Chapter XII The Passover, Xii. 1–28
Birthday of a nation. The calendar, 171.—“The congregation.” The feast is social, 172.—The nation is based upon the family. No Egyptian house escapes, 173.—National interdependence. The Passover a sacrifice, 174.—What does the blood mean? Rationalistic theories. Harvest festivals, 175.—The unbelieving point of view: what theories of sacrifice were then current? “A sacrifice was a meal,” 176.—Human sacrifices. The Passover “unhistorical.” Kuenen rejects this view, 177.—Phenomena irreconcilable with it, 178–9. What is really expressed? Danger even to Jews, 179.—Salvation by grace. Not unbought, 180.—The lamb a ransom. All firstborn are forfeited. Tribe of Levi, 181.—Cash payment. Effect on Hebrew literature, 182.—Its prophetic import, 183.—The Jew must co-operate with God: must also become His guest, 184.—Sacred festivals. Lamb or kid. Four days reserved, 185.—Men are sheep. Heads of houses originally sacrifice. Transition to Levites in progress under Hezekiah, complete under Josiah, 186.—Unleavened bread. The lamb. Roast, not sodden, 187.—Complete consumption. Judgment upon gods of Egypt, 188.—The blood a token unto themselves. On their lintels, 189.—The word “pass-over,” 190.—Domestic teaching, 191.—Many who ate the feast perished. Aliens might share, 192.
The Tenth Plague, Xii. 29–36
The blow falls. Pharaoh was not “firstborn”: his son “sat upon his throne,” 193.—The scene, 194.—The demands of Israel. St. Augustine’s inference, 195.
The Exodus, Xii. 37–42
The route, 195.—Their cattle, a suggested explanation, 196.—“Four hundred and thirty years,” 197–8.