Parnas. 9

V. Pesach Events. 11

VI. HaShem's Passover and the Firstborn.. 34

VII. Chametz.. 39

A Mystical Insight.. 39

The Pesach Experience.. 41

VIII. Names given to the Passover Festival.. 43

IX. Pesach vs. Unleavened Bread.. 44

X. Pesach Customs. 46

XI. Elijah and Passover.. 50

XII. Passover symbols. 51

I. Introduction

Pesach, Hebrew for Passover, begins on the fifteenth day of the first month. The festival lasts for seven (eight days in the diaspora) days, in Israel, and ends on the 21^st (22^nd for those in the diaspora) day of the first month, for those who live in eretz Israel. The following list shows the dates for Pesach for the next few years (Remember we start at sundown on the day before the following dates):

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Strong’s defines the word Pesach, from its first usage in Torah, as:

Shemot (Exodus) 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; [with] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it [is] HaShem’s Passover.

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6453 pecach, peh'-sakh; from 6452; a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only tech. of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim):-Passover (offering).

---------------- Dictionary Trace ----------------

6452 pacach, paw-sakh'; a prim. root; to hop, i.e. (fig.) skip over (or spare); by impl. to hesitate; also (lit.) to limp, to dance:-halt, become lame, leap, pass over.

On Pesach we celebrate the liberation of HaShem’s people from Egyptian slavery and, together with it, the liberation from, and negation of the ancient Egyptian system and way of life, the "abominations of Egypt." Thus we celebrate our physical liberation together with our spiritual freedom. Indeed, there cannot be one without the other: there can be no real freedom without accepting the precepts of our Torah guiding our daily life; pure and holy living eventually leads to real freedom.

Pesach is first and foremost among the festivals in the Jewish calendar. The Talmud[1] refers to Pesach as the Rosh HaShana (Head of the year) of the festivals. Calling this the “Head” is very appropriate; as the body’s ability to function is derived from the head, so the essence and the sanctity of all the festivals is derived from the festival of Pesach. Thus we need to carefully learn and understand the meaning of Pesach, and its requirements, in order to understand the other festivals.

There are four names given to this first and foremost of the festivals in either the Torah or in the oral Torah:

Chag HaPesach (Shemot [Exodus] 34:25)

("the Feast of Passover")

Chag HaMatzot (Shemot [Exodus] 23:15)

("the Feast of Unleavened Bread")

Chag HaCherutenu (Mishna Pesachim 10:5)

("the Feast of Our Liberation")

Chag HaAbib (Devarim [Deuteronomy] 16:1)

("the Feast of Spring")

The Torah frequently calls this festival: Chag HaMatzot, yet the Jewish people frequently call it Pesach. Why this dichotomy? The Kedushat Levi (Parashat Bo) answers this question by telling us the we ate matza because we left in such a hurry that the bread did not have time to rise. Thus, in spite of the lack of provisions, we still followed HaShem into the wilderness.

Yeremiyahu (Jeremiah) 2:2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith HaShem; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

Thus HaShem focuses on the matzot to praise us for our love and emunah (faithfulness) for Him. We call it Pesach to praise HaShem for passing over us, and thereby choosing us, on that fatefull Passover in Egypt. Thus it is fitting that HaShem should call it Chag HaMatzot to praise His people, and that the Jewish people should call it Pesach to praise HaShem.

One of the major festivals in the Torah is Pesach. It is a holiday of rejoicing when Jews all over the world recall their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The word Passover comes from the idea that HaShem passed over the houses of the Israelites, who had marked their doorposts to signify that they were children of HaShem. This way the firstborn sons of Israel were spared when HaShem smote the firstborn sons of the Egyptian taskmasters on the eve of the Exodus. The sons of Israel were thus redeemed from the land of sin, Egypt, and redeemed from Pharaoh to serve HaShem.

It is worth noting that Pesach and its ceremonies not only speak of OUR redemption in the days of Moshe, but they are also prophetic of the future redemption in the days of Mashiach.

Conversion

Shavuot is the conclusion of Pesach. On Shavuot the entire congregation of Israel stood before HaShem as converts to receive the Torah. Our conversion began four days before Pesach when we were circumcised. The Pesach lamb could only be eaten by those who were circumcised. Because of this requirement, Pesach is THE festival of the convert. All the other festivals can be celebrated by Gentiles. Only the partaking of the Pesach lamb was denied to the Gentiles. Thus, when a new convert joins the nation of Israel, Pesach will be the ultimate festival, the festival that demonstrates his covenantal relationship.

As the nation of Israel was birthed from the crucible of Egypt, on Pesach, so the righteous Gentiles who undergo conversion are born on Pesach. Their birth joins them to the nation of Israel on Pesach.

The Number Four (4)

As you study the Pesach, notice how often the number four shows up. The great Kabbalist, the Maharal of Prague, teaches that when something is true, it is true on every possible plane. It is true philosophically, linguistically, mathematically and spiritually. And so we learn that the number four is the number, more than any other, that encapsulates the message of exile and redemption, otherwise it would not be the one used. Keep in mind that our Sages teach us that the Egyptian exile is the prototype for all future exiles (see the redemption study for more on this topic).

Four Cups of Wine

We were in exile, estranged from our land and from HaShem. Therefore, HaShem, Blessed be He, redeemed us with four mighty acts:

Shemot (Exodus) 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel,

1. I [am] HaShem, and

2. I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and

3. I will rid you out of their bondage, and

4. I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

The redemption of Shemot 6:6 is represented by the four cups of wine we take during our seder.

The Midrash Rabbah explains that the four cups of wine correspond to these four stages of redemption. By contrast, the Gemara says:

Pesachim 117b R. Hanan said to Raba: This proves that Grace after meals requires a cup [of wine]. Said he to him: Our Rabbis instituted four cups as symbolizing freedom: let us perform a religious act with each.

The Gemara indicates that the number four expresses freedom, and connects each cup to a particular mitzva of the seder night: the first cup is that of Kiddush; over the second cup we recite the haggada; the third cup is that of birkhat Hamazon (Grace after the Meal); and over the fourth cup we recite hallel.

Four questions

The four questions reflect, that our redemption, if we are to be redeemed, must come about when we leave exile and leave estrangement from HaShem. The question of the wise son reflects that we are only truly free when we stop serving the world and start serving HaShem:

- If we are free, why do we still eat matza, "the bread of affliction"?

- If we want to recall the bitterness of servitude by eating bitter herbs, why do we recline like royalty?

- Why do we dip our food luxuriously in what represents our tears?

This exile and estrangement from HaShem embitters the wicked son. He wants to retreat back into the comforting complacency of spiritual exile.

It mystifies the son who no longer believes in answers. We must use the empathy and compassion that a mother would have for her child to free him enough to listen.

But the same paradox frees the simple son to redefine what the experience means to him.

The freest of all is the wise son. Once the door is open, he asks the most honest question of all:

- "How shall I serve the God who has made me free?"

The nation of Israel became full and complete upon the fulfillment of the fourth utterance of redemption, the fourth and final stage in their development.

Pesach is celebrated the evening of the fourteenth (10+4) day of Nisan.

The women came to His Majesty’s empty grave on the fourth day of Passover.

The Jews came out of Mitzrayim (Egypt) after 4 x 100 years:

Bereshit (Genesis) 15:13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

The Jews came out of Mitzrayim in the fourth generation:

Bereshit (Genesis) 15:13 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites [is] not yet full.

We may eat chametz (leaven bread) on Erev (the day before) Pesach only until the end of the fourth hour ("zemanit"), i.e., only within the first third of the day.

The festival of Pesach is given four different names in either the Torah and in the oral Torah:

1. The Festival of Pesach - Shemot 34:25.

2. The Festival of Matzot - Shemot 23:15.

3. The Time of Freedom and Redemption -(Mishna Pesachim 10:5).

4. The Festival of Spring - Devarim 16:1.

"four cups of comfort which HaShem will in the future give the Jewish people to drink."

In the first chapter of Yechezkel, the number four in various ways, appears fourteen times. As the Jews are going into the Babylonian exile, HaShem informs us that He is going into exile as well.

