Ver. 2. Keep the passover.] This passover; for they kept no more but this, till they came into the land of Canaan, (Joshua 5:10 Exodus 12:25) because of their often and uncertain removes. The feast of tabernacles likewise was for many ages omitted; or at least not in due manner observed, as by dwelling in booths, reading the book of the law, &c., (Nehemiah 8:16-18) which a man would wonder at. But Vexatio dat intellectum: those Jews were newly returned from captivity.
Ver. 3. According to all the rites.] It was a true saying of Socrates in Xenophon, Deum eo cultus genere coli velle, quem ipse instituerit that God must be worshipped in his own way only. Whereunto agreeth that of Cicero, Deum non superstitione coli velle, sed pietate.
Ver. 5. And they kept the passover.] [See Trapp on “Ex 12:1”] &c
Ver. 6. They could not keep the passover.] Because they were to be unclean seven days. (Numbers 19:11) Now, among the very heathen, the sacrificers were to purify themselves some days before; they had their caena pura the night before, &c., and having expiated the company, they cried, τις τηδε; who is here? to which they made reply, πολλοι κα γαθοι γε παρεισιν, Many and good are here. Demosth. Aristoph.
Ver. 7. And those men said unto him.] Moses they knew was a meet man to resolve this case of conscience. He was a messenger, an interpreter, “one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness,” (Job 33:23) a merchant to sell oil and balm from Gilead, to cure consciences. (Matthew 25:9) Others may write cases, that is, covers of conscience; but resolve none. Conscience is a diamond, and will be wrought on by nothing but dust of diamond, such as contrition hath ground it to.
Ver. 8. Stand still and I will hear.] Moses was but the echo of God’s voice; John Baptist, “the voice of one crying in the wilderness”: St Paul “received of the Lord” what he delivered to the Church, (1 Corinthians 11:23) and took care that the faith of his hearers “might not be in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:4,5) Unwarranted doctrines come not cum gratia et privilegio.
Ver. 10. Or be in a journey afar off.] This rendered a man unfit to partake; because either his head would be so taken up about his business then, or his mind so set upon home, that he would have little leisure or liberty to prepare for the passover.
Ver. 11. With unleavened bread.] Teaching them to “purge out the old leaven,” that fusty, swelling, souring, spreading, corruption of nature and practice. And bitter herbs.] Directing them to true humiliation and bitterness for sin; without which there can be no sweetness in the blood of Christ.
Ver. 12. They shall leave none.] The Lord in his infinite wisdom would hereby prevent all occasions of idolatry, which is easily admitted in the reservations of holy things, as in Popery at this day.
Ver. 17. And when the cloud.] This visible sign they had of God’s presence, for their motion or station by night or by day, through all their pilgrimage. “In all thy ways acknowledge God, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6) “When thou sittest in darkness, the Lord shall give thee light.” (Micah 7:8)
Ver. 19. Kept the charge of the Lord.] Or, His wateh—viz., to be ready at any hour to remove. So must we always watch and be in readiness, as not knowing whether at even, or at midnight, or cock crowing, or in the dawning, Christ will come. (Mark 13:35)
Ver. 22. When it was taken up they journeyed.] In that wilderness of Arabia there were no beaten paths, no footsteps of passengers appeared; wherefore travellers there used to steer their course, as mariners at sea do, by a mathematical chart. But these Israelites went by a better direction. So do all saints. (Hebrews 11:16)
Ver. 23. At the commandment of the Lord.] This signified that the saints are to rest, or go on, at the voice of Christ, (John 10:3,4) and that “whatsoever they do in word or deed, to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” (Colossians 3:17) to seek and find all their perfection and defenee in him alone.