Chapter 12

1The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,   אוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֣ה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לֵאמֹֽר:
The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron. Since Aaron had worked and toiled with miracles just like Moses, He accorded him this honor at the first commandment by including him with Moses in [His] speech. — [from Tanchuma Buber, Bo 8; Mechilta] In early editions of Rashi, this paragraph is part of the above paragraph, the comment on 11:10. Indeed, that is how it appears in Tanchuma Buber.   וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל־משֶׁה וְאֶל־אַֽהֲרֹן.  בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאַהֲרֹן עָשָׂה וְטָרַח בַּמּוֹפְתִים כְּמֹשֶׁה, חָלַק לוֹ כָּבוֹד זֶה בְּמִצְוָה רִאשׁוֹנָה, שֶׁכְּלָלוֹ עִם מֹשֶׁה בַּדִּבּוּר:
in the land of Egypt. [I.e.,] outside the city. Or perhaps it means only within the city? Therefore, Scripture states: “When I leave the city, [I will spread my hands to the Lord]” (Exod. 9:29). Now, if [even a] prayer, which is of minor importance, he [Moses] did not pray within the city, a divine communication, which is of major importance, how much more so [would God not deliver it to Moses within the city]? Indeed, why did He not speak with him within the city? Because it was full of idols. — [from Mechilta]   בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם.  חוּץ לַכְּרַךְ, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בְּתוֹךְ הַכְּרַךְ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר (לעיל ט כט) "כְּצֵאתִי אֶת הָעִיר וְגוֹ'", וּמַה תְּפִלָּה קַלָּה לֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל בְּתוֹךְ הַכְּרַךְ, דִּבּוּר חָמוּר לֹא כָּל שֶׁכֵּן. וּמִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא נִדְבַּר עִמּוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הַכְּרַךְ? לְפִי שֶׁהָיְתָה מְלֵאָה גִלּוּלִים:
2This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year.   בהַחֹ֧דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם רֹ֣אשׁ חֳדָשִׁ֑ים רִאשׁ֥וֹן הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה:
This month. Heb. הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶה, lit., this renewal. He [God] showed him [Moses] the moon in its renewal and said to him, “When the moon renews itself, you will have a new month” (Mechilta). Nevertheless, [despite this rendering,] a biblical verse does not lose its simple meaning (Shab. 63a). Concerning the month of Nissan, He said to him, “This shall be the first of the order of the number of the months, so Iyar shall be called the second [month], and Sivan the third [month].”   הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה.  הֶרְאָהוּ לְבָנָה בְּחִדּוּשָׁהּ וְאָמַר לוֹ כְּשֶׁהַיָּרֵחַ מִתְחַדֵּשׁ יִהְיֶה לְךָ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ (מכילתא). וְאֵין מִקְרָא יוֹצֵא מִידֵי פְשׁוּטוֹ, עַל חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן אָמַר לוֹ, זֶה יִהְיֶה רֹאשׁ לְסֵדֶר מִנְיַן הֶחֳדָשִׁים, שֶׁיְּהֵא אִיָּר קָרוּי שֵׁנִי, סִיוָן שְׁלִישִׁי:
This. Moses found difficulty [determining] the [precise moment of the] renewal of the moon, in what size it should appear before it is fit for sanctification. So He showed him with His finger the moon in the sky and said to him, “You must see a moon like this and sanctify [the month].” Now how did He show it to him? Did He not speak to him only by day, as it says: “Now it came to pass on the day that the Lord spoke” (Exod. 6:28); “on the day He commanded” (Lev. 7:38); “from the day that the Lord commanded and on” (Num. 15:23)? Rather, just before sunset, this chapter was said to him, and He showed him [the moon] when it became dark. — [from Mechilta]   הַזֶּה.  נִתְקַשָּׁה מֹשֶׁה עַל מוֹלַד הַלְּבָנָה, בְּאֵיזוֹ שִׁעוּר תֵּרָאֶה וְתִהְיֶה רְאוּיָה לְקַדֵּשׁ, וְהֶרְאָה לוֹ בְּאֶצְבַּע אֶת הַלְּבָנָה בָּרָקִיעַ וְאָמַר לוֹ כָּזֶה רְאֵה וְקַדֵּשׁ (שם). וְכֵיצַד הֶרְאָהוּ? וַהֲלֹא לֹא הָיָה נִדְבָּר עִמּוֹ אֶלָּא בַּיּוֹם? שֶׁנֶּ' "וַיְהִי בְּיוֹם דִּבֶּר ה'" (שמות ו'), "בְּיוֹם צַוֹּתוֹ" (ויקרא ז'), "מִן הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' וָהָלְאָה" (במדבר ט"ו)? אֶלָּא סָמוּךְ לִשְׁקִיעַת הַחַמָּה נֶאֶמְרָה לוֹ פָרָשָׁה זוֹ וְהֶרְאָהוּ עִם חֲשֵׁכָה:
3Speak to the entire community of Israel, saying, "On the tenth of this month, let each one take a lamb for each parental home, a lamb for each household.   גדַּבְּר֗וּ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֤ת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בֶּֽעָשׂ֖ר לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֑ה וְיִקְח֣וּ לָהֶ֗ם אִ֛ישׁ שֶׂ֥ה לְבֵֽית־אָבֹ֖ת שֶׂ֥ה לַבָּֽיִת:
Speak to the entire community. Heb. דַּבְּרוּ, [the plural form]. Now did Aaron speak? Was it not already stated [to Moses]: “You shall speak” (Exod. 7: 2) “and you speak to the children of Israel, saying” (Exod. 31:13)]? But they [Moses and Aaron] would show respect to each other and say to each other, “Teach me [what to say],” and the speech would emanate from between them [and it would sound] as if they both were speaking. — [from Mechilta]   דַּבְּרוּ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַת.  וְכִי אַהֲרֹן מְדַבֵּר? וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר אַתָּה תְדַבֵּר? אֶלָּא חוֹלְקִין כָּבוֹד זֶה לָזֶה, וְאוֹמְרִים זֶה לָזֶה לַמְּדֵנִי, וְהַדִּבּוּר יוֹצֵא מִבֵּין שְׁנֵיהֶם כְּאִלּוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם מְדַבְּרִים (מכילתא):
to the entire community of Israel, saying, “On the tenth of… month” -. Speak today on Rosh Chodesh [the New Moon] that they should take it [the lamb] on the tenth of the month. — [From Mechilta]   דַּבְּרוּ אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר בֶּֽעָשׂר לַחֹדֶשׁ.  דַּבְּרוּ הַיּוֹם, בְּרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ שֶׁיִּקָּחוּהוּ בֶּעָשֹׂר לַחֹדֶשׁ:
this. The Passover sacrifice of Egypt had to be taken on the tenth, but not the Passover sacrifice of later generations. — [from Mechilta, Pes. 96a]   הַזֶּה.  פֶּסַח מִצְרַיִם מִקְחוֹ בֶעָשׂוֹר, וְלֹא פֶּסַח דּוֹרוֹת (פסחים צ"ו):
a lamb for each parental home. [I.e., a lamb] for one family. If [the family members] were numerous, I would think that one lamb would suffice for all of them. Therefore, the Torah says: “a lamb for a household.” -[from Mechilta]   שֶׂה לְבֵֽית־אָבֹת.  לְמִשְׁפָּחָה אַחַת; הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיוּ מְרֻבִּין, יָכוֹל שֶׂה אֶחָד לְכֻלָּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "שֶׂה לַבָּיִת" (מכילתא):
4But if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor who is nearest to his house shall take [one] according to the number of people, each one according to one's ability to eat, shall you be counted for the lamb.   דוְאִם־יִמְעַ֣ט הַבַּ֘יִת֘ מִֽהְי֣וֹת מִשֶּׂה֒ וְלָקַ֣ח ה֗וּא וּשְׁכֵנ֛וֹ הַקָּרֹ֥ב אֶל־בֵּית֖וֹ בְּמִכְסַ֣ת נְפָשֹׁ֑ת אִ֚ישׁ לְפִ֣י אָכְל֔וֹ תָּכֹ֖סּוּ עַל־הַשֶֽׂה:
But if the household is too small for a lamb. And if they are too few to have one lamb, for they cannot eat it [all], and it will become left over (see verse 10), “then he and his neighbor… shall take.” This is the apparent meaning according to its simple interpretation. There is, however, also a midrashic interpretation, [namely that this verse comes] to teach us that after they were counted on it, [i.e., after they registered for a certain lamb,] they may diminish their number and withdraw from it and be counted on another lamb. If, however, they wish to withdraw and diminish their number, [they must do it] מִהְיוֹת מִשֶׂה [lit., from the being of the lamb]. They must diminish their number while the lamb still exists, while it is still alive, and not after it has been slaughtered. — [from Mechilta, Pes. 98a]   וְאִם־יִמְעַט הַבַּיִת מִֽהְיוֹת מִשֶּׂה.  וְאִם יִהְיוּ מוּעָטִים מִהְיוֹת מִשֶּׂה אֶחָד, שֶׁאֵין יְכוֹלִין לְאָכְלוֹ וְיָבֹא לִידֵי נוֹתָר, וְלָקַח הוּא וּשְׁכֵנוֹ וגו' זֶהוּ מַשְׁמָעוֹ לְפִי פְשׁוּטוֹ. וְעוֹד יֵשׁ בּוֹ מִדְרָשׁ: לְלַמֵּד, שֶׁאַחַר שֶׁנִּמְנוּ עָלָיו, יְכוֹלִין לְהִתְמַעֵט וְלִמְשֹׁךְ יְדֵיהֶם הֵימֶנּוּ וּלְהִמָּנוֹת עַל שֶׂה אַחֵר; אַךְ אִם בָּאוּ לִמְשֹׁךְ יְדֵיהֶם וּלְהִתְמַעֵט, מהיות משה, יִתְמַעֲטוּ בְּעוֹד הַשֶּׂה קַיָּם, בִּהְיוֹתוֹ בַחַיִּים וְלֹא מִשֶּׁנִּשְׁחַט (פסחים פ"ט):
according to the number of. -Heb. בְּמִכְסַת, amount, and so “the amount of (מִכְסַת) your valuation:” (Lev. 27:23).   בְּמִכְסַת.  חֶשְׁבּוֹן, וְכֵן "מִכְסַת הָעֶרְכְּךָ" (ויקרא כ"ז):
according to one’s ability to eat. [This indicates that only] one who is fit to eat-which excludes the sick and aged-who cannot eat an olive-sized portion [can be counted among the group for whom the sacrifice is killed]. — [from Mechilta]   לְפִי אָכְלוֹ.  הָרָאוּי לַאֲכִילָה, פְּרָט לְחוֹלֶה וּלְזָקֵן שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לֶאֱכֹל כַּזַּיִת (מכילתא):
shall you be counted. Heb. תָּכֹסוּ [Onkelos renders:] תִּתְמְנוּן, you shall be counted.   תָּכֹסּוּ.  "תִּתְמְנוּן":
5You shall have a perfect male lamb in its [first] year; you may take it either from the sheep or from the goats.   השֶׂ֧ה תָמִ֛ים זָכָ֥ר בֶּן־שָׁנָ֖ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם מִן־הַכְּבָשִׂ֥ים וּמִן־הָֽעִזִּ֖ים תִּקָּֽחוּ:
perfect. without a blemish. — [from Mechilta]   תָמִים.  בְּלֹא מוּם:
in its [first] year. Heb. בֶּן-שָׁנָה For its entire first year it is called בֶּן-שָׁנָה, meaning that it was born during this year. — [from Mechilta]   בֶּן־שָׁנָה.  כָּל שְׁנָתוֹ קָרוּי בֶּן שָׁנָה, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁנּוֹלַד בְּשָׁנָה זוֹ:
either from the sheep or from the goats. Either from this [species] or from that [species], for a goat is also called שֶׂה, as it is written: “and a kid (שֶׂה עִזִים)” (Deut. 14:4). — [from Mechilta]   מִן־הַכְּבָשִׂים וּמִן־הָֽעִזִּים.  אוֹ מִזֶּה אוֹ מִזֶּה, שֶׁאַף עֵז קָרוּי שֶׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְשֵׂה עִזִּים" (דברים י"ד):
6And you shall keep it for inspection until the fourteenth day of this month, and the entire congregation of the community of Israel shall slaughter it in the afternoon.   ווְהָיָ֤ה לָכֶם֙ לְמִשְׁמֶ֔רֶת עַ֣ד אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר י֖וֹם לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֑ה וְשָֽׁחֲט֣וּ אֹת֗וֹ כֹּ֛ל קְהַ֥ל עֲדַת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בֵּ֥ין הָֽעַרְבָּֽיִם:
