Exodus 12:21

“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, etc.] Not in age but in office, who were either heads of families, or at least principal men in the tribes; which explains in what manner he was to speak to the congregation of Israel, and convey to them the will of God concerning the observation of these feasts, (<021203>Exodus 12:3), and said unto them, draw out; a lamb or a kid, out of the flocks on the tenth day of the month, and keep it up until the fourteenth, as in (<021203>Exodus 12:3,6) and take you a lamb, according to your families; or “take ye of the flock” , whether a lamb or a kid; a lamb for every family, if there was a sufficient number in it to eat it up; if not, two or more…”

“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, &c.--Here are given special directions for the observance.”

“Draw out - i. e. draw the lamb from the fold and then take it to the house. The passover - The word is here applied to the lamb; an important fact, marking the lamb as the sign and pledge of the exemption of the Israelites. return to 'Top of Page'”

“elders: Exo 3:16, Exo 17:5, Exo 19:7; Num 11:16 and take: Exo 12:3; Num 9:2-5; Jos 5:10; Kg2 23:21; Ch2 30:15-17, Ch2 35:5, Ch2 35:6; Ezr 6:20; Mat 26:17-19; Mar 14:12-16; Luk 22:7-13; Co1 10:4 lamb: or, kid, Exo 12:3 \*marg. the passover: That is, the lamb which was called the paschal, or passover lamb; the animal sacrificed obtaining the name of the institution. St. Paul copies the expression in Co1 5:7. Exodus 12:22”