So, as you study Pesach, notice how intimately the number four is woven into the fabric of this feast. Remember:

The number four signals a

whole, a fullness, and a completion. It signals exile, but, it also signals redemption!

Forty (40) is 10 X 4 and is therefore intimately associated with the number four. You will also see this number showing up repeatedly in the story of our exile and redemption. Some well known examples are:

Moses was forty years in Mitzrayim, forty years in Midian, and forty years in the wilderness. Moses went up on mount Sinai three different times for forty days each.

The spies spied out the land for forty days.

The Children of Israel were in the wilderness for forty years.

II. Our Redemption

The primary theme of Pesach is REDEMPTION. The Torah indicates that each of HaShem's people was redeemed from Egypt, therefore each one of us must come to regard himself as though he had personally gone out of Egypt.

Micah 6:1-9 Listen to what HaShem says: "Stand up, plead your case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. Hear, O mountains, HaShem’s accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For HaShem has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. "My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember [your journey] from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of HaShem." With what shall I come before HaShem and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will HaShem be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does HaShem require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Listen! HaShem is calling to the city--and to fear your name is wisdom--"Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.

Unless we see the Pesach as though HaShem had personally redeemed each of us, we will fail to understand what Pesach is all about. Pesach is all about OUR redemption!

Shemot (Exodus) 13:14-16 "In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' say to him, 'With a mighty hand HaShem brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, HaShem killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to HaShem the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.' And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that HaShem brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."

As you study Pesach, notice how often the Torah addresses us personally.

Every redemption of the sons of Israel will be patterned after the redemption from Egypt, even if it does not have the elements of miracles and signs. In "Derishat Tzion," Rabbi Kalisher includes a chapter advocating offering the Pesach sacrifice in modern times, as if to emphasize that the Egyptian redemption is the source and the inspiration for all later events. Indeed, even the Prophets speak of our future redemption in relationship to our redemption from Egypt:

Micah 7:12-17 In that day people will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, even from Egypt to the Euphrates and from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain. The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds. Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago. "As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders." Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their power. They will lay their hands on their mouths and their ears will become deaf. They will lick dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling out of their dens; they will turn in fear to HaShem our God and will be afraid of you.

The Talmud also speaks of our future redemption in relation to Pesach:

Rosh HaShana 11a On New Year the bondage of our ancestors in Egypt ceased;[2] in Nisan they were redeemed and in Nisan they will be redeemed in the time to come. R. Yahoshua (Joshua) says: In Nisan the world was created; in Nisan the Patriarchs were born; in Nisan the Patriarchs died; on Passover Isaac was born; on New Year Sarah, Rachel and Hannah were visited; on New Year Joseph went forth from prison; on New Year the bondage of our ancestors ceased in Egypt; and in Nisan they will be redeemed in time to come.

Rosh HaShana 11b On New Year the bondage of our ancestors ceased in Egypt’. It is written in one place, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,[3] and it is written in another place, I removed his shoulder from the burden.[4] ‘In Nisan they were delivered’, as Scripture recounts. ‘In Tishri they will be delivered in time to come’. This is learnt from the two occurrences of the word ‘horn’. It is written in one place, Blow the horn on the new moon,[5] and it is written in another place, In that day a great horn shall be blown.[6] ‘R. Yahoshua (Joshua) says, In Nisan they were delivered, in Nisan they will be delivered in the time to come’. Whence do we know this? — Scripture calls [the Passover] ‘a night of watchings’,[7] [which means], a night which has been continuously watched for from the six days of the creation. What says the other to this? — [He says it means], a night which is under constant protection against evil spirits.[8]

As you study prophecy regarding the "Acharit HaYamim”, the end of days, notice the striking similarity of our future redemption, to our redemption from Egypt.

The redemption from Egypt could have been the Final Redemption. This helps us understand the exchange between Moshe and HaShem at the burning bush. Moshe asked HaShem, "Why do you choose me to redeem your people? Send, instead, Pinchas / Elijah, who you have chosen to redeem your people at the End of Days!"[9] Moshe was suggesting that the redemption from Egypt ought to be a full and final one. HaShem answered, that the time had not yet come for a final redemption.

Thus we see that the Targum associates the “end of days” with the seventh day of Pesach!

Moshe himself, the greatest of the Prophets and his sister, Miriam, who was also a great Prophetess, sing / sang the “the Song of the Sea”, which according to Chazal was not focused on the event that had just transpired, the splitting of the sea, but actually on the future of the people of Israel, specifically at the time of "Acharit HaYamim," the "End of Days".

III. Torah Readings for Passover

Ok, lets continue our study of Passover, by examining the traditional Torah and Haftorah readings that the Sages have compiled for Pesach. These are the most important passages for us to remember as we look forward to our redemption. Notice that there are no Nazarean Codicil readings associated with this list, because the Nazarean Codicil were not yet written at the time that these readings were compiled.

IV. An Appointed Time

Pesach and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, begin late in the afternoon of Nisan 14. This feast is an appointment with HaShem! The Passover seder begins after sunset at the beginning of Nisan 15. Nisan 15, Pesach, is therefore longer because we have added some time (eighteen minutes) from Nisan 14 to Nisan 15. Lets see where this is defined in the Torah:

Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:5 HaShem’s Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.

Shemot (Exodus) 13:4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving.

5768, September 2008 through September 2009 (approximately), marks the 3,328th anniversary of the Exodus from Egypt. (Midrash Mechilta, B'shalach 2).

Now, lets examine a chronology of Yeshua's last week of life as it relates to Pesach: The Sages teach us that we do not celebrate Pesach because of the events which happened in Egypt during the days of Moshe. Rather, we celebrate Pesach, on Nisan 15, because this was the date, ordained before the creation of the world, for HaShem’s mighty acts of redemption.

The following is the chronology of Pesach week, in the days of Mashiach ben Yoseph, which I learned from my teacher, His Eminence Hakham Dr. Yoseph ben Haggai:

NISAN 13

EVENING (End of Nisan 12 Beginning of Nisan 13) - Tuesday evening that year

a. Sadducees search for Chametz

MORNING (Nisan 13) - Wednesday morning that year

b. Sadducees burn Chametz before mid-day

AFTERNOON (Nisan 13) - Wednesday about or after 3:00 p.m. in that year

c. Sadducees kill the Korban (lamb) Pesach

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NISAN 14

Evening (End of Nisan 13 Beginning of Nisan 14) - Wednesday evening in that year:

a. Sadducees eat their Korban Pesach and have the Pesach Seder

b. Mashiach partakes with his Talmidim of this Korban Pesach (only on this year) since the dispute on when the Korban Pesach was to be killed was for the sake of heaven (i.e. that he could eat one and die on the other).

c. Pharisees search for the Chametz

Late evening (Nisan 14) Wednesday night that year:

a. Mashiach is apprehended by the Temple Garden at Gat-Sh'manim (Gethsemane) whilst praying.

b. Mashiach is interrogated by the illegitimate High Priest and Priests and delivered to Pilate.

Morning (Nisan 14) - Thursday morning that year:

a. Pharisees dispose of the leaven

b. Mashiach is tried by Pilate and following the counsel of the illegitimate Priests is disposed of by being sentenced to death

Afternoon (Nisan 14) - Thursday afternoon at about 3:00 p.m. that year:

a. Mashiach dies hanging on a Roman cross at Maqom Gilgulet for sedition

b. Pharisees are killing their Korban Pesach

c. Mashiach is hurriedly laid in a borrowed tomb

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NISAN 15 - CHAG HAMATSAH

Evening (Ending Nisan 14 and beginning of Nisan 15) - Thursday evening of that year

a. Pharisees eat their Korban Pesach and have their Pesach Seder.

Morning and afternoon of Nisan 15 - Friday morning and afternoon of that year

b. Proper embalming of Mashiach

c. Door of tomb is sealed by order of the Kohanim (priests) with a great stone.

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NISAN 16 - SHABBAT CHOL HAMOED PESACH

Evening (Ending Nisan 15 and beginning Nisan 16) - Friday night of that year

a. Kabbalat Shabbat for all (Sadducees, Pharisees and Nazareans) - no work allowed.

