The National tribune., 1894-05-24
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
A Study Of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for June
8, 1894

School Lesson Appointed Tor June
8, 1894
Subject: Origin of the Passover Feast. Ex..
12:1-14.
lone reading these notes shonld first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
| Indicated aboye.I
INTRODUCTION.
Moses was called to be emancipation Of the
Israelites from Egyptian servitude. He was
good organizer Aaron, his brother, was an
orator, and accompanied Moses as spokes-
man. The two brothers met and laid out
their plans.
Time.
We date 2513 A. M. The 10th plague
took place 14th day of Abb at midnight.
| This is the date of original Passover.
Place.
The scene of the lesson was Goshen, in
| Egypt with headquarters at Rameses
| (Heliopolis). The first Passover was there
| observed.
The Original Passover.
For some centuries the Jews had been in
slavery under the Kings of Egypt. The
leader Plague after plague was inflicted
on the Egyptians before they would let the
Jews leave their bondage. After the 10th
plague the obstinacy of Pharaoh seemed
completely vanquished. That plague has
ever since stood for any final act in a drama
representing the enslaved struggling for
freedom. The Passover was originated to
keep up perpetual remembrance of the
success of Moses in saving the Jews from
further bondage in Egypt. The Festi-
val begins on the 18th day Of the Jewish
month Abb (parts of our March and April),
and continues through the Dist. 1t practi-
caIly covers eight days 1t was hard to let
go such large body of laborers working,
practically for mere livelihood. Covetous-
ness figured in Pharaoh's mind. Men are
obstinate when acts involve finances. 1t is
not easy to get men who will make bricks
without materials being furnished for their
manufacture.
The Jew has indeed reason to feel great
pride in the part his people played as
makers Of history in the days of one of the
greatest dynasties of Egypt. DIR. Lasker
{Rabbi) once said: Rightly considered,
there is no event recorded in history, no
story in the pages of tradition, so dramatic,
so sublime, as the event we commemorate.
1t was the birth of Nation; it was the
sudden emergence into conscious life of what
had been Nation in embryo. There had
been nothing like it before; there has been
no parallel to it since. From the chaos of q
troop of slaves without organization, without
discipline humiliated and demoralized by
centuries of thrald0m, the voice of God pro-
duced a Nation. 1twas an event as unique In
the worlds annals as the subsequent history
of the people has been unlike the history of
every other people. As we look back along
the vista of the centuries to that solemn
night when, standing around their meal
with their poor possessions collected about
them, they awaited the word of command
to march out of the land of the oppressor to
an unknown destination, we are impressed
by the superhuman faith and courage which
filled their hearts.1
The name Passover has reference to the
fact the Angel of Death in the work Of de-
struction in connection with The 10th plague
passed over the houses of Jews and entered
(inflicted DEATH only in the abodes OF
Egyptians.
We notice features of the original Pass
overs.
+ l. Lambs killed.
9. All leayen removed from houses.
g. Groups Of 10 to 20 partook at the re-
spective homes.
4. All stood girded as ready to set out on
journey.
3. Some bitter herbs were placed on the
table and tasted.
6. Blood OF the lambs was sprinkled on
the upper doorPosts.
7. Only unleavened bread was used for
the eight days of the festival.
8. We learn from the Mishna that four
cups of wine were on each table.
Notes.
l. UnIeavened bread sgnified haste.
There was not time to allow leaven to work.
Then unleavened bread, is not so agreeable
to eat, and so it emphasized the bitter herbs.
2. Bitter herbs reminded of the severity
of the bondage suffered by the Israelites in
Egypt.
3. The Passover is an annual feast cover
ing full week.
The Passover To-day.
We have one advantage in our study, and
that is the fact the Passover is still kept by
the Jews. Though some features are neces-
sarily omitted, the event is slili celebrated.
All but METEOROLOGICAL jews are true to this
custom-and Meteorological Jews are indeed
rare. Even very liberal Jews who may not
connect the anniversary with any religious
spiritual significance yet recognize in it
grand expression Of national sentiment and
join heartily in its maintenance. So Rabbi
SCHNEIDER BOSTON, declares: This class of
traditional celebrations has its uses apart
from the often Mythical and uncertain ideas
of origin"
If one be in Jewish family during Pass
over week, he will yet have opportunity to
see the details of the great Jewish Festival
carried out almost identically as they were
seen at the very first celebration of the Pass
over. All over the world wherever Jews
can be found there will be observed loyalty
to this custom. A Jew cannot become so
depraved, SO forgetfuI of his ancestry, so dis
loyal to his national traditions or faiths, so
disrespectful to Moses aud the Pentateuch,
as to ignore or slight the Passover.
The Passover is purely domestic festival.
In the Jewish economy the eccesiastic and
civil were united, and we have to deal only
with the family and the Church. A part of
the original Passover Festival as established
by Noses demanded the sacrifice of lambs,
and, by the rubrics, the Staying OF the sacri-
fees was performed by priests at the Temple.
That feature is necessarily omitted by mod
ern Jews In all respects, however, the
Festival is kept as originally.
Go to a Jewish home IN Abb. Great pre-
caution is taken to remove every particle of
leavened substance. The broom and brush
are used industriously.' Corners are exam
ined with lamps ortolher light. All is gath
i - L