Exodus 12

“And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,” Naming Aaron and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance…” Naming Eat keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your…” Naming Draw and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the…” Naming Aaron and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We…” Naming Egyptians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bound, clothes, dough. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver…” Naming Egyptians and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they…” Naming Egyptians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cattle, flocks, herds. Its relationship to verses 37 and 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of…” Naming Egypt and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD , let all his males be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.