And you shall keep it for inspection. Heb. לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת. This is an expression of inspection, that it [the animal] requires an inspection for a blemish four days before its slaughter. Now why was it [the designated animal] to be taken four days before its slaughter, something not required in the Passover sacrifice of later generations? Rabbi Mathia the son of Charash used to say [in response]: Behold He [God] says: “And I passed by you and saw you, and behold your time was the time of love” (Ezek. 16:8). The [time for the fulfillment of the] oath that I swore to Abraham that I would redeem his children has arrived. But they [the Children of Israel] had no commandments in their hands with which to occupy themselves in order that they be redeemed, as it is said: “but you were naked and bare” (Ezek. 16:7). So He gave them two mitzvoth, the blood of the Passover and the blood of the circumcision. They circumcised themselves on that night, as it is said: “downtrodden with your blood (בְּדָמָיִךְ‏)” (ibid., verse 6), with the two [types of] blood. He [God] states also: “You, too-with the blood of your covenant I have freed your prisoners from a pit in which there was no water” (Zech. 9:11). Moreover, they [the Israelites] were passionately fond of idolatry. [Moses] said to them, “Withdraw and take for yourselves” (Exod. 12:21). [He meant:] withdraw from idolatry and take for yourselves sheep for the mitzvah. — [from Mechilta, here and on verse 21] Note that on verse 21, Rashi explains that differently.   וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת.  זֶהוּ לְשׁוֹן בִּקּוּר, שֶׁטָּעוּן בִּקּוּר מִמּוּם אַרְבָּעָה יָמִים קֹדֶם שְׁחִיטָה (פסחים צ"ו). וּמִפְּנֵי מָה הִקְדִּים לְקִיחָתוֹ לִשְׁחִיטָתוֹ אַרְבָּעָה יָמִים, מַה שֶּׁלֹּא צִוָּה כֵן בְּפֶסַח דּוֹרוֹת? הָיָה רַ' מַתְיָא בֶּן חָרָשׁ אוֹמֵר, הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר "וָאֶעֱבֹר עָלַיִךְ וָאֶרְאֵךְ וְהִנֵּה עִתֵּךְ עֵת דּוֹדִים" (יחזקאל ט"ז) – הִגִּיעָה שְׁבוּעָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּעְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם שֶׁאֶגְאַל אֶת בָּנָיו, וְלֹא הָיוּ בְיָדָם מִצְווֹת לְהִתְעַסֵּק בָּהֶם כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּגָּאֲלוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְאַתְּ עֵרוֹם וְעֶרְיָה" (שם), וְנָתַן לָהֶם שְׁתֵּי מִצְווֹת, דַּם פֶּסַח וְדַם מִילָה, שֶׁמָּלוּ בְאוֹתוֹ הַלַּיְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "מִתְבּוֹסֶסֶת בְּדָמָיִךְ" (שם) – בִּשְׁנֵי דָּמִים, וְאוֹמֵר "גַּם אַתְּ בְּדַם בְּרִיתֵךְ שִׁלַּחְתִּי אֲסִירַיִךְ מִבּוֹר אֵין מַיִם בּוֹ" (זכריה ט'); וּלְפִי שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁטוּפִין בֶּאֱלִילִים אָמַר לָהֶם משכו וקחו לכם, מִשְׁכוּ יְדֵיכֶם מֵאֱלִילִים, וּקְחוּ לָכֶם צֹאן שֶׁל מִצְוָה (מכילתא):
shall slaughter it. Now do they all slaughter [it]? Rather, from here we can deduce that a person’s agent is like himself. — [from Mechilta, Kid. 41b] [Therefore, it is considered as if all the Israelites slaughtered the sacrifice.]   וְשָֽׁחֲטוּ אֹתוֹ וגו'.  וְכִי כֻּלָּן שׁוֹחֲטִין? אֶלָּא מִכָּאן שֶׁשְּׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם כְּמוֹתוֹ (קידושין מלכים א):
the entire congregation of the community of Israel. [This means] the congregation, the community, and Israel. From here, they [the Rabbis] said: The communal Passover sacrifices are slaughtered in three [distinct] groups, one after the other. [Once] the first group entered, the doors of the Temple court were locked [until the group finished; they were followed by the second group, etc.,] as is stated in Pesachim (64b).   קְהַל עֲדַת־יִשְׂרָאֵל.  קָהָל וְעֵדָה וְיִשְׂרָאֵל; מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ, פִּסְחֵי צִבּוּר נִשְׁחָטִין בְּשָׁלוֹשׁ כִּתּוֹת זוֹ אַחַר זוֹ, נִכְנְסָה כַת רִאשׁוֹנָה נִנְעֲלוּ דַּלְתוֹת הָעֲזָרָה וְכוּ'. כִּדְאִיתָא בִּפְסָחִים (דף ס"ד):
in the afternoon. Heb. בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם From six hours [after sunrise] and onward is called בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם, literally, between the two evenings, for the sun is inclined toward the place where it sets to become darkened. It seems to me that the expression בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם denotes those hours between the darkening of the day and the darkening of the night. The darkening of the day is at the beginning of the seventh hour, when the shadows of evening decline, and the darkening of the night at the beginning of the night. עֶרֶב is an expression of evening and darkness, like “all joy is darkened (וְעָרְבָה) ” (Isa. 24:11). — [from Mechilta]   בֵּין הָֽעַרְבָּֽיִם.  מִשֵּׁשׁ שָׁעוֹת וּלְמַעְלָה קָרוּי בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם, שֶׁהַשֶּׁמֶשׁ נוֹטֶה לְבֵית מְבוֹאוֹ לַעֲרֹב; וּלְשׁוֹן בין הערבים נִרְאֶה בְעֵינַי אוֹתָן שָׁעוֹת שֶׁבֵּין עֲרִיבַת הַיּוֹם לַעֲרִיבַת הַלַּיְלָה, עֲרִיבַת הַיּוֹם בִּתְחִלַּת ז' שָׁעוֹת מִכִּי יִנָּטוּ צִלְלֵי עֶרֶב, וַעֲרִיבַת הַלַּיְלָה בִּתְחִלַּת הַלַּיְלָה. ערב לְשׁוֹן נֶשֶׁף וְחֹשֶׁךְ, כְּמוֹ "עָרְבָה כָּל שִׂמְחָה" (ישעיהו כ"ד):
7And they shall take [some] of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they will eat it.   זוְלָֽקְחוּ֙ מִן־הַדָּ֔ם וְנָֽתְנ֛וּ עַל־שְׁתֵּ֥י הַמְּזוּזֹ֖ת וְעַל־הַמַּשְׁק֑וֹף עַ֚ל הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־יֹֽאכְל֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ בָּהֶֽם:
And they shall take [some] of the blood. This is the receiving of the blood [from the animal’s neck immediately after the slaughtering]. I would think that it was to be received in the hand. Therefore, Scripture says: “that is in the basin” (below, verse 22), [specifying that the blood is to be received in a vessel]. — [from Mechilta]   וְלָֽקְחוּ מִן־הַדָּם.  זוֹ קַבָּלַת הַדָּם, יָכוֹל בַּיָּד? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר אשר בסף (מכילתא):
the… door posts. They are the upright posts, one from this side of the entrance and one from that side. — [from Kid. 22b]   הַמְּזוּזֹת.  הֵם הַזְּקוּפוֹת אַחַת מִכָּאן לַפֶּתַח וְאַחַת מִכָּאן:
the lintel. Heb. הַמַשְׁקוֹף. That is the upper [beam], against which the door strikes (שׁוֹקֵף) when it is being closed, lintel in Old French. The term שְׁקִיפָה means striking, like [in the phrase] “the sound of a rattling leaf” (Lev. 26:36), [which Onkelos renders:] טַרְפָּא דְֹּשָקִיף, “bruise” (Exod. 21:25), [which Onkelos renders:] מַשְׁקוֹפֵי. — [based on Jonathan]   הַמַּשְׁקוֹף.  הָעֶלְיוֹן שֶׁהַדֶּלֶת שׁוֹקֵף עָלָיו כְּשֶׁסּוֹגְרִין אוֹתוֹ, לינטי"ל בְּלַעַז; וּלְשׁוֹן שְׁקִיפָה חֲבָטָה, כְּמוֹ "קוֹל עָלֶה נִדָּף" (ויקרא כ"ו) – דְשָׁקִיף, חַבּוּרָה – מַשְׁקוֹפֵי:
on the houses in which they will eat it. But not on the lintel and the doorposts of a house [used] for [storing] straw or a house [used] for cattle, in which nobody lives. — [based on Mechilta]   עַל־הַבָּתִּים אֲשֶׁר־יֹֽאכְלוּ אֹתוֹ בָּהֶֽם.  וְלֹא עַל מַשְׁקוֹף וּמְזוּזוֹת שֶׁבְּבֵית הַתֶּבֶן וּבֵית הַבָּקָר, שֶׁאֵין דָּרִין בְּתוֹכוֹ (ע' מכילתא):
8And on this night, they shall eat the flesh, roasted over the fire, and unleavened cakes; with bitter herbs they shall eat it.   חוְאָֽכְל֥וּ אֶת־הַבָּשָׂ֖ר בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַזֶּ֑ה צְלִי־אֵ֣שׁ וּמַצּ֔וֹת עַל־מְרֹרִ֖ים יֹאכְלֻֽהוּ:
the flesh. but not sinews or bones. — [from Mechilta]   אֶת־הַבָּשָׂר.  וְלֹא גִּידִים וַעֲצָמוֹת (שם):
and unleavened cakes; with bitter herbs. Every bitter herb is called מָרוֹר, and He commanded them to eat bitters in commemoration of “And they embittered their lives” (Exod. 1:14). — [from Pes. 39a, 116b]   וּמַצּוֹת עַל־מְרֹרִים.  כָּל עֵשֶׂב מַר נִקְרָא מָרוֹר; וְצִוָּם לֶאֱכֹל מַר זֵכֶר לְ"וַיְמָרְרוּ אֶת חַיֵּיהֶם" (שמות א'):
9You shall not eat it rare or boiled in water, except roasted over the fire its head with its legs and with its innards.   טאַל־תֹּֽאכְל֤וּ מִמֶּ֨נּוּ֙ נָ֔א וּבָשֵׁ֥ל מְבֻשָּׁ֖ל בַּמָּ֑יִם כִּ֣י אִם־צְלִי־אֵ֔שׁ רֹאשׁ֥וֹ עַל־כְּרָעָ֖יו וְעַל־קִרְבּֽוֹ:
You shall not eat it rare. Heb. נָא Something not roasted sufficiently is called נָא in Arabic.   אַל־תֹּֽאכְלוּ מִמֶּנּוּ נָא.  שֶׁאֵינוֹ צָלוּי כָּל צָרְכּוֹ קוֹרְאוֹ נָא בְלָשׁוֹן עֲרָבִי:
or boiled. All this is included in the prohibition of "You shall not eat it." — [from Pes. 41b]   וּבָשֵׁל מְבֻשָּׁל.  כָּל זֶה בְּאַזְהָרַת אל תאכלו:
in water. How do we know that [it is also prohibited to cook it] in other liquids? Therefore, Scripture states: וּבָשֵׁל מְבֻשָׁל, [meaning boiled] in any manner. — [from Pes. 41a]   בַּמָּיִם.  מִנַּיִן לִשְׁאָר מַשְׁקִין? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר וּבָשֵׁל מְבֻשָּׁל, מִכָּל מָקוֹם (פסחים מ"א):
except roasted over the fire. Above (verse 8), He decreed upon it [the animal sacrifice] with a positive commandment, and here He added to it a negative [commandment]: “You shall not eat it except roasted over the fire.” -[from Pes. 41b]   כִּי אִם־צְלִי־אֵשׁ.  לְמַעְלָה גָּזַר עָלָיו בְּמִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה, וְכָאן הוֹסִיף עָלָיו לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, אל תאכלו ממנו … כי אם צלי אש:
its head with its legs. One should roast it completely as one, with its head and with its legs and with its innards, and one must place its intestines inside it after they have been rinsed (Pes. 74a). The expression עַל כְּרָעָיו וְעַל-קִרְבּוֹ is similar to the expression “with their hosts (עַל-צִבְאֹתָם) ” (Exod. 6:26), [which is] like בְּצִבְאֹתָם, as they are, this too means [they should roast the animal] as it is, all its flesh complete.   רֹאשׁוֹ עַל־כְּרָעָיו.  צוֹלֵהוּ כֻּלּוֹ כְאֶחָד עִם רֹאשׁוֹ וְעִם כְּרָעָיו וְעִם קִרְבּוֹ, וּבְנֵי מֵעָיו נוֹתֵן לְתוֹכוֹ אַחַר הֲדָחָתָן (שם ע"ד); וּלְשׁוֹן על קרבו כִּלְשׁוֹן "עַל צִבְאוֹתָם" (שמות ו'), כְּמוֹ בְּצִבְאוֹתָם – כְּמוֹת שֶׁהֵן, אַף זֶה כְּמוֹת שֶׁהוּא – כָּל בְּשָׂרוֹ מִשָּׁלֵם:
10And you shall not leave over any of it until morning, and whatever is left over of it until morning, you shall burn in fire.   יוְלֹֽא־תוֹתִ֥ירוּ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ עַד־בֹּ֑קֶר וְהַנֹּתָ֥ר מִמֶּ֛נּוּ עַד־בֹּ֖קֶר בָּאֵ֥שׁ תִּשְׂרֹֽפוּ:
and whatever is left over of it until morning-. What is the meaning of “until morning” a second time? [This implies] adding one morning to another morning, for morning starts with sunrise, and this verse is here to make it [the prohibition] earlier, [i.e.,] that it is forbidden to eat it [the leftover flesh] from dawn. This is according to its apparent meaning. Another midrashic interpretation is that this teaches that it may not be burnt on Yom Tov but on the next day, and this is how it is to be interpreted: and what is left over from it on the first morning you shall wait until the second morning and burn it. — [from Shab. 24b]   וְהַנֹּתָר מִמֶּנּוּ עַד־בֹּקֶר.  מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר עד בקר פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה? לִתֵּן בֹּקֶר עַל בֹּקֶר, שֶׁהַבֹּקֶר מַשְׁמָעוֹ מִשְּׁעַת הָנֵץ הַחַמָּה, וּבָא הַכָּתוּב לְהַקְדִּים שֶׁאָסוּר בַּאֲכִילָה מֵעֲלוֹת הַשַּׁחַר, זֶהוּ לְפִי מַשְׁמָעוֹ. וְעוֹד מִדְרָשׁ אַחֵר, לִמֵּד שֶׁאֵינוֹ נִשְׂרָף בְּיוֹם טוֹב אֶלָּא מִמָּחֳרָת, וְכָךְ תִּדְרְשֶׁנּוּ: וְהַנּוֹתָר מִמֶּנּוּ בְּבֹקֶר רִאשׁוֹן, עַד בֹּקֶר שֵׁנִי תַעֲמֹד וְתִשְׂרְפֶנּוּ (מכילתא):
11And this is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste it is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord.   יאוְכָ֘כָה֘ תֹּֽאכְל֣וּ אֹתוֹ֒ מָתְנֵיכֶ֣ם חֲגֻרִ֔ים נַֽעֲלֵיכֶם֙ בְּרַגְלֵיכֶ֔ם וּמַקֶּלְכֶ֖ם בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם אֹתוֹ֙ בְּחִפָּז֔וֹן פֶּ֥סַח ה֖וּא לַיהֹוָֽה:
your loins girded. Ready for the way [i.e., for travel]. — [from Mechilta]   מָתְנֵיכֶם חֲגֻרִים.  מְזֻמָּנִים לַדֶּרֶךְ:
in haste. Heb. בְּחִפָּזוֹן, a term denoting haste and speed, like “and David was hastening (נֶחְפָז) ” (I Sam. 23:26); that the Arameans had cast off in their haste (בְּחָפְזָם) (II Kings 7:15). — [from Onkelos]   בְּחִפָּזוֹן.  לְשׁוֹן בֶּהָלָה וּמְהִירוּת, כְּמוֹ "וַיְהִי דָּוִד נֶחְפָּז לָלֶכֶת" (שמואל א' כ"ג), "אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁלִיכוּ אֲרָם בְּחָפְזָם" (מלכים ב' ז'):
it is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord. Heb. פֶּסַח. The sacrifice is called פֶּסַח because of the skipping and the jumping over, which the Holy One, blessed be He, skipped over the Israelites’ houses that were between the Egyptians houses. He jumped from one Egyptian to another Egyptian, and the Israelite in between was saved. [“To the Lord” thus implies] you shall perform all the components of its service in the name of Heaven. (Another explanation:) [You should perform the service] in the manner of skipping and jumping, [i.e., in haste] in commemoration of its name, which is called Passover (פֶּסַח), and also [in old French] pasche, pasque, pasca, an expression of striding over. — [from Mishnah Pes. 116a,b; Mechilta d’Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, verse 27; Mechilta on this verse]   פֶּסַח הוּא לה'.  הַקָּרְבָּן קָרוּי פסח עַל שֵׁם הַדִּלּוּג וְהַפְּסִיחָה, שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הָיָה מְדַלֵּג בָּתֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִבֵּין בָּתֵּי מִצְרַיִם וְקוֹפֵץ מִמִּצְרִי לְמִצְרִי וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֶמְצָעִי נִמְלָט; וְאַתֶּם עֲשׂוּ כָל עֲבוֹדוֹתָיו לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, דֶּרֶךְ דִּלּוּג וּקְפִיצָה, זֵכֶר לִשְׁמוֹ שֶׁקָּרוּי פסח; וְגַם פשק"א לְשׁוֹן פְּסִיעָה:
12I will pass through the land of Egypt on this night, and I will smite every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and upon all the gods of Egypt will I wreak judgments I, the Lord.   יבוְעָֽבַרְתִּ֣י בְאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַ֘יִם֘ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַזֶּה֒ וְהִכֵּיתִ֤י כָל־בְּכוֹר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם מֵֽאָדָ֖ם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֑ה וּבְכָל־אֱלֹהֵ֥י מִצְרַ֛יִם אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה שְׁפָטִ֖ים אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
I will pass. like a king who passes from place to place, and with one passing and in one moment they are all smitten. — [from Mechilta]   וְעָֽבַרְתִּי.  כְּמֶלֶךְ הָעוֹבֵר מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם (מכילתא), וּבְהַעֲבָרָה אַחַת וּבְרֶגַע אֶחָד כֻּלָּן לוֹקִים:
every firstborn in the land of Egypt. Even other firstborn who are in Egypt [will die]. Now how do we know that even the firstborn of the Egyptians who are in other places [will die]? Therefore, Scripture states: “To Him Who smote the Egyptians with their firstborn” (Ps. 136:10). — [from Mechilta]   כָל־בְּכוֹר בְאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם.  אַף בְּכוֹרוֹת אֲחֵרִים וְהֵם בְּמִצְרַיִם. וּמִנַּיִן אַף בְּכוֹרֵי מִצְרַיִם שֶׁבִּמְקוֹמוֹת אֲחֵרִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "לְמַכֵּה מִצְרַיִם בִּבְכוֹרֵיהֶם" (תהלים קל"ו):
both man and beast. [I.e., first man and then beast.] He who started to sin first from him the retribution starts. — [from Mechilta]   מֵֽאָדָם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָה.  מִי שֶׁהִתְחִיל בַּעֲבֵרָה מִמֶּנּוּ מַתְחֶלֶת הַפֻּרְעָנוּת (מכילתא):
and upon all the gods of Egypt-. The one made of wood will rot, and the one made of metal will melt and flow to the ground. — [from Mechilta]   וּבְכָל־אֱלֹהֵי מִצְרַיִם.  שֶׁל עֵץ נִרְקֶבֶת וְשֶׁל מַתֶּכֶת נִמְסֵת וְנִתֶּכֶת לָאָרֶץ (שם):
will I wreak judgments-I The Lord. I by Myself and not through a messenger. — [from Passover Haggadah]   אֶֽעֱשֶׂה שְׁפָטִים אֲנִי ה'.  אֲנִי בְעַצְמִי, וְלֹא עַל יְדֵי שָׁלִיחַ:
13And the blood will be for you for a sign upon the houses where you will be, and I will see the blood and skip over you, and there will be no plague to destroy [you] when I smite the [people of the] land of Egypt.   יגוְהָיָה֩ הַדָּ֨ם לָכֶ֜ם לְאֹ֗ת עַ֤ל הַבָּתִּים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם שָׁ֔ם וְרָאִ֨יתִי֙ אֶת־הַדָּ֔ם וּפָֽסַחְתִּ֖י עֲלֵכֶ֑ם וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֨ה בָכֶ֥ם נֶ֨גֶף֙ לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית בְּהַכֹּתִ֖י בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
And the blood will be for you for a sign. [The blood will be] for you a sign but not a sign for others. From here, it is derived that they put the blood only on the inside. — [from Mechilta 11]   וְהָיָה הַדָּם לָכֶם לְאֹת.  לָכֶם לְאוֹת וְלֹא לַאֲחֵרִים לְאוֹת (שם). מִכָּאן שֶׁלֹּא נָתְנוּ הַדָּם אֶלָּא מִבִּפְנִים:
and I will see the blood. [In fact,] everything is revealed to Him. [Why then does the Torah mention that God will see the blood?] Rather, the Holy One, blessed be He, said, “I will focus My attention to see that you are engaged in My commandments, and I will skip over you.” -[from Mechilta]   וְרָאִיתִי אֶת־הַדָּם.  הַכֹּל גָּלוּי לְפָנָיו, אֶלָּא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, נוֹתֵן אֲנִי אֶת עֵינַי לִרְאוֹת שֶׁאַתֶּם עֲסוּקִים בְּמִצְווֹתַי, וּפוֹסֵחַ אֲנִי עֲלֵיכֶם (שם):
and skip over. Heb. וּפָסַחְתִּי [is rendered] and I will have pity, and similar to it: “sparing פָּסוֹחַ and rescuing” (Isa. 31:5). I say, however, that every [expression of] פְּסִיחָה is an expression of skipping and jumping. [Hence,] וּפָסַחְתִּי [means that] He was skipping from the houses of the Israelites to the houses of the Egyptians, for they were living one in the midst of the other. Similarly, “skipping between (פֹּסְחִים) two ideas” (I Kings 18:21). Similarly, the lame (פִּסְחִים) walk as if jumping. Similarly, פָּסוֹחַ וְהִמְלִיט means: jumping over him and rescuing him from among the slain. — [from Mechilta] Both views are found in Mechilta. The first view is also that of Onkelos.   וּפָֽסַחְתִּי.  וְחָמַלְתִּי, וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ "פָּסֹחַ וְהִמְלִיט" (ישעיהו ל"א). וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר, כָּל פְּסִיחָה לְשׁוֹן דִּלּוּג וּקְפִיצָה. ופסחתי, מְדַלֵּג הָיָה מִבָּתֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבָתֵּי מִצְרִיִּים, שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁרוּיִים זֶה בְּתוֹךְ זֶה, וְכֵן "פּוֹסְחִים עַל שְׁתֵּי הַסְּעִפִּים" (מלכים א י"ח), וְכֵן כָּל הַפִּסְּחִים – הוֹלְכִים כְּקוֹפְצִים, וְכֵן "פָּסֹחַ וְהִמְלִיט" – מְדַלְּגוֹ וּמְמַלְּטוֹ מִבֵּין הַמּוּמָתִים:
and there will be no plague to destroy [you]. But there will be [a plague] upon the Egyptians. Let us say that an Egyptian was in an Israelite’s house. I would think that he would escape. Therefore, Scripture states: “and there will be no plague upon you,” but there will be [a plague] upon the Egyptians in your houses. Let us say that an Israelite was in an Egyptian’s house. I would think that he would be smitten like him. Therefore, Scripture states: “and there will be no plague upon you.” -[from Mechilta]   וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶה בָכֶם נֶגֶף.  אֲבָל הוֶֹה הוּא בַּמִּצְרִים. הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיָה מִצְרִי בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, יָכוֹל יִמָּלֵט? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָכֶם נֶגֶף", אֲבָל הֹוֶה בַּמִּצְרִים שֶׁבְּבָתֵּיכֶם. הֲרֵי שֶׁהָיָה יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל מִצְרִי, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי יִלְקֶה כְמוֹתוֹ, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בָכֶם נֶגֶף" (מכילתא):
14And this day shall be for you as a memorial, and you shall celebrate it as a festival for the Lord; throughout your generations, you shall celebrate it as an everlasting statute.   ידוְהָיָה֩ הַיּ֨וֹם הַזֶּ֤ה לָכֶם֙ לְזִכָּר֔וֹן וְחַגֹּתֶ֥ם אֹת֖וֹ חַ֣ג לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם תְּחָגֻּֽהוּ:
as a memorial. for generations.   לְזִכָּרוֹן.  לְדוֹרוֹת:
and you shall celebrate it. The day that is a memorial for you-you shall celebrate it. But we have not yet heard which is the day of memorial. Therefore, Scripture states: “Remember this day, when you went out of Egypt” (Exod. 13: 3). we learn that the day of the Exodus is the day of memorial. Now on what day did they go out [of Egypt]? Therefore, Scripture states: “On the day after the Passover, they went out” (Num. 33:3). I must therefore say that the fifteenth of Nissan is the day of the festival, because the night of the fifteenth they ate the Passover sacrifice, and in the morning they went out.   וְחַגֹּתֶם אֹתוֹ.  יוֹם שֶׁהוּא לְךָ לְזִכָּרוֹן אַתָּה חוֹגְגוֹ. וַעֲדַיִן לֹא שָׁמַעְנוּ אֵיזֶהוּ יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "זָכוֹר אֶת הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר יְצָאתֶם" (שמות י"ג), לִמְּדָנוּ, שֶׁיּוֹם הַיְצִיאָה הוּא יוֹם שֶׁל זִכָּרוֹן. וְאֵי זֶה יוֹם יָצְאוּ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "מִמָּחֳרַת הַפֶּסַח יָצְאוּ" (במדבר ל"ג), הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר יוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנִיסָן הוּא שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב, שֶׁהֲרֵי לֵיל חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָֹר אָכְלוּ אֶת הַפֶּסַח וְלַבֹּקֶר יָצְאוּ (מכילתא):