Evening (Ending Nisan 16 and beginning Nisan 17) Saturday evening of that year

a. Mashiach is risen from the dead sometime during Shabbat.

b. Havdallah (many of the prayers in this service concern the topic of resurrection - and the ritual of extinguishing (transporting) a life (light) from the day (dimension) which is all Shabbat and injecting it into the dimension of time of the living on earth - the sea of wine on the dish)

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NISAN 17 - Yom Rishon [Chol HaMoed Pesach]

Evening (Ending Nisan 16 and beginning Nisan 17) Saturday evening of that year

a. Pharisees cut the first of the first fruits and start counting the Omer since the previous day was Shabbat

b. Sadducees also start counting the Omer

Dawn - Early morning Nisan 17 - Sunday morning that year

a. Women visit the tomb

b. Big earthquake

c. Soldiers guarding the tomb flee for their lives and inform the corrupt Kohanim of that time

d. Women are informed by an angel not to fear and that their Master has risen

e. Miriam is asked not to touch him since he is "not yet ascended (presented) to the Father"

Morning service Nisan 17 at the Temple - Sunday morning of that year

a. The Omer is waved by the High Priest before HaShem at the Bet HaMikdash

b. Mashiach ascends through the seven heavens (figurative of the seven days) and composed like the ashes of the red heifer of "ESH" (fire) and "MAYIM" (water) and which purify him from his state of ceremonial uncleanness to present himself as the wave offering (first of the first fruits) before HaShem's throne of Glory. The offering was accepted.

Afternoon Nisan 17 - Sunday afternoon of that year

a. Mashiach returns back that same day to earth and again transverses through the seven heavens (a figure of the seven days a person unclean by touching a corpse must wait before being purified, and composed like the waters of the Red Heifer of Aish (fire) and Mayim (water) and is purified once more).

b. "That very day" His Majesty appears to two of his very terrified Talmidim on the way to a village about seven miles from Yerushalayim called Amma'us and chats and teaches Torah to them.

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IYAR 18 - LAG B’OMER

Morning/Afternoon

After a period of forty days teaching his Talmidim after his resurrection (2 Luqas (Acts) 1:3), Mashiach ascends finally to the heavens (2 Luqas 1:6-11), awaiting his return at the time appointed by HaShem, Most Blessed be He!

Israel was forty years in the Sinai Wilderness. G-d had shown Moshe the Heavenly Tabernacle, or Temple, and had instructed Moshe to make a Tabernacle in the wilderness alike the order of the one shown to him at the mountain. It took one year to build the Tabernacle of Israel, which Israel used as the meeting place of HaShem with them for the remaining thirty-nine years. During those thirty-nine years, Israel spent six years moving about with the Tabernacle dismantled and unused. This brings us to the point that the Tabernacle of Israel was in use as the meeting place for HaShem and His people for exactly thirty-three years of the forty years of the wilderness experience.

In the Jewish year of 3828 on the ninth day of the month of Av, the Romans destroyed the Temple for the second time. However, Titus, alike Nebuchadnezzar, put Jerusalem under siege on the day of Lag B'Omer.

When His Majesty King Yeshua was Lag B'Omer in age (thirty-three years of age) his body (temple) was put to death by the Roman execution of the cross.

I believe that when Yeshua ascended, He was fulfilling His obligation to send us a Comforter to instruct us in all wisdom, Amen and therefore triumph over Nebuchadnezzar and Pilate.

Notes:

a. Nowadays, and after the calendrical reform at the hands of the Pharisees who sit on Moshe’s seat of authority, the calendar has been so engineered as to prevent the counting of the Omer according to the Pharisees to ever coincide with the counting of the Omer according to the Sadducees as it happened that year.

b. Our contention is that in that year in which the events of the death of His Majesty took place (before the calendrical reform) the counting of the Omer occurred coincidentally on the same day for both Pharisees and Sadducees.

c. We further contend that the dispute concerning when to eat the Korban Pesach (the night beginning, or the night ending the 14th of Nisan) was one for the sake of Heaven, and which HaShem allowed so that His Mashiach could eat and partake of the Korban Pesach of the Sadducees and die at the same time that the Perushim were killing their Korban Pesach as Hakham Shaul (himself a Perushim) informs us in 1 Cor. 5:7.

Parnas

Pesach is also an auspicious (an appointed time) time to beseech HaShem that He should give us parnas (wealth). Why is Pesach an auspicious time to beseech HaShem for wealth?

One of the things that we learned in the study titled FEASTS is that HaShem has a different type of energy or blessing for each day of the year when using His calendar. This explains why both the first and second Bet HaMikdash were destroyed on the same day. HaShem determined that this day (Tisha B’Av) was a day for troubles. We first saw this charadcteristic when the meraglim (the spies sent by Moshe) incited the people to cry because of the perceived problems with the land of Israel. HaShem said that because we cried, without reason, on this day, then He would make us cry on this day for good reasons.

With this background we can understand why Pesach is a time when we should beseech HaShem for parnas. When HaShem made the covenant between the parts with Avraham, He told Avraham that his descendants would come out of Egypt with great wealth.

Bereshit (Genesis) 15:12-14 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

What did HaShem mean when he told Avraham that his descendants would come out of Egypt with great wealth? To understand this question we have to understand that if a homeless man describes me as being rich, then all he has in mind is that I have food to eat. On the other hand, if Bill Gates tells someone that he is rich, then he has in mind that a person has more than sixty billion dollars. This concept also relates to HaShem. If HaShem says that He is going to make us very rich, then we must understand His perspective. Consider the following pasuk:

Tehillim (Psalms) 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

By this physical standard, HaShem is extremely wealthy. So wealthy, in fact, that He disdains physical wealth, though He has an abudance of physical wealth. So, our question is quite valid. What is HaShem’s standard when He promises that Avraham’s descendants will come out of Egypt with great wealth?

Consider that the Israelites did a couple of things on erev Pesach. They asked their neighbors for their wealth and they prepared the Pesach lamb for the seder.

Shemot (Exodus) 11:1-2 And HaShem said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether. 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.

We learn from these two things that HaShem’s standard has both a physical and a spiritual component, when it comes to His standard for wealth. He gave us the Pesach mitzvot and the physical wealth of the Egyptians. This wealth giving continued all of the way till the atzeret (conclusion) of Pesach, on Shavuot.

How wealthy were the Egyptians? If we remember that Joseph used the famine to acquire all of the wealth of the Egyptians and all of the wealth of the rest of the world, then we realise that the Egyptians were VERY wealthy. HaShem literally moved the wealth of the world, to Egypt, so that He could fulfill His promise to Avraham!

Bereshit (Genesis) 41:55-57 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

On the seventh day of Pesach, Paro and his army were killed in the Reed Sea and all of their wealth washed up on the shore. Thus whatever last bit of wealth that remained in Egypt, this too was delivered unto Avraham’s descendants.

Finally, on Shavuot HaShem gave His people the Torah. This Torah was capable of giving eternal life and more wealth than all the material wealth of the world.

Thus the wealth that HaShem gave the descendant of Avraham, on Pesach, was composed of material and spiritual wealth.

Now if HaShem gave his people great wealth on Pesach in the days of the Exodus, then we can see that Pesach is an auspicious time to beseech HaShem for parnas, for wealth and livelihood.

V. Pesach Events

Because Nisan 15 is appointed as a day for redemption, we ought to be able to see other Torah events which have the same themes as the redemption from Egypt. Any event which mimics these themes can be identified as occurring on Nisan 15. Lets examine a couple of the more obvious events which took place on Nisan 15:

In the Haggada we read of the following Pesach events:

Of old, You performed many miracles by night. At the beginning of the first watch of this night.

To the righteous convert (Abraham) You gave victory when there was divided for him the night.

You judged the king of Gerar (Abimelech with death) in a dream by night.

You frightened the Aramean (Laban) in the dark of night.

Israel (Jacob) fought with an angel and overcame him by night.

The first-born children of the Egyptians You crushed at midnight.

They did not find their host when they arose at night.

You swept away the army of the prince of Charoshes (Sisera) with the stars of night.

The blasphemer (Senacherib) had planned to raise his hand against Jerusalem; You laid low his dead by night.

The idol Bel was overthrown, with its pedestal, in the darkness of the night.

To Daniel, in whom You delighted, the secret vision was revealed at night.

