Lesson date: 9/16/5855AA

Verses 1-2 – Verse 1 sounds somewhat innocuous but I think it has big implications for us. Didn’t YHVH speak to us while we were still in Mitsrayim (Church). We may or may not have known His Name but I doubt that we knew about His Moedim or that YHVH had His own calendar. By the chesed of the Almighty I learned about His Moedim in 1979 but it took 40 years to put it together with all the other things we have learned. AND!, I am still learning, maybe not fast enough for everybody but I am still learning.

Over the years we have seen disagreements over the barley, the sighting of the moon, etc. but we have to fall back to Torah for guidance. We no longer use the rules of Pope Gregory to determine a leap year, or as in the case of Y2K an out of sequence leap year. What a joke that was! When we are off, or more exactly, everyone else is off, it is by a month or a day. I say all this because verse 2 is the basis for our understanding of YHVH’s calendar, which is a lunar calendar based upon agriculture. Please note what it says about the plague of the hail: Exo 9:31  And the flax and the barley were smitten, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud.

Exo 9:32  But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten, for they were late crops.

We are given an important detail being, it was late enough in the spring when the hail came that the flax and the barley were destroyed. These two crops were very important for ancient cultures. The flax seed was used as food for humans and animals but it was the flax stems that were of primary importance. Without flax stems you cannot make linen. Flax stems were soaked in water and then beaten or flailed against a flail, just imagine a board with many small nails sticking out of the wood when driven through the board, and this would separate the wrappings of the stems for the softer material beneath. If you are familiar with boiled okra you have an idea of what it is like to work with flax and turn the flax material into thread. Linen is the finest (in the sense of best) material from which to weave fabric because clothes and sheets made from linen promote healing within the human body.

Remember, the veil of the Tabernacle (Shem. 26), the dividers of the courtyard (Shem. 27), the High Priest’s shoulder garment, breastplate and trousers (Shem. 28) were all made of fine linen.

Next, we must remember that our Messiah is represented by the barley, the unleavened bread, who was waved as the First Fruits of Elohim. (1 Cor. 15:20)

After the plague of hail came the plagues of locusts, darkness and will now be followed by the death of the firstborn. Note also the timing in Shemoth 9:31 the barley was already in the head and the flax in the bud. No one had to send runners into fields looking for barley in the green dough stage and finding here a little and there a little. This was indicative of the general state of the crops: Deu 16:9  “Count seven weeks for yourself. Begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain.

We see a euphemism being used to indicate a general harvest, not a selection of just enough grain for a wave offering. Once again, I believe the intent has been lost and we are counting how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. This past year many people called aviv barley on fields of wheat. My advice, get out of the car, walk over to the house and knock and then ask the farmers about their crops. They will tell you the very day they anticipate maturity of their crops. Also, the Israeli Government paid farmers to harvest barley early for silage rather than as a food crop. This is an important piece of information. We see this done in Texas, and other states, with corn. It does not mean that you and I could eat the ear of corn but the cattle could eat the foliage and obtain more protein from it than if they ate the grain. Scholars and academics make poor farmers, ask the farmers and quit fighting over which day the head is in.

The wheat and the spelt were not hurt and could have survived all the other plagues. Many people do not know or forget that you can graze wheat up until the time of the panicle initiation, which may have been a week or two later.

This particular time, sighting the sliver, is a time of vigilance, to keep watch because many sightings of the moon can be difficult. It also puts the moon in the proper perspective. In Greek mentality we say that it is a “new” moon, but in Hebrew thought it is actually the same old moon that has been renewed, just like the covenant that we hold dear, not new but renewed.

Notice what is said in Hanok about the sliver of the moon: Ḥanoḵ 78: 6-7 “When the moon begins its cycle, it appears in the sky one half of a seventh part; it will become fully illumined from the fourteenth day; 7 it completes its illumination the fifteenth, becoming fulfilled according to the sign of the year and becoming fifteen parts. Thus the moon waxes in fifteen parts.”