throughout your generations. I understand [this to mean] the smallest number of generations, [namely only] two. Therefore, Scripture states: “you shall celebrate it as an everlasting statute.” -[from Mechilta]   לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם וגו'.  שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי מִעוּט דּוֹרוֹת שְׁנַיִם, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "חֻקַּת עוֹלָם תְּחָגֻּהוּ" (שם):
15For seven days you shall eat unleavened cakes, but on the preceding day you shall clear away all leaven from your houses, for whoever eats leaven from the first day until the seventh day that soul shall be cut off from Israel.   טושִׁבְעַ֤ת יָמִים֙ מַצּ֣וֹת תֹּאכֵ֔לוּ אַ֚ךְ בַּיּ֣וֹם הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן תַּשְׁבִּ֥יתוּ שְּׂאֹ֖ר מִבָּֽתֵּיכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י | כָּל־אֹכֵ֣ל חָמֵ֗ץ וְנִכְרְתָ֞ה הַנֶּ֤פֶשׁ הַהִוא֙ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִיּ֥וֹם הָֽרִאשֹׁ֖ן עַד־י֥וֹם הַשְּׁבִעִֽי:
For seven days. Heb. שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, seteyne of days, i.e., a group of seven days. [See Rashi on Exod. 10:22.]   שִׁבְעַת יָמִים.  שטיינ"א שֶׁל יָמִים:
For seven days you shall eat unleavened cakes-. But elsewhere it says: “For six days you shall eat unleavened cakes” (Deut. 16:8). This teaches [us] regarding the seventh day of Passover, that it is not obligatory to eat matzah, as long as one does not eat chametz. How do we know that [the first] six [days] are also optional [concerning eating matzah]? This is a principle in [interpreting] the Torah: Anything that was included in a generalization [in the Torah] and was excluded from that generalization [in the Torah] to teach [something] it was not excluded to teach [only] about itself, but it was excluded to teach about the entire generalization. [In this case it means that] just as [on] the seventh day [eating matzah] is optional, so is it optional in [the first] six [days]. I might think that [on] the first night it is also optional. Therefore, Scripture states: “in the evening, you shall eat unleavened cakes” (Exod. 12:18). The text established it as an obligation. — [from Mechilta]   שִׁבְעַת יָמִים מַצּוֹת תֹּאכֵלוּ.  וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר הוּא אוֹמֵר "שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תֹּאכַל מַצּוֹת" (דברים ט"ז) לִמֵּד עַל שְׁבִיעִי שֶׁל פֶּסַח שֶׁאֵינוֹ חוֹבָה לֶאֱכֹל מַצָּה, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכַל חָמֵץ; מִנַּיִן אַף שִׁשָּׁה רְשׁוּת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים". זוֹ מִדָּה בַתּוֹרָה, דָּבָר שֶׁהָיָה בִּכְלָל וְיָצָא מִן הַכְּלָל לְלַמֵּד, לֹא לְלַמֵּד עַל עַצְמוֹ בִּלְבַד יָצָא, אֶלָּא לְלַמֵּד עַל הַכְּלָל כֻּלּוֹ יָצָא, מַה שְּׁבִיעִי רְשׁוּת אַף שִׁשָּׁה רְשׁוּת; יָכוֹל אַף הַלַּיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן רְשׁוּת, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "בָּעֶרֶב תֹּאכְלוּ מַצֹּת" – הַכָּתוּב קְבָעוֹ חוֹבָה (פסחים ק"כ):
but on the preceding day you shall clear away all leaven. Heb. בַּיוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן. On the day before the holiday; it is called the first [day], because it is before the seven; [i.e., it is not the first of the seven days]. Indeed, we find [anything that is] the preceding one [is] called רִאשׁוֹן, e.g., הִרִאשׁוֹן אָדָם תִּוָלֵד, “Were you born before Adam?” (Job 15:7). Or perhaps it means only the first of the seven [days of Passover]. Therefore, Scripture states: “You shall not slaughter with leaven [the blood of My sacrifice]” (Exod. 34:25). You shall not slaughter the Passover sacrifice as long as the leaven still exists. — [from Mechilta, Pes. 5a] [Since the Passover sacrifice may be slaughtered immediately after noon on the fourteenth day of Nissan, clearly the leaven must be removed before that time. Hence the expression בַּיוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן must refer to the day preceding the festival.]   אַךְ בַּיּוֹם הָֽרִאשׁוֹן תַּשְׁבִּיתוּ שאור.  מֵעֶרֶב יוֹם טוֹב, וְקָרוּי רִאשׁוֹן לְפִי שֶׁהוּא לִפְנֵי הַשִּׁבְעָה; וּמָצִינוּ מֻקְדָּם קָרוּי רִאשׁוֹן, "הֲרִאישׁוֹן אָדָם תִּוָּלֵד" (איוב ט"ו) – הֲלִפְנֵי אָדָם נוֹלַדְתָּ; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל שִׁבְעָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר "לֹא תִשְׁחַט עַל חָמֵץ וְגוֹ'" (שמות ל"ד) – לֹא תִשְׁחַט הַפֶּסַח וַעֲדַיִן חָמֵץ קַיָּם (פסחים ה'):
that soul. When he [(the person) eats the leaven while he] is with his soul and his knowledge; this excludes one who commits the sin under coercion. — [from Mechilta, Kid. 43a]   הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא.  כְּשֶׁהִיא בְנַפְשָׁהּ וּבְדַעְתָּהּ – פְּרָט לְאָנוּס (מכילתא):
from Israel. I [could] understand that it [the soul] will be cut off from Israel and will [be able to] go to another people. Therefore, [to avoid this error] Scripture states elsewhere: “from before Me” (Lev. 22:3), meaning: from every place which is My domain. — [from Mechilta]   מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל.  שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי תִּכָּרֵת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וְתֵלֶךְ לָהּ לְעַם אַחֵר, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר "מִלְּפָנַי" (ויקרא כ"ב) – בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא רְשׁוּתִי:
16And on the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; no work may be performed on them, but what is eaten by any soul that alone may be performed for you.   טזוּבַיּ֤וֹם הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ מִקְרָא־קֹ֔דֶשׁ וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִקְרָא־קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם כָּל־מְלָאכָה֙ לֹא־יֵֽעָשֶׂ֣ה בָהֶ֔ם אַ֚ךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵֽאָכֵ֣ל לְכָל־נֶ֔פֶשׁ ה֥וּא לְבַדּ֖וֹ יֵֽעָשֶׂ֥ה לָכֶֽם:
a holy convocation. Heb. מִקְרָא .מִקְרָא קֹדֶשׁ is a noun. Call it [the day] holy with regard to eating, drinking, and clothing. — [from Mechilta]   מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ.  מקרא שֵׁם דָּבָר; קְרָא אוֹתוֹ קדש לַאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וּכְסוּת (מכילתא):
no work may be performed on them. even through others. — [from Mechilta]   לֹא־יֵֽעָשֶׂה בָהֶם.  אֲפִלּוּ עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים (שם):
that alone. [I.e., the necessary work for food preparation.] (I would think that even for gentiles [it is allowed]. Therefore, Scripture states: “that alone may be performed for you,” for you but not for gentiles.) That [the work needed for food] but not its preparations that can be done on the eve of the festival [e.g., repairing a spit for roasting, or a stove for cooking]. — [from Beitzah 28b]   הוּא לְבַדּוֹ.  "הוּא" וְלֹא מַכְשִׁירָיו שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר לַעֲשׂוֹתָן מֵעֶרֶב יוֹם טוֹב (ביצה כ"ח):
by any soul. Even for animals. I would think that even for gentiles. Therefore, Scripture states: “for you.” -[from Beitzah 21b, Mechilta] Another version: Therefore, Scripture states: “but,” which makes a distinction. — [from Mechilta].   לְכָל־נֶפֶשׁ.  אֲפִלּוּ לִבְהֵמָה; יָכוֹל אַף לַגּוֹיִם, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר לָכֶם (מכילתא):
17And you shall watch over the unleavened cakes, for on this very day I have taken your legions out of the land of Egypt, and you shall observe this day throughout your generations, [as] an everlasting statute.   יזוּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֘ אֶת־הַמַּצּוֹת֒ כִּ֗י בְּעֶ֨צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה הוֹצֵ֥אתִי אֶת־צִבְאֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֞ם אֶת־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֛ה לְדֹרֹֽתֵיכֶ֖ם חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָֽם:
And you shall watch over the unleavened cakes. that they should not become leavened. From here they [the Rabbis] derived that if [the dough] started to swell, she [the woman rolling it out] must moisten it with cold water. Rabbi Josiah says: Do not read:, אֶת-הַמַצּוֹת, the unleavened cakes, אֶת-הַמִצְוֹת, the commandments. Just as we may not permit the matzoth to become leavened, so may we not permit the commandments to become leavened [i.e., to wait too long before we perform them], but if it [a commandment] comes into your hand, perform it immediately. — [from Mechilta]   וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־הַמַּצּוֹת.  שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹאוּ לִידֵי חִמּוּץ; מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ תָּפַח תִּלְטֹשׁ בְּצוֹנֵן, רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה אוֹמֵר אַל תְּהִי קוֹרֵא אֶת הַמַּצּוֹת, אֶלָּא אֶת הַמִּצְווֹת – כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאֵין מַחֲמִיצִין אֶת הַמַּצָּה, כָּךְ אֵין מַחֲמִיצִין אֶת הַמִּצְוָה, אֶלָּא אִם בָּאָה לְיָדְךָ, עֲשֵׂה אוֹתָהּ מִיָּד (שם):
and you shall observe this day. from [performing] work.   וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.  מִמְּלָאכָה:
throughout your generations, [as] an everlasting statute. Since “generations” and “an everlasting statute” were not stated regarding the [prohibition of doing] work, but only regarding the celebration [sacrifice], the text repeats it here, so that you will not say that the warning of: “no work may be performed” was not said for [later] generations, but only for that generation [of the Exodus].   לְדֹרֹֽתֵיכֶם חֻקַּת עוֹלָֽם.  לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר דורות וְחקת עולם עַל הַמְּלָאכָה אֶלָּא עַל הַחֲגִיגָה, לְכָךְ חָזַר וּשְׁנָאוֹ כָּאן, שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר אַזְהָרַת כל מלאכה לא יעשה לֹא לְדוֹרוֹת נֶאֶמְרָה אֶלָּא לְאוֹתוֹ הַדּוֹר:
18In the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, you shall eat unleavened cakes, until the twenty first day of the month in the evening.   יחבָּֽרִאשֹׁ֡ן בְּאַרְבָּעָה֩ עָשָׂ֨ר י֤וֹם לַחֹ֨דֶשׁ֙ בָּעֶ֔רֶב תֹּֽאכְל֖וּ מַצֹּ֑ת עַ֠ד י֣וֹם הָֽאֶחָ֧ד וְעֶשְׂרִ֛ים לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ בָּעָֽרֶב:
until the twenty-first day. Why was this stated? Was it not already stated: “Seven days?” Since it says “days,” how do we know “nights” [are included in the mitzvah or commandment]? Therefore, Scripture states: “until the twenty-first day, etc.” -[from Mechilta]   עַד יוֹם הָֽאֶחָד וְעֶשְׂרִים.  לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר? וַהֲלֹא כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר "שִׁבְעַת יָמִים"? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר יָמִים, לֵילוֹת מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר עד יום האחד ועשרים וגו' (מכילתא):