He who caroused from the holy vessels (Belshazzar) was slain on that same night.

From the lions' den was rescued he who interpreted the meaning of the terrors of the night.

Haman bore hatred in his heart and wrote proscriptions at night.

You began Your triumph over him when You disturbed the sleep of his king at night.

You will tread the wine-press to help those who ask the watchman, 'Ah, when will there be an end to the long night?'

He will exclaim, like a watchman and say" 'Morning will come after this night.'

Bring near the day (with the coming of Mashiach), that is neither day nor night.

Show, Most High, that Yours is the day as well as the night.

Appoint watchmen to Your city (Jerusalem) by day and by night.

Illumine as with the light of day, the darkness of the night.

The following is said on the second night of Pesach. On the first night, skip the next passages.

You displayed wondrously Your mighty powers on Passover.

Above all festivals You elevated Passover.

To the Oriental (Abraham) You revealed the future midnight of Passover.

At his door You knocked in the heat of the day on Passover.

He satiated the angels with matza-cakes on Passover.

And he ran to the herd, symbolic of the sacrificial beast of Passover.

The Sodomites provoked (God) and were destroyed by fire on Passover.

Lot was withdrawn from them, he had baked matzoth at the time of Passover.

You swept clean the soil of Moph and Noph (Egypt) when You passed through on Passover.

God, You crushed every firstborn of On (In Egypt) on the watchful night of Passover.

But Master, Your own firstborn, You skipped by merit of the blood of Passover.

Not to allow the Destroyer to enter my doors on Passover.

The beleaguered (Jericho) was besieged on Passover.

Midian was destroyed with a barley cake from the Omer of Passover.

The princes of Pul and Lud (Assyria) were consumed in a great conflagration on Passover.

He (Senacherib) would have stood that day at Nob, but for the advent of Passover.

A hand inscribed the destruction of Zul (Babylon) on Passover.

As the watch was set, and the royal table decked on Passover.

Hadassah (Esther) gathered her people for a three day fast on Passover.

You caused the head of the evil clan (Haman) to be hanged on a fifty-cubit gallows on Passover.

Doubly, will You bring in an instant upon Utsis (Edom) on Passover.

Let Your hand be strong, and Your right arm exalted as on the night when You hallowed the festival of Passover.

The Bereshit (Genesis) Pesach

Bereshit (Genesis) 18:1-10 HaShem appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say." So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three se’ahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread." Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. Then HaShem said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.

The only kind of bread that you can make quickly is matza (unleavened bread). That same day the angels saw Lot:

Here we have an apparent Passover because of the

1. Unleavened bread.

2. The haste.

3. The leaving of Sodom.

4. Bereshit (Genesis) 18:14 contains the Hebrew word, moed, which means an appointed time. This is the Hebrew word that also is translated "festival". All of HaShem's festivals are called moed.

The Midrash agrees with this assessment:

Midrash Rabbah - Shemot (Exodus) XV:12 AND THEY SHALL TAKE OF THE BLOOD, AND PUT IT ON THE TWO SIDE-POSTS (XII, 7): So that I may pass over you and protect you.’ Take care that it be eaten that night, for it says: AND THEY SHALL EAT THE FLESH IN THAT NIGHT, ROAST WITH FIRE (XII, 8); ‘this is for the sake of Abraham whom I saved from the fiery furnace. AND UNLEAVENED BREAD (ib.)-in honour of Sarah who prepared cakes for the angels, though they did not taste bread.[13] WITH BITTER HERBS (ib.)[14] in honour of Jacob; for just as his sons were persecuted in Egypt, so did Esau persecute him. AND YE SHALL LET NOTHING OF IT REMAIN UNTIL THE MORNING (XII, 10). ‘Just as I will not leave one soul alive of the firstborn in Egypt, So YE SHALL LET NOTHING OF IT REMAIN UNTIL THE MORNING.

As an aside: Why was HaShem visiting Abraham? If you look at the paragraph which precedes chapter 18, you will notice that Abraham has just circumcised himself and his household. The third day after his circumcision is the most painful day. Therefore, HaShem was visiting His friend, Abraham, who was sick. This is bikur cholim, visiting the sick!

At any rate, Lot was celebrating a Pesach feast and he served his angelic guests, matza. Now, the Sages also link this Pesach seder with the Purim seudah. They see that the same word used for the feast (Mishteh) that Lot had with the angels is also used in connection with the Purim seudah:

Bereshit (Genesis) 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

This feast this Mishteh that Lot served is also the feast, the Mishteh, that constituted the Purim seudah:

Esther 8:17 And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

Esther 9:17 On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

Esther 9:18 But the Jews that [were] at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth [day] thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth [day] of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

Esther 9:19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar [a day of] gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

Esther 9:22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

In Talmudic literature, the word Mishteh is ONLY used in connection with the Pesach seder and the Purim seudah. The Sages, therefore teach that this Pesach seder was also a Purim seudah! This was a combination feast!

Now lets see what two of those same angels did, on that same day, for Lot:

Bereshit (Genesis) 19:1-3 The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. "My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning." "No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square." But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.

The sages understood that Isaac was born on Pesach. Take a look again at Bereshit (Genesis) 18:14, which is where we are told that Isaac will be born on the festival which Abraham was now celebrating. This began the 400 years spoken about in:

Bereshit (Genesis) 15:12-14 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then HaShem said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.

The Talmud confirms this:

Rosh HaShana 10b It has been taught: R. Eliezer says: In Tishri the world was created; in Tishri the Patriarchs[15] were born; in Tishri the Patriarchs died; on Passover Isaac was born; on New Year Sarah, Rachel and Hannah were visited;[16] on New Year Joseph went forth from prison

Rosh HaShana 11a Whence do we know that Isaac was born on Passover? — Because it is written, On the [next] festival[17] I will return unto thee.[18] Now when was he [the angel] speaking?[19] Shall I say [he was speaking] on Passover and referring to Pentecost? Could she bear in fifty days?[20] Shall I say then that [he was speaking on] Pentecost and was referring to Tishri? Even in five months could she bear? I must suppose then that he was speaking on Tabernacles and referring to Passover.[21] Even so, could she bear in six months? — It has been taught that that year was a leap year. All the same, if the Master deducts the days of uncleanness,[22] the time is too short? — Mar Zutra replied: Even those who hold that when a woman bears at nine months she does not give birth before the month is complete[23] admit that if she bears at seven months she can give birth before the month is complete, as it says, And it came to pass after the cycle of days;[24] the minimum of cycles is two, and the minimum of days is two.

The Egyptian Passover:

Egypt, in Hebrew, Mitzrayim, literally means a

"Place of Narrowness."

The Torah's name for Egypt is Mitzrayim, and this name does not just refer to a geographical location. The root letters of this Hebrew name spell metzar, a word which means "confinement or distress".

To be in "Mitzrayim" is to be in a place of confinement or distress --physical and/or spiritual.

With this in mind, lets examine the Pesach that took place in the days of Moses:

Shemot (Exodus) 12:1-14 HaShem said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. Do not eat the meat raw or cooked in water, but roast it over the fire--head, legs and inner parts. Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is HaShem’s Passover. "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn--both men and animals--and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am HaShem. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to HaShem--a lasting ordinance.

"This month shall be the beginning of months" is the first commandment given to the entire nation of Israel. To obey this commandment requires that you understand when a month begins and when the year begins. The written Torah never answers these questions. The Talmud does address this issue. Unless Israel has the authority to declare the new moons, the Rosh Chodeshim, then they would not have the ability to carry out this command. Unless this command is carried out, there would be no festivals.

According to this next passage, Israel entered Egypt on Pesach:

Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-42 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all HaShem’s divisions left Egypt. Because HaShem kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor HaShem for the generations to come.

Notice who came out of Egypt:

Shemot (Exodus) 12:31-38 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship HaShem as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me." The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. "For otherwise," they said, "we will all die!" So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. HaShem had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. Many other people went up with them, as well as large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.

So, not only Israelites, but Gentiles as well! This is significant because these were the same folks who stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and received the Torah (instruction or law). As an aside, of the 600,000 men who came out of Egypt, only two (besides the Levites) entered the promised land: one Israelite: Yahoshua (Joshua) the Ephramite, and one who was a descendant of a Gentile convert: Caleb the son of Jephuneh, the Kenizzite. Please recall that the Kennizzites are one the people who's land is promised to Abraham in the covenant between the parts.

