When to eat the meal?

1. When to eat the meal?

2. Torah observant believers in the Messiah Yahushua are divided, globally, as to when to eat the Pesach meal. This stems from: • School 1: • The convention to eat the meal on the eve of (erev) 14 Nisan/Abib following the Master’s last meal (Matt 26:17-30 & Mark 14:12-26), and an interpretation of Exod 12:6 (and others) to mean the eve of 14 Nisan/Abib. • School 2: • The convention to eat the meal on the eve of (erev) 15 Nisan/Abib following an age-old Judaic practice, and an interpretation of the same Exod 12:6 (and others) to mean the eve of 15 Nisan/Abib. • [Exod 12:6 ‘And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then all the assembly of the congregation of Yisra’ĕl shall kill it between the evenings.]

3. The arguments of both schools of thought have great merit – and much study and dedication have gone into both and the devotion to the El of Yisra’el of the scholars cannot be ridiculed, yet, it does remind one of the dialogue in “Fiddler on the roof”: • “Your are right, and you are right; but both cannot be right.” • Or could it be that both are indeed right??!! • While grossly oversimplifying the matter: • School 1: By and large dominated by a position with respect to the power of the blood of the L(l)amb in escaping the clutches of death of the firstborn; • School 2: By and large dominated by a position with respect to the power of the blood of the L(l)amb in escaping Egypt. • ----- • There is also a divide as to how to determine when is 14th and 15th Nisan/Abib; • a topic not to be studied here.

4. BUT THERE ARE TWO MOEDIM • (appointments/set-apart gatherings) • Lev 23:4-6: • These are the appointed times of יהוה, set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, is the Passover to יהוה. And on the fifteenth day of this month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to יהוה – seven days you eat unleavened bread.

5. Is it remotely possible that the seeming confusing debate and division with respect to when to eat the meal is all based on the assumption that there is only one celebration? What if there are two celebrations following the two moedim, speaking to two different, yet related, topics? Which would mean that both schools are indeed right, but that they are just neglecting a piece.

6. Let us consider the Torah May the Giver of Torah always be blessed

7. Exod 12:6, 12-14, 21-27 (Translation: Scriptures) And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then all the assembly of the congregation of Yisra’ĕl shall kill it between the evenings. And I shall pass through the land of Mitsrayim on that night, and shall smite all the first-born in the land of Mitsrayim, both man and beast. And on all the mighty ones of Mitsrayim I shall execute judgment. I am יהוה. And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I shall pass over you, and let the plague not come on you to destroy you when I smite the land of Mitsrayim. And this day shall become to you a remembrance. And you shall observe it as a festival to יהוה throughout your generations – observe it as a festival, an everlasting law. And Mosheh called for all the elders of Yisra’ĕl and said to them, Go out and take lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and slaughter the Passover lamb. And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin, and you, none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. And יהוה shall pass on to smite the Mitsrites, and shall see the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, and יהוה shall pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you. And you shall guard this word as a law for you and your sons, forever. And it shall be, when you come to the land which יהוה gives you, as He promised, that you shall guard this service. And it shall be, when your children say to you, What does this service mean to you? then you shall say, It is the Passover slaughtering of יהוה, who passed over the houses of the children of Yisra’ĕl in Mitsrayim when He smote the Mitsrites and delivered our households. And the people bowed their heads and did obeisance.

8. Exod 12:27: (KJV) • That ye shall say,H559 ItH1931is the sacrificeH2077 of the LORD'SH3068 passover,H6453 whoH834passedH6452 overH5921 the housesH1004of the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 in Egypt,H4714 when he smoteH5062 (H853) the Egyptians,H4714and deliveredH5337 our houses.H1004And the peopleH5971 bowed the headH6915 and worshipped.H7812 • Turning to the dictionaries • H5337:נצל - nâtsal - translated as “delivered” • Strongs: • A primitive root; to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense: - …… , rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, take (out). • AHLB: • as a shaking • BDB: • to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder • - to take away, snatch away • - to rescue, recover • - to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death) • - to deliver from sin and guilt

9. Exod 13:1-10 (Translation: Scriptures) And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, Set apart to Me all the first-born, the one opening the womb among the children of Yisra’ĕl, among man and among beast, it is Mine. And Mosheh said to the people, Remember this day in which you went out of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. For by strength of hand יהוה brought you out of this place, and whatever is leavened shall not be eaten. Today you are going out, in the month Aḇiḇ. And it shall be, when יהוה brings you into the land of the Kenaʽanites, and the Ḥittites, and the Amorites, and the Ḥiwwites, and the Yeḇusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. Seven days you eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day is a festival to יהוה. Unleavened bread is to be eaten the seven days, and whatever is leavened is not to be seen with you, and leaven is not to be seen with you within all your border. And you shall inform your son in that day, saying, It is because of what יהוה did for me when I came up from Mitsrayim. And it shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a reminder between your eyes, that the Torah of יהוה is to be in your mouth, for with a strong hand יהוהhas brought you out of Mitsrayim. And you shall guard this law at its appointed time from year to year.

