Exodus 12: 10 Commentary

Regarding Ex. 12:6-10
#460: To slay the Paschal lamb (Ex. 12:6)
#461: To eat the flesh of the Paschal sacrifice on the night of the fifteenth of Nissan (Ex. 12:8)
#462: Not to eat the flesh of the Paschal lamb raw or sodden (Ex. 12:9)
#463: Not to leave any portion of the flesh of the Paschal sacrifice until the morning unconsumed (Ex. 12:10)
According to http://www.bethhamashiach.com/Mitzvohmenu.htm, #460-463 are not currently applicable because the Temple no longer exists. To be clear mutton is kosher, but it has become the tradition of many not to eat it on Passover since a lamb can’t be presented at the Temple. I was disappointed when I uncovered this tidbit, while I was looking for a place that held a communal Passover, because I was looking forward to mutton. Ironically, I did find a Christian church that offered mutton on the side as part of its Passover meal – I don’t think they knew about the tradition.
On the modern calendar, Passover is an eight day event. Biblically, Passover technically begins on the eve of the 14th of Nisan (not the 15th) according to Exodus 12:6 and it is soon over (sort of like Halloween). It is then immediately followed by the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread. It might help to think of the entire time as Passover season. The original tradition may have been to have the family eating on the 14th and continue to celebrate into the night as the Feast of Unleavened Bread began on the 15th.

By Terik Q (wrote 65 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/29/2010 12:37 pm