Two of the first things that HaShem tells Moshe when sending him To take the Jews out of Egypt are that He is rescuing them so as to bring them to Israel[25] and that on their way out of Egypt, Moshe Should take them to Har Sinai[26]. Perhaps more than any other holiday, Pesach, as presented in Tanakh, represents a major change in the Jewish people and their relationship to HaShem and the land of Israel. We read of Pesach celebrations during the times of Yahoshua (Joshua), Samuel, Hezekiah, Josiah, and Zerubbabel. In each case, the celebration came along with "major changes".

* * *

Here is another story which is very much like the story of Moses and the Egyptian Passover:

Shoftim (Judges) 6:11-22 The angel of HaShem came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of HaShem appeared to Gideon, he said, "HaShem is with you, mighty warrior." "But sir," Gideon replied, "if HaShem is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not HaShem bring us up out of Egypt?' But now HaShem has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian." HaShem turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" "But Lord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." HaShem answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." And HaShem said, "I will wait until you return." Gideon went in, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so. With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of HaShem touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of HaShem disappeared. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of HaShem, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign HaShem! I have seen the angel of HaShem face to face!"

Here we see Gideon able to stand up to an angel and demand to know where his signs and wonders are. Throughout the Tanakh, when a man encountered an angel, he would fall on his face like a dead man. How did Gideon generate the strength to talk to an angel like this? The Sages teach us that it was the first day of Pesach and Gideon’s father had just inspired him at the seder table. Thus Gideon was imbued with the spiritual strength to stand up to the angel.

* * *

Bereshit (Genesis) 15:9-16 So HaShem said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon." Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then HaShem said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."

This word "generation" means:

1755 dowr, dore; or (short.) dor, dore; from 1752; prop. a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling:-age, X evermore, generation, [n-] ever, posterity.

So, we can see that HaShem is using this ambiguous word to not only indicate a generation, but, also to indicate the fourth millennium (a cycle) after Abram which would put us at the beginning of the seventh millennium - The millennium ruled by Yeshua!

* * *

The following is a summary of all Biblical events that occurred during Pesach, that I have found so far:

14th

Fast-day of the first-born. Soferim 21

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 104. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

Cain and Able offer their sacrifices. Bereshit (Genesis) 4:3-5, PdRE, section 21, Yonaton b. Uziel

Mordecai and the Jews fast for the second day. Esther 4:16

Preparation day. Yochanan (John) 19:14, 31

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 37. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.

Levites still consecrating the temple in Hezekiah's day, day 14. II Divrei Hayamim 29:17

Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem. Targum, Ruth 1:22

King Hezekiah fell critically ill. According to Seder Olam, King Hezekiah was taken ill three days before the defeat of King

Sennacherib - day 3. 2 Kings 20:1, Seder Olam 23

Yeshua has a Pesach seder. Yochanan (John) 13:1

Paschal lambs are killed at twilight. Shemot (Exodus) 12:1-6

Pilate releases Barabbas. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:15-21

Yeshua was crucified. Yochanan (John) 19:42

Curtain of the temple rent. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:51

Holy dead are raised to life. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:52-53

Darkness came over all the land from the sixth until the ninth hour. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:34-45

15th

Pesach / Hag ha-Matza. A Sabbath of Sabbaths (Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:6-7) (15 - 21) Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 105. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

Abram leaves Haran Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-41, Bereshit (Genesis) 12:1-10

God makes the "covenant between the parts" with Abram. Bereshit (Genesis) 15:18, Seder Olam 5

Abraham learns of Lot’s captivity and defeats the 4 kings. “Legends of the Bible”, Ginzberg

God afflicts Pharaoh, orders Abram and Sarai to leave Egypt, with gifts. Bereshit (Genesis) 12:15-20, Yalkut Shimoni

God afflicts Abimelech in a dream, regarding Sarah. Bereshit (Genesis) 20, The Haggada

G-d made a covenant, between the parts, with Abraham. Bereshit (Genesis) 15:18, Seder Olam 5, Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer

Abraham is visited by angels and told that Isaac will be born next year. Bereshit (Genesis) 18:10, Seder Olam 5

Lot entertains two angels, then Sodom is destroyed while Lot and his daughters are delivered. Bereshit (Genesis) 19:1, 18:14

Isaac was born after a 7 month pregnancy, in a leap year. Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-41, Bereshit (Genesis) 18, 19, Rosh

Hashanah 10b

Abraham binds Isaac (Akeida). Bereshit (Genesis) 22:1-18 (see the Zohar on Bereshit (Genesis) 28:11)

Isaac was sacrificed, according to the Rabbis. Bereshit (Genesis) 22

Isaac blesses Jacob. Bereshit (Genesis) 27:4; Yonatan b. Uziel; PdRE 2, Rashi on Bereshit (Genesis) 27:9

God tells Laban to leave Jacob alone, in a dream. Bereshit (Genesis) 31:24, The Haggada

Jacob wrestles with an angel. Bereshit (Genesis) 32:24, The Haggada

God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. Bereshit (Genesis) 19

Death of Job. Jer. Sotah 5:8

Jacob and sixty-nine descendants enter Egypt. Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-42 - 2238 AM

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 38. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.

Moses saw the burning bush. Shemot (Exodus) 3:2, Bahya, Bo

Israelites in Egypt celebrate the first Pesach (2448 BCE). Shemot (Exodus) 12:6-11

Egyptian officials beg Moses and the Israelites to leave. Shemot (Exodus) 11:8

Egyptians bury their firstborn. Shemot (Exodus) 33:3-4

Israelites leave Rameses and journey towards Succoth, day one. The Exodus begins! Shemot (Exodus) 12:48-51 - 2448 AM

All males to appear before HaShem in Jerusalem. Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:16

Israelites celebrate Pesach in the Sinai desert. Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:1-5

Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites celebrate Pesach at Gilgal. Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:10

Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites besiege Jericho and march around the city – day 1. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff

Gideon destroys Midian with the omer’s barley cake. Shoftim (Judges) 7, Midrash Yalkut 62, The Haggada

HaShem swept away the army of the prince of Charoshes (Sisera) with the stars of night. Shoftim (Judges) 4 and 5, The

Haggada

Levites still consecrating the temple in Hezekiah's day, day 15. II Divrei Hayamim 29:17

God heals the people. II Divrei Hayamim 30:1-20

Exiles celebrated with joy because Assyrian King to help with temple. Ezra 6:22

Josiah celebrates Pesach in the midst of removing idolatry. Melakim bet (Melakim alef (I Kings)) 23:19-25

The Assyrian army of Sennacherib, which threatened Jerusalem was destroyed. 2 Kings 19:35, Targum Rav Yosef

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a statue of four metals. Daniel 2 and 3, The Haggada

The hand writing on the wall delivers a message of judgment to Belshazzar. Daniel 5, The Haggada

Daniel is thrown into the lion's den. Daniel 6, The Haggada

Israelites who returned from Babylonian exile, celebrated Pesach. Ezra 6:19-22

Vashti is executed by King Xerxes. Esther 1:21; Derash le-Purim

King Achashverosh has his sleep disturbed. Esther 6:1

Mordecai is honored by Haman and king Achashverosh. Esther 5:1 - 6:10

Mordecai and the Jews fast for the third and last day. Esther 4:16

Esther invites the king to feast. Esther 5:1-4, Seder Olam 29

To be celebrated during the millennium. Yehezekel (Ezekiel) 45:21-24

Yochanan (John) the Baptist is born. Luqas (Luke) 1:24

Joseph and Mary celebrate Pesach in Jerusalem with 12 year old Yeshua. Luqas (Luke) 2:39-41

Yeshua performs miracles and is believed. Yochanan (John) 2:23

Yeshua's first day in the grave. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:62

Chief priests and Pharisees get Pilate to make the tomb of Yeshua secure. Matityahu (Matthew) 27:62-66

Peter is arrested. II Luqas (Acts) 12:3

The day of vengeance when the winepress is trodden. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 63, The Haggada

The exile ends with unique day, without daytime or nighttime. Zechariah 16:6, Micah 7:15 and Tehilim (Psalm) 139:12, The

Haggada

Double misfortune will You bring in an instant upon Utsis (Edom) on Passover. Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 47, The Haggada

Pesach will be celebrated in Yehezekel (Ezekiel)'s future. Yehezekel (Ezekiel) 45:21-22

Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 12:21-51; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. Haftorah is Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:2 - 6:1.