Hanok 78: 11 “During all the seasons when the moon is made to run its cycle, the light is being beamed into it the moon facing the sun until the illumination of the moon is completed in the course of fourteen days; and when it is lit completely, it radiates light in the sky.”

: 12 “On the first day, it is called the new moon because on that day the illumination begins to set upon it.”

Notice in verse 2 we see the phrase “beginning of months” and not the beginning of moons. The period of time is called a month and the object used to determine the passage of time is the “cycle” of the moon. The word used for month is chodesh but the word used for moon is: H3394 – יָרֵחַ – yârêach – yaw-ray’-akh – From the same as H3391; the moon: – moon. The confusion comes in with the root word: H3391 – ירח – yerach – BDB Definition: 1) month (lunar cycle), moon

This is a lot about the moon but we are not finished yet because it is vitally important for us to understand about “the day and the hour”. Look to Mishle 7: Pro 7:20  “He took a bag of silver with him; He comes home on the day of the new moon.” ((This is the 1998 version translation which is incorrect.))

Pro 7:20  “He took a bag of silver with him; He comes home on the day of the covering.” ((covering = the full moon, this is correct.))

Notice what is being talked about in Mishle Chapter 7. An unfaithful wife is seducing a man because her husband will not return until the full moon or 14^th day or Sukkot. This is indicative of Yisra’el chasing after other gods because the Messiah had not come yet and they were subsequently divorced.

One more thing about the moon/Abib as it relates to us. The ear of the barley is ripe when it is abib, this will begin the “new” year. When we are “ripe” in the ear, then we can hear the true Word of YHVH: Mat_11:15  “He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Remember, we prove that we can hear but doing what we are told.

Verse 3 – We are told to set-apart a lamb on the tenth day and inspect it to find if there is a flaw in the lamb. We have gone through the Gospels and looked at the last 4 days of Yeshua’s life and seen that He was inspected for 4 days prior to the time of the Passover and declared to be without sin, or flaw, the Perfect Lamb. We must remember that Passover is not a feast or festival but is the Preparation Day for the Feast of Matzot/Unleavened Bread.

Verse 4 – This verse reminds me of the tale of Goldilocks. We are supposed to have just enough for number of souls within the household. This is not a banquet where there is ample food or more than enough food for all of those there. It is supposed to be just enough food to sustain during this time.

Verse 5 – This verse is one that gets me in trouble with many. I believe Yeshua taught for one year and one year only. Some believe that He taught for 3.5 years to match up Daniel 9:27 with the coming of the Messiah but this is a grave inaccuracy. Also, some believe that the 70 weeks of Daniel 9 point to the time of Yeshua’s teaching on earth. I do not because it perfectly matches with the time alotted to the Children of Yisra’el. He has to be a lamb of the first year. He began when He was 30 years old and died about one year later. Only John mentions two instances of a Passover during the time of teaching of Yeshua and only Luke mentions the Passover when Yeshua was a child, which He obviously was not teaching at that time because He was not 30 years old. What is the problem with only John mentioning 2 Passovers during the time of teaching of the Messiah? John writes topologically not chronologically. We find it in his gospel account and also in Hazon. Nowhere do we find a qualifier that He must teach 3.5 years or 70 weeks but we do find this qualifier that He must be a Lamb of the first year.

Verse 6 – Why the 14^th day of the month? Ever think about it? Yes, it is in Torah and we should keep it but what is the actual reason? Let me give you a hint or two: Exo_3:20  “And I shall stretch out My hand and smite Mitsrayim with all My wonders which I shall do in its midst. And after that he shall let you go.

Exo_7:5  “And the Mitsrites shall know that I am יהוה, when I stretch out My hand on Mitsrayim. And I shall bring the children of Yisra’ĕl out from among them.”

How do you write 14 in Hebrew? Right to left dalet – yod (יד) and this spells? H3027 – יד – yâd – BDB Definition: 1) hand

Psa_110:1  יהוה said to my Master, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Luk_22:69  “From now on the Son of Adam shall sit on the right hand of the power of Elohim.”

