Exodus 12:6

Three Questions;

The first step in correctly accepting the Gospel of the Kingdom is awakening. 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' - Jesus. Are we, in modern times, using English as a tool to accurately understand the Hebrew Scriptures? Or are we trying to fit the Hebrew Scriptures into the mold of the English language? 

English speakers refer to their beloved pets as 'he' or 'she' according to their gender. This practice aligns with the importance of gender distinctions in the words of Hebrew Scripture. It is a way of referring to a living being they cherish and love. Given this, do we consider it correct and accurate to refer to the precious, one-year-old unblemished male lamb, a living being, as 'it' in translation, treating it as an inanimate object? 

Are we accurately understanding and correctly interpreting the gender-specific meanings in the Hebrew Scriptures, as seen in the 'וְהָיָה' (and he becomes) of Exodus 12:6 and the 'הָיְתָה' (she became) of Genesis 1:2? 

Exodus 12:6 (Hebrew and English Translation with Grammatical Analysis)

Hebrew:

וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְמִשְׁמֶרֶת עַד אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם לַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה וְשָׁחֲטוּ אֹתוֹ כֹּל קְהַל עֲדַת־יִשְׂרָאֵל בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם׃

Transliteration:

V'hayah lachem l'mishmeret ad arba'ah asar yom la'chodesh hazeh v'shachatuh oto kol k'hal adat-Yisrael bein ha'arbayim.


Correct, word for word, translation to understand original meaning of Hebrew Scriptures:

"And he becomes to you for keeping before the fourteenth day of this month, the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall offer him between the evenings."


Grammatical Analysis:

Two Stages of Sacrifice for the Passover

There are two distinct stages of sacrifice for the Passover. The first stage involves killing and preparing the lamb on the preparation day. The second stage is the main event of the Passover, which occurs between the evenings of the 14th of Aviv.

This careful timing and preparation highlight the significance of the Passover ceremony. It also precisely foreshadows the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the day of preparation for Passover, the 13th of Aviv, aligning with the biblical narrative.

Scriptural Context

Exodus 12:6: The command to keep the lamb until before the 14th day and then sacrifice it "between the evenings" ensures it is prepared properly(13th of Aviv) for the Passover event.


2 Chronicles 35:1: This verse emphasizes the importance of the Passover sacrificial ceremony(14th of Aviv), requiring that the lamb be killed and prepared beforehand(13th of Aviv), aligning with the established biblical procedures and timelines.

עד

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the term 'AD' can be interpreted as 'until,' but more precisely, it often means 'before.' For example, Genesis 3:19 demonstrates that 'AD' signifies that a person will eat and sweat before the moment of death; beyond this point, they neither eat nor sweat. The usage of 'AD' in Genesis 43:25, 'before Jacob arrived in Egypt,' is universally acknowledged by all translations. Similarly, Exodus 12:6 uses 'AD' in the same way to indicate timing. Therefore, it should be interpreted as 'before."

The term 'בין הערבים' (Bein Ha'arbayim) translates directly as 'between the evenings.' However, in Rashi's well-known commentary on Exodus 12:6, he interprets this to mean 'in the afternoon.' Yet, Rashi does not comment on why 'evening' appears in the singular in Joshua 5:10, which states 'the Passover was kept in the evening.'

In Exodus 16:8 and 16:13, the word 'ערב' (erev) is recorded in the singular, meaning 'evening,' and both this term and 'בין הערבים' in 16:12 describe the same time period.

בין הערבים' (between the evenings) represents an exceedingly brief moment around sunset, precisely delineating the transition from one day to the next—down to the second. This is an amazingly precise and perfect expression found in the Hebrew Scriptures. The clarity and sharpness of the words, provided by the Creator of the universe and everything within it, are most accurately captured by the phrase 'the sword of the Spirit' in the Koine New Testament. We must not rely on human interpretations or other texts but place our faith solely in the Hebrew Scriptures and the Koine Greek New Testament. 

Knowing this amazing fact, one cannot help but marvel at the perfect harmony between the Hebrew Scriptures and the Koine New Testament. It is impossible not to exclaim in admiration. Hallelujah! How marvelous You are, my Lord!