19For seven days, leavening shall not be found in your houses, for whoever eats leavening that soul shall be cut off from the community of Israel, both among the strangers and the native born of the land.   יטשִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים שְׂאֹ֕ר לֹ֥א יִמָּצֵ֖א בְּבָֽתֵּיכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י | כָּל־אֹכֵ֣ל מַחְמֶ֗צֶת וְנִכְרְתָ֞ה הַנֶּ֤פֶשׁ הַהִוא֙ מֵֽעֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בַּגֵּ֖ר וּבְאֶזְרַ֥ח הָאָֽרֶץ:
shall not be found in your houses. How do we know [that the same ruling applies] to [leavening found within] the borders [outside the house]? Therefore, Scripture states: “throughout all of your borders” (Exod. 13:7). Why, then, did Scripture state: “in your houses?” [To teach us that] just as your house is in your domain, so [the prohibition against possessing leaven in] your borders [means only what is] in your domain. This excludes leaven belonging to a gentile which is in a Jew’s possession, and for which he [the Jew] did not accept responsibility. — [from Mechilta]   לֹא יִמָּצֵא בְּבָֽתֵּיכֶם.  מִנַּיִן לַגְּבוּלִין? תַּלְמוּד לֹוֹמַר "בְּכָל גְּבוּלֶךָ" (שמות י"ג); מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר בְּבָתֵּיכֶם? מַה בֵּיתְךָ בִּרְשׁוּתְךָ, אַף גְּבוּלְךָ שֶׁבִּרְשׁוּתְךָ, יָצָא חֲמֵצוֹ שֶׁל נָכְרִי שֶׁהוּא אֵצֶל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא קִבֵּל עָלָיו אַחֲרָיוּת (מכילתא):
for whoever eats leavening. [This passage comes] to punish with “kareth” [premature death by the hands of Heaven] for [eating] leavening. But did He not already [give the] punishment for eating leaven? But [this verse is necessary] so that you should not say that [only] for [eating] leaven, which is edible, did He punish, but for [eating] leavening, which is not edible, He would not punish. [On the other hand,] if He punished [also] for [eating] leavening and did not [state that] He punished for [eating] leaven, I would say that [only] for [eating] leavening, which causes others to become leavened did He punish, [but] for [eating] leaven, which does not leaven others, He would not punish. Therefore, both of them had to be stated. — [from Mechilta, Beitzah 7b]   כִּי כָּל־אֹכֵל מַחְמֶצֶת.  לַעֲנֹשׁ כָּרֵת עַל הַשְּׂאוֹר, וַהֲלֹא כְבָר עָנַשׁ עַל הֶחָמֵץ? אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר חָמֵץ שֶׁרָאוּי לַאֲכִילָה עָנַשׁ עָלָיו, שְׂאוֹר שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לַאֲכִילָה לֹא יֵעָנֵשׁ עָלָיו; וְאִם עָנַשׁ עַל הַשְּׂאוֹר וְלֹא עָנַשׁ עַל הֶחָמֵץ, הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר, שְׂאוֹר שֶׁהוּא מְחַמֵּץ אֲחֵרִים עָנַשׁ עָלָיו, חָמֵץ שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְחַמֵּץ אֲחֵרִים לֹא יֵעָנשׁ עָלָיו, לְכָךְ נֶאֶמְרוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם (מכילתא):
both among the strangers and the native born of the land. Since the miracle [of the Exodus] was performed for Israel, it was necessary to [explicitly] include the strangers [who were proselytized but are not descended from Israelite stock]. — [from Mechilta]   בַּגֵּר וּבְאֶזְרַח הָאָֽרֶץ.  לְפִי שֶׁהַנֵּס נַעֲשָׂה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, הֻצְרַךְ לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַגֵּרִים (שם):
20You shall not eat any leavening; throughout all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened cakes."   ככָּל־מַחְמֶ֖צֶת לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֑לוּ בְּכֹל֙ מֽוֹשְׁבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תֹּֽאכְל֖וּ מַצּֽוֹת:
You shall not eat… leavening. [This is] a warning against eating leavening.   מַחְמֶצֶת לֹא תֹאכֵלוּ.  אַזְהָרָה עַל אֲכִילַת שְׂאוֹר:
any leavening. This comes to include its mixture [namely that one may not eat a mixture of chametz and other foods]. — [from Mechilta]   כָּל־מַחְמֶצֶת.  לְהָבִיא אֶת תַּעֲרָבְתּוֹ:
throughout all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened cakes. This comes to teach that it [the matzah] must be fit to be eaten in all your dwelling places. This excludes the second tithe and the matzah loaves that accompany a thanksgiving offering, [which are not fit to be eaten in all dwelling places, but only in Jerusalem]. [This insert may be Rashi’s or the work of an earlier printer or copyist.]-[from Mechilta]   בְּכֹל מֽוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם תֹּאכְלוּ מַצּֽוֹת.  זֶה בָא לְלַמֵּד שֶׁתְּהֵא רְאוּיָה לְהֵאָכֵל בְּכָל מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם, פְּרָט לְמַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי וְחַלּוֹת תּוֹדָה (מכילתא):
21Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Draw forth or buy for yourselves sheep for your families and slaughter the Passover sacrifice.   כאוַיִּקְרָ֥א משֶׁ֛ה לְכָל־זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם מִֽשְׁכ֗וּ וּקְח֨וּ לָכֶ֥ם צֹ֛אן לְמִשְׁפְּחֹֽתֵיכֶ֖ם וְשַֽׁחֲט֥וּ הַפָּֽסַח:
Draw forth. Whoever has sheep shall draw from his own.   מִֽשְׁכוּ.  מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ צֹאן יִמְשֹׁךְ מִשֶּׁלּוֹ:
or buy. Whoever has none shall buy from the market. — [from Mechilta]   וּקְחוּ.  מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ יִקַּח מִן הַשּׁוּק (שם):
for your families. A lamb for a parental house. — [from Mechilta 3]   לְמִשְׁפְּחֹֽתֵיכֶם.  שֶׂה לְבֵית אָבוֹת:
22And you shall take a bunch of hyssop and immerse [it] in the blood that is in the basin, and you shall extend to the lintel and to the two doorposts the blood that is in the basin, and you shall not go out, any man from the entrance of his house until morning.   כבוּלְקַחְתֶּ֞ם אֲגֻדַּ֣ת אֵז֗וֹב וּטְבַלְתֶּם֘ בַּדָּ֣ם אֲשֶׁר־בַּסַּף֒ וְהִגַּעְתֶּ֤ם אֶל־הַמַּשְׁקוֹף֙ וְאֶל־שְׁתֵּ֣י הַמְּזוּזֹ֔ת מִן־הַדָּ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּסָּ֑ף וְאַתֶּ֗ם לֹ֥א תֵֽצְא֛וּ אִ֥ישׁ מִפֶּֽתַח־בֵּית֖וֹ עַד־בֹּֽקֶר:
hyssop. Heb. אֵזוֹב. A species of herb that has thin stalks.   אֵזוֹב.  מִין יָרָק שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ גִּבְעוֹלִין:
a bunch of hyssop. Three stalks are called a bunch. — [Sukkah 13a]   אֲגֻדַּת אֵזוֹב.  שְׁלוֹשָׁה קְלָחִין קְרוּיִין אֲגֻדָּה (שבת ק"ט):
that is in the basin. Heb. בַּסַּף, in the vessel, like “silver pitchers (סִפּוֹת)” (II Kings 12:14). [from Mechilta]   אֲשֶׁר־בַּסַּף.  בַּכְּלִי, כְּמוֹ סִפּוֹת כֶּסֶף:
the blood that is in the basin. Why does the text repeat this? So that you should not say that [Scripture means] one immersion for [all] the three sprinklings. Therefore, it says again: “that is in the basin,” [to indicate] that every sprinkling shall be from the blood that is in the basin-for each touching an immersion [is necessary]. — [from Mechilta]   מִן־הַדָּם אֲשֶׁר־בַּסָּף.  לָמָּה חָזַר וּשְׁנָאוֹ? שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר טְבִילָה אַחַת לִשְׁלוֹשׁ הַמַּתָּנוֹת, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר עוֹד אֲשֶׁר בַּסַּף, וְשֶׁתְּהֵא כָל נְתִינָה וּנְתִינָה מִן הַדָּם אֲשֶׁר בַּסַּף, עַל כָּל הַגָּעָה טְבִילָה (מכילתא):
and you shall not go out, etc.. This tells [us] that once the destroyer is given permission to destroy, he does not discriminate between righteous and wicked. And night is the time that destroyers are given permission, as it is said: “in which every beast of the forest moves about” (Ps. 104:20). — [from Mechilta]   וְאַתֶּם לֹא תֵֽצְאוּ וגו'.  מַגִּיד, שֶׁמֵּאַחַר שֶׁנִּתְּנָה רְשׁוּת לַמַּשְׁחִית לְחַבֵּל, אֵינוֹ מַבְחִין בֵּין צַדִּיק לְרָשָׁע (שם); וְלַיְלָה רְשׁוּת לַמְחַבְּלִים הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "בּוֹ תִרְמֹשׂ כָּל חַיְתוֹ יָעַר" (תהלים ק"ד):
23The Lord will pass to smite the Egyptians, and He will see the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, and the Lord will pass over the entrance, and He will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses to smite [you].   כגוְעָבַ֣ר יְהֹוָה֘ לִנְגֹּ֣ף אֶת־מִצְרַ֒יִם֒ וְרָאָ֤ה אֶת־הַדָּם֙ עַל־הַמַּשְׁק֔וֹף וְעַ֖ל שְׁתֵּ֣י הַמְּזוּזֹ֑ת וּפָסַ֤ח יְהֹוָה֙ עַל־הַפֶּ֔תַח וְלֹ֤א יִתֵּן֙ הַמַּשְׁחִ֔ית לָבֹ֥א אֶל־בָּֽתֵּיכֶ֖ם לִנְגֹּֽף:
will pass over. Heb. וּפָסַח, and He will have pity. This may also be rendered: and He will skip over. See Rashi on verses 11 and 13.   וּפָסַח.  וְחָמַל, וְיֵשׁ לוֹמַר וְדִלֵּג:
and He will not permit the destroyer. Heb. וְלֹא יִתֵּן, lit., and will not give. [I.e.,] He will not grant him the ability to enter, as in “but God did not permit him (נְתָנוֹ) to harm me” (Gen. 31:7).   וְלֹא יִתֵּן הַמַּשְׁחִית.  וְלֹא יִתֵּן לוֹ יְכֹלֶת לָבֹא, כְּמוֹ "וְלֹא נְתָנוֹ אֱלֹהִים לְהָרַע עִמָּדִי" (בראשית ל"א):
24And you shall keep this matter as a statute for you and for your children forever.   כדוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה לְחָק־לְךָ֥ וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ עַד־עוֹלָֽם:
25And it shall come to pass when you enter the land that the Lord will give you, as He spoke, that you shall observe this service.   כהוְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־תָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתֵּ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־הָֽעֲבֹדָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת:
And it shall come to pass when you enter. Scripture makes this commandment contingent upon their entry into the land, but in the desert, they were obligated only to bring one Passover sacrifice, the one they performed in the second year, [which they did] by divine mandate. — [from Mechilta]   וְהָיָה כִּֽי־תָבֹאוּ אֶל־הָאָרֶץ.  תָּלָה הַכָּתוּב עֲבוֹדָה זוֹ בְּבִיאָתָם לָאָרֶץ, וְלֹא נִתְחַיְּבוּ בַמִּדְבָּר אֶלָּא פֶּסַח אֶחָד שֶׁעָשׂוּ בַשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית עַל פִּי הַדִּבּוּר:
as He spoke. Now where did He speak? “And I will bring you to the land, etc.” (Exod. 6:8). — [from Mechilta]   כַּֽאֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר.  וְהֵיכָן דִּבֵּר? "וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל הָאָרֶץ וְגוֹ'" (שמות ו'):
26And it will come to pass if your children say to you, What is this service to you?   כווְהָיָ֕ה כִּי־יֹֽאמְר֥וּ אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בְּנֵיכֶ֑ם מָ֛ה הָֽעֲבֹדָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לָכֶֽם:
