served to teach the Egyptians the worthlessness of idolatry, as their gods were disgraced and proven incapable of defending themselves.

Sources:Shemot Rabbah16:3About Shemot Rabbah, ChizkuniShemot 12:3,5-7Shemot 12:8-11Shemot 12:13About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach,⁴ RambanShemot 12:3About R. Moshe Nachmanides, R. BachyaShemot 12:23R. Bachya b. Asher⁵

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Thanksgiving Sacrifice

The Pesach was a Korban Shelamim or Korban Todah, a celebratory sacrifice thanking Hashem for the nation's impending redemption.

Sources:PhiloOn the Special Laws II:XXVII:145-149Questions and Answers on Exodus #4Questions and Answers on Exodus #7Questions and Answers on Exodus #10Questions and Answers on Exodus #12About Philo, R. D"Z HoffmannShemot 12:12-13About R. D"Z Hoffmann

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¹ It is not totally clear from Ibn Ezra's comments if he views the entire sacrifice as a ransom, or just the blood.

² R. Yosef Bekhor Shor is also ambiguous regarding whether it is the sheep or just the blood which acts as the ransom.

³ R. D"Z Hoffmann combines this possibility with the option that the Pesach was a thanksgiving sacrifice – see below.

⁴ Chizkuni emphasizes the teaching to the Egyptians, but notes that this was a lesson learned by the Israelites as well.

⁵ R. Bachya sees in the Pesach also a demonstration of Israelite belief in Hashem, which earned them their salvation. See his comments on 12:13 and the discussion above.