16th

Hag ha-Matza - Second day. A partial Sabbath (Mishna: Seder Moed: Tractate Moed Katan). Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20

The Omer or the day after Pesach - bread of the FIRSTFRUITS (Pharisees) Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:15

The Omer is offered. Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:14, Rambam, Temidin U'Musafin 7:2-17

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 106. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

Birth of Levi. Midrash Tadshe, Midrash Yalkut 1

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 39. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.

Israelites leave Rameses and journey towards Succoth, for three days. Shemot (Exodus) 12:48-51

The supply of manna was exhausted. Kiddushin 38a

The Omer was offered for the first time by Jews in Israel. Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:11, Rosh Hashanah 13a

Israelites eat produce of the promised land (2488 BCE). Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:11

Bread from heaven (Manna) stopped. Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:12

Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 2. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff

An angel ordered Gideon to attack the Midianites. Shoftim (Judges) 6:19, Rashi

King Saul’s seven sons were killed. Midrash Rabbah, Naso, ch.8

David and his men eat consecrated bread. Luqas (Luke) 6:1-5 and 1 Samuel 21:1-6? [27]

Hezekiah finishes consecrating the Temple, day 16. II Divrei Hayamim 29:17

Esther, Haman, and the king feast. King kills Haman. Esther 5:5-5

Haman was hanged. Esther 7:10, Seder Olam 29

Mordecai becomes chief minister in place of Haman. Esther 8:2

Cyrus, King of Persia, captured Babylon in 539 BCE.

Yeshua's disciples pick grain on the day (partial Sabbath) after Pesach. Luqas (Luke) 6:1,

Matityahu (Matthew) 12:1 - 13:30 ²

Yeshua tells the parable of the wheat and the tares. Matityahu (Matthew) 13:24-30

Yeshua heals the man with the withered hand. Matityahu (Matthew) 12:9-16

Yeshua gives sight and hearing to a demon possessed man. Matityahu (Matthew) 12:22-23

Yeshua tells the parable of the wheat and the tares. Matityahu (Matthew) 13:24-30

Two Miryams prepared spices and perfumes to embalm Yeshua. Luqas (Luke) 23:56

Yeshua's second day in the tomb. Yochanan (John) 19:30-36

Torah section is Vayikra (Leviticus) 22:26 - 23:44; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. Haftorah is 2 Kings 23:1-9; 21-25.

17th

Hag ha-Matza - Third day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20

The Omer, day 2.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 107. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 40. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.

Israelites leave Rameses and journey towards Succoth, day two. Shemot (Exodus) 12:48-51

Moses collects Joseph's bones. Shemot (Exodus) 13:19

Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 3. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff

Haman’s plans came to naught. Esther 3:12, 4:16, 5:1, 7:2-9

Resurrection Sabbath. Yeshua rose from the dead, at the end of the third day. It is a Sabbath. Matityahu (Matthew) 12:48

Yeshua heals the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath after Pesach. Luqas (Luke) 6:6-11

Peter is arrested and imprisoned by Herod. II Luqas (Acts) 12:3

Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 13:1-16; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. There is no Haftorah.

18th

Hag ha-Matza - Fourth day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20

The Omer, day 3.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 108. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 41. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.

Pharaoh was informed that the Hebrew slaves had escaped. Shemot (Exodus) 14:5, Rashi

Israelites journey from Succoth to Etham, day one. Shemot (Exodus) 13:20

Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 4. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff

Yeshua, at 12 years old, stays in Jerusalem, teaching, when His parents find Him. Luqas (Luke) 2:41-51

God removes Yeshua's grave covering stone. Marqos (Mark) 16:2-4

Two Miryams come to Yeshua's tomb to embalm Him. Yochanan (John) 20:1-9

Yeshua tells the women not to touch Him. Yochanan (John) 20:17

Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 1.

Yeshua opens the scriptures on the road to Emmaus. Luqas (Luke) 24:13

Yeshua shows Himself to ten apostles in the upper room, the evening of the first day of the week. Yochanan (John) 20:19

Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 22:24 - 23:19; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. There is no Haftorah.

19th

Hag ha-Matza - Fifth day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20

The Omer, day 4.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 109. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 42. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.

Pharaoh set out in pursuit of the Israelites. Shemot (Exodus) 14:5, Rashi

Israelites journey from Succoth to Etham, day two. Shemot (Exodus) 13:20

Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 5. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff

Yeshua appears to the ten apostles. Yochanan (John) 20:19, Luqas (Luke) 24:21-36

Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 2.

Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 33:12 - 34:26; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. There is no Haftorah.

20th

Hag ha-Matza - Sixth day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20

The Omer, day 5.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 110. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 43. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.

Israelites journey from Succoth to Etham, day three. Shemot (Exodus) 13:20

Pharaoh and his army caught up with the Israelites. Shemot (Exodus) 14:5, Rashi

Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 6. Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff

Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 3.

Yeshua needs the sprinkling for touching the dead. Bamidbar (Numbers) 19:11-13

Torah section is Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:1-14; 28:19-25. There is no Haftorah.

21rst

Hag ha-Matza - Seventh day. Shemot (Exodus) 12:17-20

The Omer, day 6.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 111. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

HaShem wipes out the world with water in Noah's day. Noah and his family preserved. Bereshit (Genesis) 6:6-7 - TC, AC

Jacob left Laban’s home to return to Israel. Bereshit (Genesis) 31:17, Book of Jubilees.

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 44. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.

Pharaoh’s decree against Israelite male infants was canceled. Sotah 12b

Israelites camp at the tower, towards the mouth of the gorges, opposite the hidden destroyer. Shemot (Exodus) 33:7

Israelites are baptized in the Red sea. Shemot (Exodus) 14:26-29

God removes wheels from Egyptian chariots. Shemot (Exodus) 14:24-25

God destroys Pharaoh's army, chariots, and horses with water. Shemot (Exodus) 14:21-28, TC, AC

Moses and Miriam sing the song of Moses to HaShem. Shemot (Exodus) 15

God refines Israel with fire, destroying the outskirts. Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:1-3, TC

Israelites crave meat from God. Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:4, TC^[28]

God forms the Sanhedrin from the spirit of Moses. Bamidbar (Numbers) 11:16-25, TC

Yahoshua (Joshua) and the Israelites march around Jericho – day 7. Jericho’s walls recede. Jericho is destroyed.

Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:1ff

God destroys Sicera's army, chariots, and horses with water. Shoftim (Judges) 4:4 - 5:31, TC

Deborah holds court to decide disputes of the Israelites. Shoftim (Judges) 4:4-5, TC

Deborah sings a song to HaShem. Shoftim (Judges) 5, TC

David sings a song to HaShem. 2 Samuel 22, AC^[29]

Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 4.

Peter is freed by an angel. Act 12:3-10

Disciples were gathered together for prayer. II Luqas (Acts) 12:3-12

Peter is released from prison by an angel. Peter went to Mary's house (the mother of Yochanan (John) Marqos (Mark))

II Luqas (Acts) 12:3-12

Herod searches for Peter, cross examines guards, executes guards, and travels from Judea to Caesarea.

II Luqas (Acts) 12:18-19

This is the day God will destroy the wicked and baptize the righteous with fire. Matityahu (Matthew) 3:11, 2 Peter 3:3-16,

Solemn Assembly required on this last day of the Hag ha-Matza. Devarim (Deuteronomy) 16:8

Torah section is Shemot (Exodus) 13:17 - 15:26; Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25. Haftorah is 2 Samuel 22:1-51.

22nd

The Omer, day 7, week 1.

Water swells on the earth in the days of Noah. Day 112. Bereshit (Genesis) 7:24

Isaac is circumcised. Bereshit (Genesis) 21:4, Shemot (Exodus) 12:40-41, Bereshit (Genesis) 18, 19, Rosh Hashanah 10b

Yocheved hides Moses after a 6 month and one day pregnancy - day 45. Artscroll Mesorah on Shavuot, page 61.

