Bible Commentary

Deuteronomy 16:2

Deuteronomy 16:2

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the Lord thy God,.... In the month Abib, and in the night of that month they came out of Egypt, even on the fourteenth day of it at night, between the two evenings, as the Targum of Jonathan; which was a lamb, and typical of Christ, the passover sacrificed for us, of the flock and the herd; that is, you shall sacrifice also the offerings which were offered throughout the seven days of unleavened bread, and these were both sheep and oxen, Nu 28:19 and are expressly called passover offerings and peace offerings, 2Ch 30:21, for what was strictly and properly the passover was only of the flock, a lamb, and not of the herd, or a bullock; though Aben Ezra says there were some that thought that in Egypt it was only a lamb or a kid, but now it might be a bullock; which he observes is not right.

It may be indeed that the word "passover" here is a general term, comprehending the whole passover solemnity, and all the sacrifices of the seven days: the Jews commonly understand this clause of the Chagigah, or feast of the fifteenth day, the first day of unleavened bread, and so the Targum of Jonathan,"and the sheep and the oxen on the morrow;''some distinguish them thus, the flock for the duty of the passover, the herd for the peace offerings, so Aben Ezra; or as Jarchi interprets it, the flock of the lambs and kids, and the herd for the Chagigah or festival; in the Talmud ; the flock, this is the passover; the herd, this is the Chagigah, so Abendana: there was a Chagigah of the fourteenth day, which was brought with the lamb and eaten first, when the company was too large for the lamb, that their might eat with satiety ; but this was not reckoned obligatory upon them , but they were bound to bring their Chagigah on the fifteenth day:in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name there; that is, at Jerusalem, as the event has shown; hence we read of the parents of our Lord going up to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover, Lu 2:41.

T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 70. 2. Jarchi in loc. Maimon. Hilchot Corban Pesach, c. 8. l. 3. T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 71. 1, 2. Maimon. ut supra, () c. 10. sect. 13. Aruch in voc. gx, fol. 58.

The Daily Devotional

One devotional. Every morning.

The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.

We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.

Continue tomorrow

Turn Bible study into a daily habit

Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.

Recommended reading

More for Deuteronomy 16:2

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Deuteronomy 16 — OverviewDeuteronomy 16 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIn this chapter we have, I. A repetition of the laws concerning the three yearly feasts; in particular, that of the passover, ver. 1-8. That of pentecost, ver. 9-12. That of tabernacles, ver. 13-15. And the…Deuteronomy 16 — OverviewDeuteronomy 16 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeDeuteronomy 16:1, The feast of the passover, Deuteronomy 16:9, of weeks, Deuteronomy 16:13, of tabernacles; Deuteronomy 16:16, Every male must offer, as he is able, at these three feasts; Deuteronomy 16:18, Of judges…Deuteronomy 16 — OverviewDeuteronomy 16 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter treats of the three grand yearly festivals, of the feast of passover, when, where, and what was to be sacrificed, how to be dressed, and in what manner to be eaten, De 16:1, of the feast of pentecost, when…Deuteronomy 16:1-17Deuteronomy 16:1-17 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleMuch of the communion between God and his people Israel was kept up, and a face of religion preserved in the nation, by the three yearly feasts, the institution of which, and the laws concerning them, we have…Deuteronomy 16:1-7Deuteronomy 16:1-7 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe Feast of the Passover. Deuteronomy 16:1, Deuteronomy 16:2 The month of Abib (cf. Exodus 12:2; Exodus 23:15). The time is referred to as a date well known to the people. Keep the passover; make ( עַשִׂיתָ) or…Deuteronomy 16:1-8Deuteronomy 16:1-8 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe Feast of the Passover. (For a reference to the minute points of difference, necessitated by different circumstances, between the first Passover and subsequent ones, see art. 'Passover,' in Smith's 'Bibl. Dict.;'…