10. Exod 13:8 (KJV): And thou shalt shewH5046 thy sonH1121 in thatH1931 day,H3117 saying,H559This is done becauseH5668 of thatH2088which the LORDH3068 didH6213 unto me when I came forthH3318out of Egypt.H4480 H4714 • Turning to the dictionaries • H3318: יצא - yâtsâ‘ - translated as “when I came forth” • Strongs: • A primitive root; to go (causatively bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximate: - X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned, depart (-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any time, X to [and fro], utter. • AHLB: • Excrement: It is a picture of a man laying down or squatting. To issue out of something. • Offspring: What issues out of a generation. • BDB: • to go out, come out, exit, go forth

11. WHAT SHALL WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN? • Ps 78:3-7: • Which we have heard and known, For our fathers have related them to us. We do not hide them from their children, Relating to the generation to come the praises of יהוה, And His strength and His wonders which He has done. For He raised a witness in Yaʽaqoḇ, And set a Torah in Yisra’ĕl, Which He commanded our fathers, To teach them to their children; That it might be known to a generation to come, To children who would be born, To rise up and relate them to their children, And place their trust in Elohim, And not forget the works of Ěl, But watch over His commands,

12. Exod 12:26-27 (referring to 14 Nisan/Abib): • And it shall be, when your children say to you, What does this service mean to you? then you shall say, It is the Passover slaughtering of יהוה, who passed over the houses of the children of Yisra’ĕl in Mitsrayim when He smote the Mitsrites and delivered our households. And the people bowed their heads and did obeisance. • Exod 13:8 (referring to 15 Nisan/Abib): • And you shall inform your sonin that day, saying, It is because of what יהוה did for me when I came up from Mitsrayim.

13. We have to teach our children two things: nâtsal – saved from death by the blood of the Lamb; yâtsâ‘ – delivered from bondage/Pharao/Mitsrayim. There are two feasts

14. There are two feasts Pesach: Saved by the blood of the Lamb; fulfilling the renewed covenant in the Messiah; the teaching of the Master’s last meal - nâtsal ; ChaghaMatzi: Delivered from the world of sin; fulfilling the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the promised land; preparing for the 2nd (greater) Exodus - yâtsâ‘.

15. When to eat the meal? But was there only one meal? Is there only one feast? Should we teach our children only one topic? Is it remotely possible that we’re being asked by the Creator Elohim to celebrate both nâtsal & yâtsâ‘ ?

16. How to celebrate? • yâtsâ‘ • This one is simple, the Scripture is clear, with a Shabbat on the 15th, unleavened bread for 7 days, and a Shabbat on the 21st. This is done once a year. • nâtsal • This is less clear, but gleaning from, among others, the Master’s example it would seem like a meal, including the drinking of the cup; and it might be possible to repeat this many times a year.

17. !! En die beste van alles – die AOV got it right!! • Exod 12:27: • dan moet julle sê: Dit is ‘n paasoffer aan die HERE, wat by die huise van die kinders van Israel in Egipte verbygegaan het, toe Hy die Egiptenaars getref maar ons huise gered [nâtsal] het. Toe het die volk in aanbidding neergebuig. • Exod 13:8: • En jy moet jou seun op dié dag vertel en sê: Dit geskied ter wille van wat die HERE aan my gedoen het toe ek uit Egipte uitgetrek [yâtsâ‘ ] het. • !! Die AOV stel die onderskeid uitstekend !! • Redding (van die dood) en verlossing (van die wêreld van sonde)

18. The feasts, in a nutshell: • Pesach: Salvation from death, unification with the Messiah; • ChaghaMatzi: Delivered from slavery by the Messiah – live then as • people delivered in anticipation of the greater Exodus; • Yom haBikurrim: We’re accepted because the Messiah has been • accepted – therefore dedicate everything to Him; • Omer: Anticipation of the revelation of the Word and power; • Shavuot: The revelation of the Word and power • Yom Teruah The King is coming • Yom Kippur The King’s wedding • Succoth The King’s wedding ceremony

19. !! Most important !! Keep the moedim, teach the children; Do not condemn, we’re all learning. Shalom shalom and Chag Sameach