Israelites start crossing the desert of Etham, without any water. Day 1 Shemot (Exodus) 15:22, Bamidbar (Numbers) 33:8

Yahoshua (Joshua) begins his march around Jericho, day 1. Seder Olam 11

Zechariah and Elizabeth circumcise, and name, Yochanan (John) the Baptist. Luqas (Luke) 1:57-63

Yeshua, at twelve years old, stays in Jerusalem, teaching while look for Him. Luqas (Luke) 2:41-51

Yeshua’s alive! It is resurrection day 5.

Paul leaves Phillipi after spending three months there. Day 1 II Luqas (Acts) 20:6

Yahoshua (Joshua) observed Pesach just before eating the produce of the land:

Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:10-12 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.

The bread from heaven stopped the day after Pesach... hmmm…

In the time of Yahoshua (Joshua), Pesach was the time when the generation born in the desert finally got circumcised [30] bringing them into the covenant with HaShem. Pesach also coincided with the end, of the manna[31]. Many people think that the point of the manna stopping was for the Jews to learn how to eat "the hard way" by planting and growing their own food. However, we are told explicitly[32] that the food of Israel which the Jews ate following the end of the manna was spoon fed to them by HaShem. What made it different than the manna was not that it was the result of hard labor by the Jews. Rather, it represented the Jews' attachment to the land of Israel. We see that at the time of Pesach, in the days of Yahoshua (Joshua), the Jews became full fledged members of The People of Israel by being circumcised, and they also went from being nomads in the desert to settling Israel, which was expressed by their need to eat Israel's food.

Josiah celebrated Pesach prior to his revival

Melakim bet (II Kings)) 23:21-23 The king gave this order to all the people: "Celebrate the Passover to HaShem your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant." Not since the days of the judges who led Israel, nor throughout the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah, had any such Passover been observed. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was celebrated to HaShem in Jerusalem.

Hezekiah celebrated Passover

Divrei Hayamim 30:1-20 Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the temple of HaShem in Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to HaShem, the God of Israel. The king and his officials and the whole assembly in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. They had not been able to celebrate it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. The plan seemed right both to the king and to the whole assembly. They decided to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and celebrate the Passover to HaShem, the God of Israel. It had not been celebrated in large numbers according to what was written. At the king's command, couriers went throughout Israel and Judah with letters from the king and from his officials, which read: "People of Israel, return to HaShem, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. Do not be like your fathers and brothers, who were unfaithful to HaShem, the God of their fathers, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. Do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit to HaShem. Come to the sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve HaShem your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. If you return to HaShem, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for HaShem your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him." The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulon, but the people scorned and ridiculed them. Nevertheless, some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulon humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem. Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered following the word of HaShem. A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month. They removed the altars in Jerusalem and cleared away the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley. They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the temple of HaShem. Then they took up their regular positions as prescribed in the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood handed to them by the Levites. Since many in the crowd had not consecrated themselves, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all those who were not ceremonially clean and could not consecrate [their lambs] to HaShem. Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulon had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May HaShem, who is good, pardon everyone Who sets his heart on seeking God--HaShem, the God of his fathers--even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary." And HaShem heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

The first major prophecies given for Judah's destruction and exile came during the time of Hezekiah. The Jews, who had taken Israel, and the Temple, for granted for so many years, were suddenly faced with the concept of exile and destruction. They knew that they had the potential to be thrown out of their land, if they didn't repent. Although there had been some prophecies of exile even earlier in the prophetic era[33] and even in the time of Moshe[34], the prophecies in the time of Hezekiah seemed to stand out in the people's minds as the first major prophecies of the imminent destruction, as they are the first direct threats of exile mentioned in the first half of the Books of the Prophets[35]. Hezekiah decided to start a massive Teshuva, repentance, movement and keep Israel. Again, it was the observance of Pesach that symbolized the people of Judah regaining their hold on their land[36]. This Pesach obviously was not quite as major event (perhaps because the teshuva movement was undone only one generation later), and in fact it is omitted from the Book of Kings. Nonetheless, it symbolized the Jews averting exile at the last second. In fact, it was during this time that the Kingdom of Israel (as opposed to the Kingdom of Judah which Hezekiah ruled over and which makes up the modern day Jews) was exiled [37]. This event surely helped show the people of Judah the need to strengthen their hold on their land. In fact, when the people debated how to respond to Yeremyahu (Jeremiah)'s prophecies of destruction several generations later, those in favor of teshuva used the response of the Jews to the predictions of doom in the days of Hezekiah as a model for how to return to HaShem and stay connected to the land[38]. Apparently the time of Hezekiah, which included a major Pesach observance, brought out the connection between the Jews, HaShem, and the land of Israel in a major way.

Divrei Hayamim 35:1-19 Josiah celebrated the Passover to HaShem in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month. He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of HaShem’s temple. He said to the Levites, who instructed all Israel and who had been consecrated to HaShem: "Put the sacred ark in the temple that Solomon son of David king of Israel built. It is not to be carried about on your shoulders. Now serve HaShem your God and his people Israel. Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the directions written by David king of Israel and by his son Solomon. "Stand in the holy place with a group of Levites for each subdivision of the families of your fellow countrymen, the lay people. Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves and prepare [the lambs] for your fellow countrymen, doing what HaShem commanded through Moses." Josiah provided for all the lay people who were there a total of thirty thousand sheep and goats for the Passover offerings, and also three thousand cattle--all from the king's own possessions. His officials also contributed voluntarily to the people and the priests and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah and Jehiel, the administrators of God's temple, gave the priests twenty-six hundred Passover offerings and three hundred cattle. Also Conaniah along with Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel and Jozabad, the leaders of the Levites, provided five thousand Passover offerings and five hundred head of cattle for the Levites. The service was arranged and the priests stood in their places with the Levites in their divisions as the king had ordered. The Passover lambs were slaughtered, and the priests sprinkled the blood handed to them, while the Levites skinned the animals. They set aside the burnt offerings to give them to the subdivisions of the families of the people to offer to HaShem, as is written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle. They roasted the Passover animals over the fire as prescribed, and boiled the holy offerings in pots, caldrons and pans and served them quickly to all the people. After this, they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fat portions until nightfall. So the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the Aaronic priests. The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, were in the places prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun the king's seer. The gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made the preparations for them. So at that time the entire service of HaShem was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and the offering of burnt offerings on the altar of HaShem, as King Josiah had ordered. The Israelites who were present celebrated the Passover at that time and observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days. The Passover had not been observed like this in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; and none of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated such a Passover as did Josiah, with the priests, the Levites and all Judah and Israel who were there with the people of Jerusalem. This Passover was celebrated in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign.

Although the Book of Samuel makes no direct mention of Passover’s observance, we are told[39] that the Pesach celebration of Josiah was the greatest one since the time of Samuel. The implication is that during Samuel's time Pesach was observed. In Shmuel alef (I Samuel) 7, we are told of how Samuel got all the Jews to repent, after which they were able to re-conquer parts of Israel which had been lost to the Philistines in battle. Samuel, in addition to leading this teshuva (repentance) movement, had a major impact on connecting the Jews to the land of Israel. The Rambam[40] writes that appointing a King, destroying Amalek, and building the Beit HaMikdash (The Temple) are the three mitzvot required of the Jewish people when they settle Israel. It was in Samuel's time that the Jews first even attempted these mitzvot. Despite his initial hesitation, Samuel anoints the first King of Israel[41], a task which the Midrash [42] claims he was destined to do since creation. Samuel then commands this king[43] to destroy Amalek. It was also Samuel who served as the Navi (Prince) required[44] to select the location of the Temple [45].

