The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-04-20
THIS is JEWISH LEAP YEAR,
Passover Festival Comes a Month La
ter Than Usual.

23rd, at 6 o'clock The Passover
usually comes at the same time as
the Christian Easter, but this year
being the Jewish Leap Year. it comes
one month later
The Jewish calendar was arranged
about 500 years before the Christian
era to provide for leap year every
five years. The Jewish year has 12
months except leap year when there
are 13.
The Passover is the most important
festival of the Jews. It commence
rates the deliverance of Isre e"s first
born from the judgment wrought on
those Of the Egyptians and the won-
drous deliverance of the Hebrews
from Egyptian bondage. AS such it
is identical with the Mozzot festival
and was instituted for an everlasting
statute. The festival occurred in
Abb (where the new moon is given
as the memorial day of the Exodus), ,
later named Nisan, and lasted seven
days, from sunset on the fourteenth
day to sunset on the twenty-first day;
the first and seventh days were set
aside for holy convocation, no work
being permitted on those dayes ex-
cept such as was necessary in prepar-
ing food.
During the seven days of the fes-
tival leaven was not to be found in
the habitations of the Hebrews. Leav-
en- was not to be eaten under penalty
of excison and the eating of I'D
leaven bread was commanded. On
the second day of the festival the
owners of new barley was brought to
the temple.
The setting aside, slaughtering and
eating the pascal lamb was introduce
tory to the celebration of the festival.
This rite was established by Moses in
Egypt in anticipation of the judgment
about to be visited on Pharoah and
his people.
On the tenth Of the month-ever
thereafter to be the first month of
the year-the Hebrews were to take
lamb for each household. without
blemish, a male of the first year."
from the sheep or from the goats;
Kept until the fourtheenth day, this
lamb was killed "at eve" Cat the GO
ing down Of the SUM, the blood being
sprinkled by means of a bunch of
hysop" on the two door posts and on
the lintels of the houses where the
Hebrews assembled to eat the lamb
during the night.
The details of this rite as observed
In Egypt are summarized in "the or
dinance of the Passover" No bone
was to to be broken; the meal was to
be eaten in one house; no alien could
participate; circumcision was a pre-
requisite in the case Of servants
bought for money and the stranger
desiring to participate.
The keeping of the rite is first men,
toned as having occurred at Sinai:
under Joshua at Gilgal another cele-
bration is noticed. Hezekiah figures
prominently in the revival of the fes-
tlval after long period in which it
was not observed. The reforms of
Josiah brought about new zeal in
behalf Of this institution, the Pass
over celebrated at his bidding in the
eighteenth year Of his reign being de-
scribed as singular and memorable.
After the return from the captivity
another Passover observance is re-
ported to have taken place In due
conformity with the required laws Of
purity and in most joyful spirit
The sacrifices ordained for Pass
over are as follows: IAN Offering
made by fire. a burnt Offering: two
young bullocks and one ram, and sew
en- eve lambs of the first year with
out blemish, and their meal Offering.
fine flour mingled with oil. and one
he-goat as sin-offering besides the
burnt offering OF the morning" There
were to be offered daily for seven
days.
For reasons well known Passover
was extended to eight days, including
22nd Of Nissan and 23rd Of Nissan
came to be regarded as scmi-holy
day.