Ver. 1. And keep the passover.] Every man that seeth another stricken and himself spared is still to keep a passover for himself.
Ver. 3. Even the bread of afliction.] Or, Of poverty; as who should say, poor folk’s bread, illleavened, ill-prepared.
Ver. 4. And there shall be.] [See Trapp on “Ex 12:1”] &c
Ver. 10. With a tribute of a free will offering.] Over and besides the sacrifice appointed for the feast day, (Numbers 18:27,31) and the two loaves with their sacrifices commanded. (Leviticus 23:17,20) So good cheap is God’s service to us, over what it was to them.
Ver. 12. And thou shalt remember.] It is very good to look back and recognise our former worse condition. Agathocles, king of Sicily, being a potter’s son, would be served only in earthen vessels. Willigis, archbishop of Ments, a wheelwright’s son, hung wheels, and the tools wherewith they were made, around his bedchamber, and had these words written upon the walls in very fair characters, Willigis, Willigis, recole uncle veneris, Remember whence thou camest.
Ver. 13. Thou shalt observe.] [See Trapp on “Ex 23:16”]
Ver. 15. Thou shalt surely rejoice.] [See Trapp on “De 12:12”]
Ver. 18. With just judgment.] Heb., With judgment of justice. Ut fiat iustitia, runt coelum. Let heaven and earth be blended together, rather than magistrates be drawn to deal basely. It is reported by a late traveller, that in Zante, over the place of judgment, these two Latin verses are written on the wall in letters of gold:— “ Hic locus odit, amat, punit, conservat, honorat, Nequitiam, pacem, crimina, iura, bonos.”
Ver. 19. Neither take a gift.] Rain is good, and ground is good; yet, ex eorum coniunctione fit luturn, by the mixture of those two is made dirt: so giving is kind, and taking is courteous; yet the mixing of them makes the smooth paths of justice foul and uneven.
Ver. 20. That which is altogether just.] Heb., Justice, justice; that is, let pure justice, without mud, run down; let all selfish affections be strained out.