In the days of Josiah, it became clear that exile was imminent. Josiah The King started a last gasp teshuva movement, but he was hardly trying to avoid exile. After all, the prophetess Hilda had already informed him that no matter how righteous he was, the biggest reward that HaShem was offering was to bring the exile after Josiah's death[46]. No exile at all wasn't an option. So, Josiah wasn't trying to avoid exile. Rather, he was trying to do what he knew was right, even though things seemed hopeless. Regardless of the approaching exile, he saw it necessary to make a new covenant with HaShem[47]. Much as the people settled the land with the observance of, they observed Pesach again when they knew things were hopeless. The comparison[48] between the Passovers of Josiah and Samuel as the biggest Passovers brings out the parallel between the gradual establishment of Children of Israel in Israel and the gradual arrival of the exile. The lesson to be learned from Josiah and his Passover is that even when returning to HaShem may seem futile, one must do so, and even when exile is a guaranteed thing, one must try and do whatever one can within reason[49] to stay attached to Israel.

The returning Babylonian exiles celebrated Passover:

Ezra 6:19-21 On the fourteenth day of the first month, the exiles celebrated the Passover. The priests and Levites had purified themselves and were all ceremonially clean. The Levites slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves. So the Israelites who had returned from the exile ate it, together with all who had separated themselves from the unclean practices of their Gentile neighbors in order to seek HaShem, the God of Israel.

The Passover of Zerubbabel once again kept with the theme of returning to HaShem and settling Israel. It was a major part of the return to Israel during the time when the Temple was rebuilt and is the first major event recorded after the dedication of second Temple[50]. To further make evident the Passover's connection to the return to HaShem and Israel, the next event recorded[51] is Ezra's return to Israel, which involved a return to the Torah, as Ezra was primarily a religious leader. Even though Ezra's return took place much later[52], it is thematically connected to the Passover of Zerubbabel.

Joseph and Mary celebrated the Passover

Luqas (Luke) 2:41-52 Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Yeshua stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Yeshua grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Yochanan (John) the Baptist was born during Pesach. We can calculate his birthday from:

Luqas (Luke) 1:5-24 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abuja; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all HaShem's commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, He was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of HaShem and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of HaShem appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name Yochanan (John). He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, For he will be great in the sight of HaShem. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to HaShem their God. And he will go on before HaShem, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for HaShem." Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time." Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

If you are having trouble with how I derived from the above passage that John was born on Pesach, please see the details at: Birth.

I think that the following parable is prophetic and speaks of Yeshua's resurrection, the Lamb of God, on the Sabbath when His Father drew Him out of the "pit":

Matityahu (Matthew) 12:9-13 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, And a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Yeshua, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.

and:

Luqas (Luke) 14:3-6 Yeshua asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away. Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?" And they had nothing to say.

Elijah is expected to return at Pesach time as we can deduce from the above verses and from:

Matityahu (Matthew) 11:7 As Yochanan (John)'s disciples were leaving, Yeshua began to speak to the crowd about Yochanan (John): "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than Yochanan (John) the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of Yochanan (John) the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until Yochanan (John). And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

The Maharal points out how the Korban Pesach, with all its of laws, is an indication of unity between Israel, Mashiach, and HaShem.

1) It was a mitzva to roast and eat the Korban Pesach "with its head on its knees". That is to say complete, and not cut into smaller pieces (unlike every other type of sacrifice). Something which indicates unity must be whole. (Shemot 12:9). By the way, this expression “head on its knees” is the expression our Sages used to describe the fetal position, the position of innocence.

2) The Korban Pesach was eaten in one house, and only by the family group that was registered for that particular animal. Something which indicates unity must be concentrated in one place. (Shemot 12:46)

3) The Korban Pesach was taken from a 1 year old sheep or goat. The number one indicates unity. (Shemot 12:5)

4) The Korban Pesach was taken from the goats or sheep, but not from the cattle. A goat or sheep is a more delicate and tender animal. If it received a wound on one of its limbs, the animal itself would suffer the pain of the injury. An ox or cow, due to its bulk, would not be so affected by a similar wound. It would only feel pain in that particular limb.

Israel is likened to a sheep. When one Jew transgresses (as in the case of Achan, see Joshua 7), the whole nation suffers. Israel, like the sheep have a presence which is less physical. An entity which more spiritual is naturally more sensitive. (Shemot 12:5)

5) The Korban Pesach was roasted over the fire. Cooking in water causes meat to become soggy and the pieces separate. Roasting over the fire draws out the juices and the meat becomes consolidated, another indication of unity. (Shemot 12:8-9)

6) It was prohibited to break any of the bones of the Korban Pesach. Again, any thing whole and not broken is an indication of unity. (Shemot 12:46)

By eating the Pesach according to all of it's laws, a Jew demonstrated his unity with HaShem. This is the unity which He invested in Israel and thereby commanded them concerning the Korban Pesach.

Future Passover

Yehezekel (Ezekiel) gave new instructions for the millennium Pesach:

Yehezekel (Ezekiel) 45:21 "'In the first month on the fourteenth day you are to observe the Passover, a feast lasting seven days, during which you shall eat bread made without yeast. On that day the prince is to provide a bull as a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land. Every day during the seven days of the Feast he is to provide seven bulls and seven rams without defect as a burnt offering to HaShem, and a male goat for a sin offering. He is to provide as a grain offering an ephah for each bull and an ephah for each ram, along with a hin of oil for each ephah. "'During the seven days of the Feast, which begins in the seventh month on the fifteenth day, he is to make the same provision for sin offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings and oil.

Notice the different sacrifice requirements

Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:16-22 "'On the fourteenth day of the first month HaShem’s Passover is to be held. On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for seven days eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Present to HaShem an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With each bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; And with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you.

Yeshua and Passover

Matityahu (Matthew) 26:17-30 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Yeshua and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.'" So the disciples did as Yeshua had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Yeshua was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" Yeshua replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Yeshua answered, "Yes, it is you." While they were eating, Yeshua took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Marqos (Mark) 14:12-26 On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Yeshua' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Yeshua had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Yeshua arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me--one who is eating with me." They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?" "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." While they were eating, Yeshua took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Luqas (Luke) 22:7-38 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Yeshua sent Peter and Yochanan (John), saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked. He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, And say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there." They left and found things just as Yeshua had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, Yeshua and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this. Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Yeshua said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, So that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." Yeshua answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." Then Yeshua asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered. He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment." The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.

Yochanan (John) 13:1-31 It was just before the Passover Feast. Yeshua knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Yeshua. Yeshua knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Yeshua replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Yeshua answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Yeshua answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me." After he had said this, Yeshua was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me." His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Yeshua loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means." Leaning back against Yeshua, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?" Yeshua answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Yeshua told him, But no one at the meal understood why Yeshua said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Yeshua was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. When he was gone, Yeshua said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.

Yochanan (John) then records a long discourse by Yeshua

Points to remember

Matityahu (Matthew) 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Date	Torah[10]	Nevi'im[11]	Ketuvim[12]

Nisan 14	Shemot (Exodus) 12:21-51	Yahoshua (Joshua) 3:5-7	Tehilim (Psalm) 113 - 118
	Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:16-25	Yahoshua (Joshua) 5:2 - 6:1
		Yahoshua (Joshua) 6:27
Nisan 15	Vayikra (Leviticus) 22:26 - 23:44	Melakim alef (I Kings) 23:1-9	Tehilim (Psalm) 113 - 118
Nisan 16-20			Tehilim (Psalm) 113, 114, 115:12-18,
			Tehilim (Psalm) 116:12-19, 117, 118
			(Half Hallel)
Intermediate Shabbat	Shemot (Exodus) 33:12 - 34:26	Yehezekel (Ezekiel) 36:37- 37:14	Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs)
Nisan 21	Shemot (Exodus) 13:17 - 15:26	Shmuel bet (II Samuel) 22:1-51
	Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25
Nisan 22	Devarim (Deuteronomy) 15:19 - 16:17	Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 10:32 - 12:6
	Bamidbar (Numbers) 28:19-25

Event	Delivered from:	Scripture

Abram leaves Ur	The exile in Ur	Bereshit (Genesis) 15:6-16
Abram goes to Egypt	Egyptian bondage and exile	Bereshit (Genesis) 12:10 - 13:4
Angels visit Abraham	Circumcision pain	Bereshit (Genesis) 18:1-18
Angels visit Lot	The Sodom exile	Bereshit (Genesis) 19:1-29
Isaac is born and is Bound	Jews delivered from death	Bereshit (Genesis) 18:1-10
Yeshua is born and is bound	Gentiles delivered from death	Marqos (Mark) 15:37-42