27you shall say, It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for He passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, and He saved our houses. And the people kneeled and prostrated themselves.   כזוַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֡ם זֶֽבַח־פֶּ֨סַח ה֜וּא לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּ֠סַ֠ח עַל־בָּתֵּ֤י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם בְּנָגְפּ֥וֹ אֶת־מִצְרַ֖יִם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּ֣ינוּ הִצִּ֑יל וַיִּקֹּ֥ד הָעָ֖ם וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲוֽוּ:
And the people kneeled and prostrated themselves. [in thanksgiving] for the tidings of the redemption, the entry into the land [of Israel], and the tidings of the children that they would have. — [from Mechilta]   וַיִּקֹּד הָעָם.  עַל בְּשׂוֹרַת הַגְּאֻלָּה וּבִיאַת הָאָרֶץ וּבְשׂוֹרַת הַבָּנִים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ לָהֶם:
28So the children of Israel went and did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.   כחוַיֵּֽלְכ֥וּ וַיַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־משֶׁ֥ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ:
So the children of Israel went and did. Now did they already do [it]? Wasn’t this said to them on Rosh Chodesh? But since they accepted upon themselves [to do it], Scripture credits them for it as if they had [already] done [it]. — [from Mechilta]   וַיֵּֽלְכוּ וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.  וְכִי כְּבָר עָשׂוּ, וַהֲלֹא מֵרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נֶאֱמַר לָהֶם? אֶלָּא מִכֵּיוָן שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם מַעֲלֶה עֲלֵיהֶם הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ עָשׂוּ (מכילתא):
went and did. Scripture counts also the going, to give reward for the going and reward for the deed. — [from Mechilta]   וַיֵּֽלְכוּ וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ.  אַף הַהֲלִיכָה מָנָה הַכָּתוּב, לִתֵּן שָׂכָר לַהֲלִיכָה וְשָׂכָר לַעֲשִׂיָּה (שם):
as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. [This comes] to tell Israel’s praise, that they did not omit anything of all the commandments of Moses and Aaron. And what is the meaning of “so they did?” Moses and Aaron also did so. — [from Mechilta]   כַּֽאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' אֶת־משֶׁה וְאַֽהֲרֹן.  לְהַגִּיד שִׁבְחָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא הִפִּילוּ דָּבָר מִכָּל מִצְווֹת מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן, וּמַהוּ כן עשו? אַף מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן כֵּן עָשׂוּ (שם):
29It came to pass at midnight, and the Lord smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who is in the dungeon, and every firstborn animal.   כטוַיְהִ֣י | בַּֽחֲצִ֣י הַלַּ֗יְלָה וַֽיהֹוָה֘ הִכָּ֣ה כָל־בְּכוֹר֘ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֒יִם֒ מִבְּכֹ֤ר פַּרְעֹה֙ הַיּשֵׁ֣ב עַל־כִּסְא֔וֹ עַ֚ד בְּכ֣וֹר הַשְּׁבִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית הַבּ֑וֹר וְכֹ֖ל בְּכ֥וֹר בְּהֵמָֽה:
and the Lord. Heb. וַה. Wherever it says, “and the Lord,” it means “He and His tribunal” (Exod. Rabbah 12:4), for the “vav” is an expression of addition, like “so-and-so and (“vav” ) so-and-so.”   וה'.  כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַה'" הוּא וּבֵית דִּינוֹ, שֶׁהַוָּי"ו לְשׁוֹן תּוֹסֶפֶת הוּא, כְּמוֹ פְּלוֹנִי וּפְלוֹנִי:
smote every firstborn. Even [a firstborn] of another nation who was in Egypt. — [from Mechilta]   הִכָּה כָל־בְּכוֹר.  אַף שֶׁל אֻמָּה אַחֶרֶת וְהוּא בְמִצְרַיִם (מכילתא):
from the firstborn of Pharaoh. Pharaoh, too, was a firstborn, but he remained [alive] of the firstborn. Concerning him, He [God] says: “But, for this [reason] I have allowed you to stand, in order to show you My strength” (Exod. 9:16) at the Red Sea. — [from Mechilta]   מִבְּכֹר פַּרְעֹה.  אַף פַּרְעֹה בְּכוֹר הָיָה, וְנִשְׁתַּיֵּר מִן הַבְּכוֹרוֹת, וְעָלָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר "בַּעֲבוּר הַרְאוֹתְךָ אֶת כֹּחִי" (שמות ט') – בְּיַם סוּף (מכילתא):
to the firstborn of the captive. Because they rejoiced at Israel’s misfortune (Tanchuma 7), and furthermore, so that they would not say, “Our deity brought about this retribution” (Mechilta). The firstborn of the slave woman was included, because [Scripture] counts from the most esteemed to the lowest, and the firstborn of the slave woman is more esteemed than the firstborn of the captive. See commentary on Exodus 11:5.   עַד בְּכוֹר הַשְּׁבִי.  שֶׁהָיוּ שְׂמֵחִין לְאֵידָם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל; וְעוֹד, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ יִרְאָתֵנוּ הֵבִיאָה הַפֻּרְעָנוּת; וּבְכוֹר הַשִּׁפְחָה בִּכְלָל הָיָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי מָנָה מִן הֶחָשׁוּב שֶׁבְּכֻלָּן עַד הַפָּחוּת, וּבְכוֹר הַשִּׁפְחָה חָשׁוּב מִבְּכוֹר הַשְּׁבִי:
30And Pharaoh arose at night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians, and there was a great outcry in Egypt, for there was no house in which no one was dead.   לוַיָּ֨קָם פַּרְעֹ֜ה לַ֗יְלָה ה֤וּא וְכָל־עֲבָדָיו֙ וְכָל־מִצְרַ֔יִם וַתְּהִ֛י צְעָקָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם כִּי־אֵ֣ין בַּ֔יִת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵֽין־שָׁ֖ם מֵֽת:
And Pharaoh arose. from his bed.   וַיָּקָם פַּרְעֹה.  מִמִּטָּתוֹ:
at night. Unlike the custom of kings, [who rise] three hours after daybreak. — [from Mechilta]   לַיְלָה.  וְלֹא כְּדֶרֶךְ הַמְּלָכִים בְּשָׁלוֹשׁ שָׁעוֹת בַּיּוֹם (שם):
he. [arose] first, and afterwards his servants. This teaches us that he went around to his servants’ houses and woke them up. — [from Mechilta]   הוּא.  תְּחִלָּה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ עבדיו, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיָה הוּא מְחַזֵּר עַל בָּתֵּי עֲבָדָיו וּמַעֲמִידָן (שם):
for there was no house in which no one was dead. If there was a firstborn, he was dead. If there was no firstborn, the oldest household member was called the firstborn, as it is said: “I, too, shall make him [David] a firstborn” (Ps. 89:28) (Tanchuma Buber 19). [Rashi explains there: I shall make him great.] Another explanation: Some Egyptian women were unfaithful to their husbands and bore children from bachelors. Thus they would have many firstborn; sometimes one woman would have five, each one the firstborn of his father (Mechilta 13:33).   כִּי־אֵין בַּיִת אֲשֶׁר אֵין שָׁם מֵֽת.  יֵשׁ שָׁם בְּכוֹר, מֵת, אֵין שָׁם בְּכוֹר, גָּדוֹל שֶׁבַּבַּיִת קָרוּי בְּכוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אַף אֲנִי בְּכוֹר אֶתְּנֵהוּ" (תהילים פ"ט). דָּבָר אַחֵר, מִצְרִיּוֹת מְזַנּוֹת תַּחַת בַּעְלֵיהֶן וְיוֹלְדוֹת מֵרַוָּקִים פְּנוּיִים, וְהָיוּ לָהֶם בְּכוֹרוֹת הַרְבֵּה, פְּעָמִים חֲמִשָּׁה לְאִשָּׁה אַחַת, כָּל אֶחָד בְּכוֹר לְאָבִיו:
31So he called for Moses and Aaron at night, and he said, "Get up and get out from among my people, both you, as well as the children of Israel, and go, worship the Lord as you have spoken.   לאוַיִּקְרָא֩ לְמשֶׁ֨ה וּלְאַֽהֲרֹ֜ן לַ֗יְלָה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ ק֤וּמוּ צּאוּ֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ עַמִּ֔י גַּם־אַתֶּ֖ם גַּם־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּלְכ֛וּ עִבְד֥וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה כְּדַבֶּרְכֶֽם:
So he called for Moses and Aaron at night. [This] tells [us] that Pharaoh went around to the entrances [i.e., to the doors of the houses] of the city, and cried out, “Where is Moses staying? Where is Aaron staying?” -[from Mechilta]   וַיִּקְרָא לְמשֶׁה וּלְאַֽהֲרֹן לַיְלָה.  מַגִּיד שֶׁהָיָה מְחַזֵּר עַל פִּתְחֵי הָעִיר וְצוֹעֵק, הֵיכָן מֹשֶׁה שָׁרוּי? הֵיכָן אַהֲרֹן שָׁרוּי? (מכילתא):
both you. the men.   גַּם־אַתֶּם.  הַגְּבָרִים:
as well as the children of Israel. The young children.   גַּם־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.  הַטַּף:
and go, worship the Lord as you have spoken. Everything is as you said, not as I said. “Neither will I let Israel out” (Exod. 5:2) is nullified. “Who and who are going?” (Exod. 10:8) is nullified. “But your flocks and your cattle shall be left” (Exod. 10:24) is nullified. [Instead,] take also your flocks and also your cattle. What is [the meaning of] “as you have spoken” ? You too shall give into our hands sacrifices and burnt offerings (Exod. 10:25). — [from Mechilta]   וּלְכוּ עִבְדוּ אֶת־ה' כְּדַבֶּרְכֶֽם.  הַכֹּל כְּמוֹ שֶׁאֲמַרְתֶּם וְלֹא כְּשֶׁאָמַרְתִּי אֲנִי; בָּטֵל "לֹא אֲשַׁלֵּחַ", בָּטֵל "מִי וָמִי הַהוֹלְכִים", בָּטֵל "רַק צֹאנְכֶם וּבְקָרְכֶם יֻצָּג":
32Take also your flocks and also your cattle, as you have spoken, and go, but you shall also bless me."   לבגַּם־צֹֽאנְכֶ֨ם גַּם־בְּקַרְכֶ֥ם קְח֛וּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּרְתֶּ֖ם וָלֵ֑כוּ וּבֵֽרַכְתֶּ֖ם גַּם־אֹתִֽי:
Take also your flocks and also your cattle . What does "as you have spoken" mean? You too should give us sacrifices and free will offerings.   גַּם־צֹֽאנְכֶם גַּם־בְּקַרְכֶם קְחוּ.  וּמַהוּ כאשר דברתם? "גַּם אַתָּה תִּתֵּן בְּיָדֵנוּ זְבָחִים וְעֹלֹת" (שמות י'), קְחוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתֶּם:
Take… as you have spoken… but you shall also bless me. [I.e.,] pray for me that I shall not die, for I am a firstborn. — [from Onkelos]   וּבֵֽרַכְתֶּם גַּם־אֹתִֽי.  הִתְפַּלְּלוּ עָלַי שֶׁלֹּא אָמוּת, שֶׁאֲנִי בְּכוֹר:
33So the Egyptians took hold of the people to hasten to send them out of the land, for they said, "We are all dead."   לגוַתֶּֽחֱזַ֤ק מִצְרַ֨יִם֙ עַל־הָעָ֔ם לְמַהֵ֖ר לְשַׁלְּחָ֣ם מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּ֥י אָֽמְר֖וּ כֻּלָּ֥נוּ מֵתִֽים:
We are all dead. They said, “This is not in accordance with Moses’ decree, for he said, ‘And every firstborn in the land of Egypt will die’ (Exod. 11:5), but here, the ordinary people too are dead, five or ten in one house.” -[from Mechilta] See Rashi on verse 30.   כֻּלָּנוּ מֵתִֽים.  אָמְרוּ לֹא כִגְזֵרַת מֹשֶׁה הוּא, שֶׁהֲרֵי אָמַר "וּמֵת כָּל בְּכוֹר", וְכָאן אַף הַפְּשׁוּטִים מֵתִים, חֲמִשָּׁה אוֹ עֲשָׂרָה בְּבַיִת אֶחָד:
34The people picked up their dough when it was not yet leavened, their leftovers bound in their garments on their shoulders.   לדוַיִּשָּׂ֥א הָעָ֛ם אֶת־בְּצֵק֖וֹ טֶ֣רֶם יֶחְמָ֑ץ מִשְׁאֲרֹתָ֛ם צְרֻרֹ֥ת בְּשִׂמְלֹתָ֖ם עַל־שִׁכְמָֽם:
when it was not yet leavened. The Egyptians did not permit them to tarry long enough for it to leaven.   טֶרֶם יֶחְמָץ.  הַמִּצְרִים לֹא הִנִּיחוּם לִשְׁהוֹת כְּדֵי חִמּוּץ:
their leftovers. Heb. מִשְׁאִרֹתָם. The remaining matzah and bitter herbs. — [from Mechilta and Jonathan]   מִשְׁאֲרֹתָם.  שְׁיָרֵי מַצָּה וּמָרוֹר.