Act_2:34  “For Dawid did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself said, ‘יהוה said to my Master, “Sit at My right hand,

Heb_1:13  And to which of the messengers did He ever say, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?

Between the evenings = H6153 – ערב – ‛ereb – BDB Definition: 1) evening, night, sunset. ((Basically, the time between sunset and dark.))

Verse 7 – “take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses”

The act of placing the blood on the two sidepost and the upperpost would have looked like – ת – which is the “tav” in Hebrew. The pictographic form of the tav looked like two crossed sticks and was also the symbol for a covenant – t . What is the importance of the doorposts? Exo 21:5  “And if the servant truly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children, let me not go out free,’

Exo 21:6  then his master shall bring him before Elohim, and shall bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl. And he shall serve him forever.

Verse 8 – the flesh was supposed to be eaten with bitter herbs (hyssop), and unleavened bread. This was after sunset and was the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, unleavened because there is no sin. Joh 6:53  יהושע therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Aḏam and drink His blood, you possess no life in yourselves.

Joh 6:54  “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood possesses everlasting life, and I shall raise him up in the last day.

Joh 6:55  “For My flesh is truly food, and My blood is truly drink.

Joh 6:56  “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood stays in Me, and I in him.

Verses 9-10 – these verses tell us that it must be roasted in fire, not raw, not boiled but roasted, or as we say in Texas smoked or BBQ’d, and the body was complete. Why?

Verse 11 – this verse is very important. It indicates to us that we are to be ready to flee with our sandals on, staff in hand and loins girded. Flee where? Why?

Verse 12 – This verse shows us that this is not a physical battle but rather a spiritual battle against false gods of Mitsrayim/Babel. Notice, each plague and each step of the way through the wilderness it will be in the “face” of another false god. We have to cleanse our hearts for the false gods of the mystery religion.

Verse 13 – ‘And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. Which house are we in?

Rev_7:14  And I said to him, “Master, you know.” And he said to me, “These are those coming out of the great distress, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Verses 14-22 – this day is supposed to be kept as a solemn feast. Yes, it can mean festival but I tend to use the other meaning of the word which is a solemn feast, a day why our Messiah had to die for our sin. This time is supposed to be a memorial for us forever!!! Not until the dispensation of the Gentiles but rather forever.

Verse 23 – Look at the word ‘destroyer’ – H7843 – שׁחת – shâchath – BDB Definition: 1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay. In the Aramaic the word found here is mamre or Word. YHVH tells us that all of this is Him stretching out His Hand against Mitsrayim. Who is His Right Hand of Power?

and יהוה shall pass over the door.  H6452 – פּסח – pâsach – BDB Definition: 1) to pass over, spring over

For this reason it is called “the Pesach” – H6453 – פּסח – pesach – BDB Definition: 1) passover

Verses 24-27 – We are supposed to use this time to teach our children obedience to Yah’s Commands – FOREVER!.

Verses 28-36 – Pharaoh has finally had enough. He sends the children of Yisra’el away without any restrictions.

Verse 37 – shows us that just men over the age of 20 were about 600,000. This does not include women and children.

Verse 38 – mixed multitude – H6154 – ערב / ערב – ‛êreb / ‛ereb – BDB Definition: 1) woof 1a) as mixed, interwoven 1b) knitted material  2) mixture, mixed people, mixed company ((mongrels))

Verses 34 & 39 – This is to show us of the haste or urgency of the day. There was no time to wait for the dough to leaven. (Remember what leaven indicates.)

Verses 40-41 – 430 years to the day! YHVH is exact in His time keeping so we need to practice ours.

Verse 42 – A night of watches – H8107 – שׁמּר –

shimmûr – BDB Definition: 1) night watch, watching, vigil. Oh, what is the root word for shimmur?

Verses 43-49 – This specifies who can eat of the Passover. Are we strangers? We were but now we are found in verses 48 and 49.

Verses 50-51 – And they did as they were told and YHVH delivered them.

Ahavah,