The passover (pesach) - Research Paper Example

The Passover (Pesach) Introduction The word Passover is derived from a Hebrew word Pesach, which mean to “Pass Over.” Pesach is derived from the tenth plague when the Angel of death passed over the houses of Israel abstaining from killing their firstborns. However the angel killed all the Egyptian first born, both animals and humans. It was after this plague that Pharaoh freed the Israelites and ordered them to leave Egypt. The Passover or the Pesach is a Jewish celebration in commemoration of the day the Jews attained freedom from the Egyptians. However, Christians in contemporary society celebrate this feast. The feast is associated with the exodus of Jews from Egypt after over 200 hundred years under the Egyptian slavery. Moreover, the feast is used to pay homage to Moses for leading the Israelites out of Egypt. The Passover celebrations start on the 15th day of Jewish month of Nissan. The festival lasts for seven to eight days. For the first two days, the Jews were not supposed to do any work and are supposed to engage in a celebration called Seder. Observance of Seder entails eating certain foods, singing praise songs and certain special prayers are said. This research paper will discuss the Passover festival and how it has evolved with time. The Origin and History of the Pesach The term Pesach is also used to refer to the lamb, which the Hebrews used to slaughter for the Passover sacrifice. The Passover which is also referred to as the feast of unleavened bread, dates back about 3,000 years and is associated with an astonishing event when the Israelites were rescued from slavery under the Egyptian Pharaoh. As recorded in the book of exodus, God had ordered the Hebrews to slaughter paschal lamb, which they were supposed to eat with bitter herbs. Moreover, they were supposed to spread some blood from the lamb on their doorposts, which was supposed to act as a sign so that the angel of death would pass over the Egyptian houses. It was during that night that the angel of death killed the first-born males of humans and animals in Egyptian households. This was the tenth plague after nine other plagues had failed to persuade Pharaoh to free the Hebrews (Piercy 15-19). Hebrews were also supposed to eat the roasted lamb with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. Each family was supposed to slaughter a lamb but the unmarried and small households were allowed to share a lamb. The Hebrews were supposed to eat while dressed in readiness to leave at any moment. Even today, the Jews strongly uphold the Passover. They hold Seder and eat foods that symbolize the different aspects of the story. Such foods include unleavened bread, red wine, matzo, charoseth, chopped apples, roasted eggs, nuts, parsley, cinnamon, and celery. The Jews take four cups of wine the third of which symbolizes redemption and is similar to the wine taken when Christ and his disciples were celebrating the last supper. The Matzah, which is the unleavened bread is cut into two half of which is covered with a white linen clothe and hidden. The children are then required to find it and whoever finds it gets a price. The other half of the bread is eaten. The unleavened bread is a symbol of humility before god. The Jews show the humility as a way of thanking God for delivering them from the slavery. During the celebrations, the father in the households retells the story of the Exodus. Additionally, the Jews invite non-Jews to celebrate the Seder with them (MobileReference 32-36). During the time of Herod, Passover celebration entailed gathering in the temple, in the Court of Gentiles where they would slaughter a lamb and offer Passover sacrifices. During the celebration priest were supposed to hold a gold or silver basin, which would be filled with blood. The blood would then be sprinkled on alter in a ritualistic way. Later on, men would carry the slaughtered lambs to their homes and share with their families. Destruction of the temple in 70A.D. marked the end of animal sacrifices. However, families continued celebrating Passover. In the early church, Jesus used to celebrate the Passover together with his disciples. The festival came to be known as the last supper since it was the last dinner Jesus celebrated with his disciples before his death. The early followers of Christ had great regard for the feast. In Acts 18: 21, (NIV Study Bible) Paul had to travel from Ephesus to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Passover. Pauline Epistles speaks a lot about the Passover and Paul commands the Corinthians to celebrate the Passover. However, Paul suggests that Christ was the Passover and there was no need for making sacrifices like those offered by (Piercy 3-7; MobileReference 15-19). Pesach Passages in the Bible The Passover feast precedes the feast of the unleavened bread. The Passover festival is described in the book of exodus and marks the Birth of Israelites since it marked the day they were freed form Pharaoh. The main record and description of the origin of the Passover is in the book of exodus. However, other books in new and old testaments refer to the Passover festival. In the Old Testament, Passover is a feast that marks the accomplishment of God’s promise to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage (NIV Study Bible Genesis 15:13-14). In Exodus 12:1-8, Deuteronomy 16:1-8, Leviticus 23:4-8 and Numbers 9:1-14(NIV Study Bible), the rules that the Hebrews were supposed to follow while celebrating Passover are stated. The passages describe Passover as an event that entailed making sacrifices. In the New Testament, the feast of Passover is mentioned evening the gospels. The gospels associate Passover with the last supper, which Jesus celebrated with his disciples before his crucifixion. However, the celebration was prior to the actual date. The gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ perception regarding the Passover. In Pauline’s Epistles, the feast of Passover is referred to frequently. However, Paul emphasizes on Christ as the actual Passover. Paul reminds the different churches especially the Corinthians, to celebrate the Passover the way Christ did. Hebrews 11:28 (NIV Study Bible) considers Passover as a celebration that demonstrates Moses faith in God. Paul preached to gentiles as well as Jews. He advises the gentiles to observe essential aspects of the Passover such as sharing Kosher diet. Today, the Passover festival is still celebrated by Christians. The celebration entails celebration of the feast of Passover in the same period as the Jews did. However, there is no eating of the lamb. Instead of eating the lamb, Christians fast in remembrance of the crucifixion of Christ. Additionally, the Exodus story is still read but applied to Christ suffering. Today, Passover is celebrated as Easter (MobileReference 22-25). Conclusion Passover is the first that started with the Israelites as they celebrated the day they were delivered from slavery. The Israelites had been under the Egyptian bondage for many years. In the Judaism, the Jews celebrated the Passover through a feat in which they ate unleavened bread and roasted lamb. Contemporary Christians celebrate Passover in relation to their deliverance from sins by crucifixion and death of Christ. The Jewish Passover is described in the Old Testament particularly in the book of Exodus. The Israelites Passover lasted for seven days and there was no work for the first two days of the celebration. However, the New Testament has several references of the Passover. However, the New Testament relates the Passover with the Last Supper. Works Cited NIV Study Bible. Ed. Zondervan. New York: Zondervan, 2011. Print. MobileReference. Haggadah of Pesach - the Order of the Passover Seder: History, House Preparations, Guide to Table Set-up, Detailed Order of the Seder, Songs and Prayers in Hebrew with English Transliteration. New York: MobileReference , 2009. Print. Piercy, Marge. Pesach for the Rest of Us: Making the Passover Seder Your Own. London: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2007. Print. Read More