on their shoulders. Although they took many animals with them, they [carried the remaining matzoth and bitter herbs on their shoulders because] they loved the mitzvoth. — [from Mechilta]   עַל־שִׁכְמָֽם.  אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבְּהֵמוֹת הַרְבֵּה הוֹלִיכוּ עִמָּהֶם, מְחַבְּבִים הָיוּ אֶת הַמִּצְוָה:
35And the children of Israel did according to Moses' order, and they borrowed from the Egyptians silver objects, golden objects, and garments.   להוּבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל עָשׂ֖וּ כִּדְבַ֣ר משֶׁ֑ה וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם כְּלֵי־כֶ֛סֶף וּכְלֵ֥י זָהָ֖ב וּשְׂמָלֹֽת:
according to Moses’ order. that he said to them in Egypt: “and let them borrow, each man from his friend” (Exod. 11:2). — [from Mechilta]   כִּדְבַר משֶׁה.  שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם בְּמִצְרַיִם, "וְיִשְׁאֲלוּ אִישׁ מֵאֵת רֵעֵהוּ":
and garments. These meant more to them than the silver and the gold, and [thus] whatever is mentioned later in the verse is more esteemed. — [from Mechilta]   וּשְׂמָלֹֽת.  אַף הֵן הָיוּ חֲשׁוּבוֹת לָהֶם מִן הַכֶּסֶף וּמִן הַזָּהָב, וְהַמְאֻחָר בַּפָּסוּק חָשׁוּב:
36The Lord gave the people favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they lent them, and they emptied out Egypt.   לווַֽיהֹוָ֞ה נָתַ֨ן אֶת־חֵ֥ן הָעָ֛ם בְּעֵינֵ֥י מִצְרַ֖יִם וַיַּשְׁאִל֑וּם וַיְנַצְּל֖וּ אֶת־מִצְרָֽיִם:
and they lent them. Even what they [the Israelites] did not request, they [the Egyptians] gave them. You say, “[Lend me] one.” [They responded,] “Take two and go!” -[from Mechilta]   וַיַּשְׁאִלוּם.  אַף מַה שֶּׁלֹּא הָיוּ שׁוֹאֲלִים מֵהֶם הָיוּ נוֹתְנִים לָהֶם, אַתָּה אוֹמֵר אֶחָד? טֹל שְׁנַיִם וָלֵךְ.
and they emptied out. Heb. וַיְנַצְלוּ. Onkelos renders: וְרוֹקִינוּ, and they emptied out.   וַיְנַצְּלוּ.  וְרוֹקִינוּ:
37The children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot, the men, besides the young children.   לזוַיִּסְע֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵֽרַעְמְסֵ֖ס סֻכֹּ֑תָה כְּשֵֽׁשׁ־מֵא֨וֹת אֶ֧לֶף רַגְלִ֛י הַגְּבָרִ֖ים לְבַד מִטָּֽף:
from Rameses to Succoth. They were 120 “mil” [apart]. Yet they arrived there instantly, as it is said: “and I carried you on eagles’ wings.” -[from Mechilta]   מֵֽרַעְמְסֵס סֻכֹּתָה.  מֵאָה וְעֶשְׂרִים מִיל הָיוּ, וּבָאוּ שָׁם לְפִי שָׁעָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וָאֶשָּׂא אֶתְכֶם עַל כַּנְפֵי נְשָׁרִים" (שמות י"ט):
the men. from 20 years old and older. — [from Song Rabbah 3:6]   הַגְּבָרִים.  מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה (שה"ש רבה ג, ו):
38And also, a great mixed multitude went up with them, and flocks and cattle, very much livestock.   לחוְגַם־עֵ֥רֶב רַ֖ב עָלָ֣ה אִתָּ֑ם וְצֹ֣אן וּבָקָ֔ר מִקְנֶ֖ה כָּבֵ֥ד מְאֹֽד:
a great mixed multitude. A mixture of nations of proselytes. — [from Zohar, vol. 2, p. 45b]   עֵרֶב רַב.  תַּעֲרֹבֶת אֻמּוֹת שֶׁל גֵּרִים:
39They baked the dough that they had taken out of Egypt as unleavened cakes, for it had not leavened, for they were driven out of Egypt, and they could not tarry, and also, they had not made provisions for themselves.   לטוַיֹּאפ֨וּ אֶת־הַבָּצֵ֜ק אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצִ֧יאוּ מִמִּצְרַ֛יִם עֻגֹ֥ת מַצּ֖וֹת כִּ֣י לֹ֣א חָמֵ֑ץ כִּי־גֹֽרְשׁ֣וּ מִמִּצְרַ֗יִם וְלֹ֤א יָֽכְלוּ֙ לְהִתְמַהְמֵ֔הַּ וְגַם־צֵדָ֖ה לֹֽא־עָשׂ֥וּ לָהֶֽם:
matzah cakes. cakes of matzah. Dough which did not leaven is called matzah.   עֻגֹת מַצּוֹת.  חֲרָרָה שֶׁל מַצָּה; בָּצֵק שֶׁלֹּא הֶחֱמִיץ קָרוּי מַצָּה:
and also, they had not made provisions for themselves. for the trip. [This verse] tells [of] Israel’s praise, [namely] that they did not say, “How will we go out into the desert without provisions?” Instead they believed and left. This is what is stated explicitly in the Prophets: “I remember to you the loving kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials, your following Me in the desert, in a land not sown” (Jer. 2:2). Now what was the [Israelites’] reward? It is explained afterward: “Israel is holy to the Lord, etc.” (Jer. 2:3). — [from Mechilta]   וְגַם־צֵדָה לֹא עָשׂוּ לָהֶֽם.  לַדֶּרֶךְ. מַגִּיד שִׁבְחָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁלֹּא אָמְרוּ הֵיאַךְ נֵצֵא לַמִּדְבָּר בְּלֹא צֵידָה? אֶלָּא הֶאֱמִינוּ וְהָלְכוּ; הוּא שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בַּקַּבָּלָה, "זָכַרְתִּי לָךְ חֶסֶד נְעוּרַיִךְ אַהֲבַת כְּלוּלֹתָיִךְ לֶכְתֵּךְ אַחֲרַי בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא זְרוּעָה" (ירמיהו ב'), מַה שָּׂכָר מְפֹרָשׁ אַחֲרָיו? "קֹדֶשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל לַה' וְגוֹ'":
40And the habitation of the children of Israel, that they dwelled in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.   מוּמוֹשַׁב֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽשְׁב֖וּ בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם שְׁלשִׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָֽה:
that they dwelled in Egypt. after the other dwellings in which they dwelled as foreigners in a land that was not theirs. — [from Mechilta]   אֲשֶׁר יָֽשְׁבוּ בְּמִצְרָיִם.  אַחַר שְׁאָר הַיְשִׁיבוֹת שֶׁיָּשְׁבוּ גֵּרִים בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָהֶם:
was four hundred and thirty years. Altogether, from the time that Isaac was born, until now, were 400 years. From the time that Abraham had seed [i.e., had a child, the prophecy] “that your seed will be strangers” (Gen. 15:13) was fulfilled; and there were another 30 years from the decree “between the parts” (Gen 15:10) until Isaac was born. It is impossible, however, to say that [they spent 400 years] in Egypt alone, because Kehath [the grandfather of Moses] was [one] of those who came with Jacob. Go and figure all his years, all the years of his son Amram, and Moses’ 80 years; you will not find them [to be] that many, and perforce, Kehath lived many of his years before he descended to Egypt, and many of Amram’s years are included in the years of Kehath, and many of Moses’ years are included in Amram’s years. Hence, you will not find 400 years counting from their arrival in Egypt. You are compelled, perforce, to say that the other dwellings [which the Patriarchs settled] were also called being “sojournings” and even in Hebron, as it is said: “where Abraham and Isaac sojourned (גָּרוּ) ” (Gen. 35:27), and [Scripture] states also “the land of their sojournings in which they sojourned” (Exod. 6:4). Therefore, you must say that [the prophecy] “your seed will be strangers” [commences] when he [Abraham] had offspring. And only when you count 400 years from the time that Isaac was born, you will find 210 years from their entry into Egypt. This is one of the things that [the Sages] changed for King Ptolemy. — [from Mechilta, Meg. 9a]   שְׁלשִׁים שָׁנָה וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה.  בֵּין הַכֹּל, מִשֶּׁנּוֹלַד יִצְחָק עַד עַכְשָׁו, הָיוּ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת, מִשֶּׁהָיָה לוֹ זֶרַע לְאַבְרָהָם נִתְקַיֵּם כִּי גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ, וּשְׁלֹשִׁים שָׁנָה הָיוּ מִשֶׁנִּגְזְרָה גְזֵרַת בֵּין הַבְּתָרִים עַד שֶׁנּוֹלַד יִצְחָק; וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לְבַדָּהּ, שֶׁהֲרֵי קְהָת מִן הַבָּאִים עִם יַעֲקֹב הָיָה, צֵא וַחֲשֹׁב כָּל שְׁנוֹתָיו וְכָל שְׁנוֹת עַמְרָם בְּנוֹ וּשְׁמוֹנִים שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה, לֹא תִמְצָאֵם כָּל כָּךְ, וְעַל כָּרְחֲךָ הַרְבֵּה שָׁנִים הָיוּ לִקְהָת עַד שֶׁלֹּא יָרַד לְמִצְרַיִם, וְהַרְבֵּה מִשְּׁנוֹת עַמְרָם נִבְלָעִים בִּשְׁנוֹת קְהָת, וְהַרְבֵּה מִשְּׁמוֹנִים שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה נִבְלָעִים בִּשְׁנוֹת עַמְרָם, הֲרֵי שֶׁלֹּא תִמְצָא אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת לְבִיאַת מִצְרַיִם, וְהֻזְקַקְתָּה לוֹמַר עַל כָּרְחֲךָ, שֶׁאַף שְׁאָר הַיְשִׁיבוֹת נִקְרְאוּ גֵּרוּת וַאֲפִלּוּ בְחֶבְרוֹן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אֲשֶׁר גָּר שָׁם אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק" (בראשית ל"ה), וְאוֹמֵר "אֶת אֶרֶץ מְגֻרֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר גָּרוּ בָהּ" (שמות ו'), לְפִיכָךְ אַתָּה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר "כִּי גֵר יִהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ" מִשֶּׁהָיָה לוֹ זֶרַע, וּכְשֶׁתִּמְנֶה ת' שָׁנָה מִשֶּׁנּוֹלַד יִצְחָק, תִּמְצָא מִבִּיאָתָן לְמִצְרַיִם עַד יְצִיאָתָן ר"י, וְזֶה אֶחָד מִן הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁשִּׁנּוּ לְתַלְמַי הַמֶּלֶךְ (מגילה ט'):
41It came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, and it came to pass in that very day, that all the legions of the Lord went out of the land of Egypt.   מאוַיְהִ֗י מִקֵּץ֙ שְׁלשִׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְאַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וַיְהִ֗י בְּעֶ֨צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה יָֽצְא֛וּ כָּל־צִבְא֥וֹת יְהֹוָ֖ה מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם:
It came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, and it came to pass in that very day. [This] tells [us] that as soon as the end [of this period] arrived, the Omnipresent did not keep them [even] as long as the blink of an eye. On the fifteenth of Nissan, the angels came to Abraham to bring him tidings. On the fifteenth of Nissan Isaac was born; on the fifteenth of Nissan the decree of “between the parts” was decreed. — [from Mechilta]   וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ שְׁלשִׁים שָׁנָה וגו' וַיְהִי בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.  מַגִּיד, שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ הַקֵּץ לֹא עִכְּבָן הַמָּקוֹם כְּהֶרֶף עַיִן – בְּט"ו בְנִיסָן בָּאוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת אֵצֶל אַבְרָהָם לְבַשְּׂרוֹ, וּבְט"ו בְּנִיסָן נוֹלַד יִצְחָק, וּבְט"ו בְּנִיסָן נִגְזְרָה גְּזֵרַת בֵּין הַבְּתָרִים:
42It is a night of anticipation for the Lord, to take them out of the land of Egypt; this night is the Lord's, guarding all the children of Israel throughout their generations.   מבלֵ֣יל שִׁמֻּרִ֥ים הוּא֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לְהֽוֹצִיאָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הֽוּא־הַלַּ֤יְלָה הַזֶּה֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה שִׁמֻּרִ֛ים לְכָל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְדֹֽרֹתָֽם:
It is a night of anticipation. for which the Holy One, blessed be He, was waiting and anticipating, [in order] to fulfill His promise to take them out of the land of Egypt.   לֵיל שִׁמֻּרִים.  שֶׁהָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שׁוֹמֵר וּמְצַפֶּה לוֹ, לְקַיֵּם הַבְטָחָתוֹ להוציאם מארץ מצרים:
this night is the Lord’s. This is the night concerning which He said to Abraham, “On this night I will redeem your children.” -[from Mechilta]   הוּא הַלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה לה'.  הוּא הַלַּיְלָה שֶׁאָמַר לְאַבְרָהָם, בַּלַּיְלָה הַזֶּה אֲנִי גוֹאֵל אֶת בָּנֶיךָ (מכילתא):
guarding all the children of Israel throughout their generations. from that time onward, it [the Israelites] is guarded from harmful spirits, like the matter that is stated: “and He will not permit the destroyer, etc.” (above verse 23). — [from Mechilta]   שִׁמֻּרִים לְכָל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְדֹֽרֹתָֽם.  מְשֻׁמָּר וּבָא מִן הַמַּזִּיקִין, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וְלֹא יִתֵּן הַמַּשְׁחִית וְגוֹ'" (פסחים ק"ט):
43The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the statute of the Passover sacrifice: No estranged one may partake of it.   מגוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֣ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֔ן זֹ֖את חֻקַּ֣ת הַפָּ֑סַח כָּל־בֶּן־נֵכָ֖ר לֹא־יֹ֥אכַל בּֽוֹ:
This is the statute of the Passover sacrifice. On the fourteenth of Nissan, this section was told to them. — [from Exod. Rabbah 19:5]   זֹאת חֻקַּת הַפָּסַח.  בְּי"ד בְּנִיסָן נֶאֶמְרָה לָהֶם פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ:
No estranged one. Whose deeds have become estranged from his Father in heaven. Both a gentile and an Israelite apostate are meant. — [from Mechilta]   כָּל־בֶּן־נֵכָר.  שֶׁנִּתְנַכְּרוּ מַעֲשָׂיו לְאָבִיו שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם, וְאֶחָד הַגּוֹי וְאֶחָד יִשְׂרָאֵל מְשֻׁמָּד בְּמַשְׁמָע (מכילתא):
44And every man's slave, purchased for his money you shall circumcise him; then he will be permitted to partake of it.   מדוְכָל־עֶ֥בֶד אִ֖ישׁ מִקְנַת־כָּ֑סֶף וּמַלְתָּ֣ה אֹת֔וֹ אָ֖ז יֹ֥אכַל בּֽוֹ:
you shall circumcise him; then he will be permitted to partake of it. [I.e., he means] his master. [This] tells [us] that the [failure to perform the] circumcision of one’s slaves prevents one from partaking of the Passover sacrifice. [These are] the words of Rabbi Joshua. Rabbi Eliezer says: The [failure to perform the] circumcision of one’s slaves does not prevent one from partaking of the Passover sacrifice. If so, what is the meaning of “then he will be permitted to partake of it” ? [“He” in this phrase is referring to] the slave. — [from Mechilta]   וּמַלְתָּה אֹתוֹ אָז יֹאכַל בּֽוֹ.  רַבּוֹ, מַגִּיד שֶׁמִּילַת עֲבָדָיו מְעַכַּבְתּוֹ מִלֶּאֱכֹל בַּפֶּסַח, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, אֵין מִילַת עֲבָדָיו מְעַכַּבְתּוֹ מִלֶּאֱכֹל בַּפֶּסַח, אִם כֵּן מַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר אז יאכל בו? הָעֶבֶד:
45A sojourner or a hired hand may not partake of it.   מהתּוֹשָׁ֥ב וְשָׂכִ֖יר לֹא־יֹ֥אכַל בּֽוֹ:
A sojourner. This is a resident alien. — [from Mechilta] [I.e., a gentile who has accepted upon himself not to practice idolatry but eats carcasses.]   תּוֹשָׁב.  זֶה גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב:
or a hired hand. This is a gentile. Now why is this [verse] stated? Aren’t they uncircumcised? And it is stated: “but no uncircumcised man may partake of it” (verse 48). But this refers to a circumcised Arab or a circumcised Gibeonite, who is a sojourner or a hired hand. — [from Mechilta]   וְשָׂכִיר.  זֶה גּוֹי, וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר, וַהֲלֹא עֲרֵלִים הֵם, וְנֶאֱמַר וכל ערל לא יאכל בו? אֶלָּא כְּגוֹן עֲרָבִי מָהוּל וְגִבְעוֹנִי מָהוּל וְהוּא תּוֹשָׁב אוֹ שָׂכִיר (שם):
46It must be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the meat out of the house to the outside, neither shall you break any of its bones.   מובְּבַ֤יִת אֶחָד֙ יֵֽאָכֵ֔ל לֹֽא־תוֹצִ֧יא מִן־הַבַּ֛יִת מִן־הַבָּשָׂ֖ר ח֑וּצָה וְעֶ֖צֶם לֹ֥א תִשְׁבְּרוּ־בֽוֹ:
It must be eaten in one house. In one group, that those counted upon it may not become two groups and divide it. You say [that it means] in one group, or [perhaps] it means nothing other than in one house as is its apparent meaning, and to teach that if they started eating in the yard and it rained, that they may not enter the house. Therefore, Scripture states: “on the houses in which they will eat it” (above verse 7). From here [we deduce] that the one who eats [the Passover sacrifice] may eat [it] in two places. — [from Mechilta]   בְּבַיִת אֶחָד יֵֽאָכֵל.  בַּחֲבוּרָה אַחַת, שֶׁלֹּא יֵעָשׂוּ הַנִּמְנִין עָלָיו שְׁתֵּי חֲבוּרוֹת וִיחַלְּקוּהוּ. אַתָּה אוֹמֵר בַּחֲבוּרָה אַחַת אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בְּבַיִת אֶחָד כְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ, וּלְלַמֵּד שֶׁאִם הִתְחִילוּ וְהָיוּ אוֹכְלִים בֶּחָצֵר וְיָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ לַבַּיִת? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר, "עַל הַבָּתִּים אֲשֶׁר יֹאכְלוּ אֹתוֹ בָּהֶם", מִכָּאן שֶׁהָאוֹכֵל אוֹכֵל בִּשְׁנֵי מְקוֹמוֹת:
you shall not take any of the meat out of the house. [I.e.,] out of the group. — [from Mechilta]   לֹֽא־תוֹצִיא מִן־הַבַּיִת.  מִן הַחֲבוּרָה:
neither shall you break any of its bones. If it [the bone] is edible, e.g., if there is an olive-sized amount of meat on it, it bears the prohibition of breaking a bone; if there is neither an olive-sized amount of meat on it nor marrow [in it], it does not bear the prohibition against breaking a bone. — [from Pes. 84b]   וְעֶצֶם לֹֽא־תִשְׁבְּרוּ־בֽוֹ.  הָרָאוּי לַאֲכִילָה, כְּגוֹן שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלָיו כַּזַּיִת בָּשָׂר, יֵשׁ בּוֹ מִשּׁוּם שְׁבִירַת עֶצֶם, אֵין עָלָיו כַּזַּיִת בָּשָׂר אֵין בּוֹ מִשּׁוּם שְׁבִירַת עֶצֶם:
47The entire community of Israel shall make it.   מזכָּל־עֲדַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יַֽעֲשׂ֥וּ אֹתֽוֹ:
The entire community of Israel shall make it. Why was this stated? Because it says concerning the Passover sacrifice of Egypt: “a lamb for each parental home” (above verse 3), we might think that the same applies to the Passover sacrifice of later generations. Therefore, Scripture states: “The entire community of Israel shall make it.” -[from Mechilta]   כָּל־עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל יַֽעֲשׂוּ אֹתֽוֹ.  לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר בְּפֶסַח מִצְרַיִם "שֶׂה לְבֵית אָבוֹת", שֶׁנִּמְנוּ עָלָיו לַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת, יָכוֹל אַף פֶּסַח דּוֹרוֹת כֵּן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמָר כל עדת ישראל יעשו אתו:
48And should a proselyte reside with you, he shall make a Passover sacrifice to the Lord. All his males shall be circumcised, and then he may approach to make it, and he will be like the native of the land, but no uncircumcised male may partake of it.   מחוְכִֽי־יָג֨וּר אִתְּךָ֜ גֵּ֗ר וְעָ֣שָׂה פֶ֘סַח֘ לַֽיהֹוָה֒ הִמּ֧וֹל ל֣וֹ כָל־זָכָ֗ר וְאָז֙ יִקְרַ֣ב לַֽעֲשׂת֔וֹ וְהָיָ֖ה כְּאֶזְרַ֣ח הָאָ֑רֶץ וְכָל־עָרֵ֖ל לֹא־יֹ֥אכַל בּֽוֹ:
he shall make a Passover sacrifice. We might think that everyone who converts must make a Passover sacrifice immediately. Therefore, Scripture states: “and he will be like the native of the land,” [indicating that] just as the native [makes the sacrifice] on the fourteenth [of Nissan], so must a proselyte [make it] on the fourteenth [of Nissan]. — [from Mechilta]   וְעָשָׂה פֶסַח.  יָכוֹל כָּל הַמִּתְגַּיֵּר יַעֲשֶׂה פֶּסַח מִיָּד, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר והיה כאזרח הארץ, מָה אֶזְרָח בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר אַף גֵּר בְּאַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר (שם):
but no uncircumcised male may partake of it. This includes one whose brothers died because of circumcision, [one] who is not considered an apostate in regards to circumcision, and [his disqualification] is not derived from “No estranged one may partake of it” (verse 43). — [from Mechilta]   וְכָל־עָרֵל לֹא־יֹאכַל בּֽוֹ.  לְהָבִיא אֶת שֶׁמֵּתוּ אֶחָיו מֵחֲמַת מִילָה, שֶׁאֵינוֹ מוּמָר לַעֲרֵלוּת וְאֵינוֹ לָמֵד מִ"בֶּן נֵכָר לֹא יֹאכַל בּוֹ" (שם):
49There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who resides in your midst."   מטתּוֹרָ֣ה אַחַ֔ת יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לָֽאֶזְרָ֑ח וְלַגֵּ֖ר הַגָּ֥ר בְּתֽוֹכְכֶֽם:
There shall be one law. [This verse comes] to liken a proselyte to a native also regarding other commandments in the Torah. — [from Mechilta]   תּוֹרָה אַחַת וגו'.  לְהַשְׁווֹת גֵּר לָאֶזְרָח אַף לִשְׁאָר מִצְווֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה (שם):
50All the children of Israel did; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.   נוַיַּֽעֲשׂ֖וּ כָּל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־משֶׁ֥ה וְאֶת־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ:
51It came to pass on that very day, that the Lord took the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt with their legions.   נאוַיְהִ֕י בְּעֶ֖צֶם הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה הוֹצִ֨יא יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם עַל־צִבְאֹתָֽם: