Topical Bible: The Evening: Paschal Lamb Killed In

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Topical Encyclopedia

The term "evening" in the context of the Paschal lamb refers to the specific time during the Passover celebration when the lamb was to be slaughtered. This event is a significant aspect of the Jewish Passover, which commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The instructions for this observance are detailed in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Exodus.

Biblical Instructions and Timing

The commandment regarding the Paschal lamb is found in Exodus 12:6, where it is stated: "You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight." . The term "twilight" is often interpreted as the time between sunset and complete darkness, marking the beginning of the 14th day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar.

This timing is crucial as it signifies the transition from the day of preparation to the actual Passover feast. The evening sacrifice of the lamb is a pivotal moment, symbolizing the readiness of the Israelites to leave Egypt under God's protection.

Symbolism and Significance

The killing of the Paschal lamb in the evening holds deep symbolic meaning. It represents the sacrifice necessary for the deliverance of God's people. The blood of the lamb, applied to the doorposts and lintels of the Israelite homes, served as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" those houses during the final plague—the death of the firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 12:7, 12-13).

In Christian theology, the Paschal lamb is seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). The timing of Jesus' crucifixion during the Passover festival further underscores this connection, as He is viewed as the ultimate sacrificial lamb whose death brings salvation to humanity.

Observance and Tradition

The evening sacrifice of the Paschal lamb is a central element of the Passover Seder, a ritual meal that includes the retelling of the Exodus account. This observance is a time for reflection on God's deliverance and faithfulness. The tradition of the Seder continues to be an important aspect of Jewish religious life, serving as a reminder of the covenant between God and His people.

In summary, the evening when the Paschal lamb is killed is a moment rich with historical, theological, and symbolic significance. It marks the beginning of the Passover, a festival that celebrates liberation and divine protection, and it prefigures the redemptive work of Christ in Christian belief.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 12:6,18
And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Last Supper.
... It was towards the evening, probably when the gathering dusk ... Matthew Henry points
out that the paschal lamb was typical of ... a lamb, as Christ was the Lamb of God ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the last supper.htm

Preparation for Passover. Disciples Contend for Precedence.
... even was come, { ^b when it was evening} he cometh ... the twelve [The law required that
the paschal lamb should be ... tells us that the lambs were killed from the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxvii preparation for passover disciples.htm

Whether Christ Suffered at a Suitable Time?
... it was necessary that the Pasch should be killed.". ... festivity, the solemnity began
from the evening of the ... Pasch there is not called the Paschal lamb, which was ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ suffered at a.htm

Christ Our Passover
... Delivered on Sabbath Evening, December 2, 1855, by the. REV. ... there was God's palace,
there his altar smoked, and there only might the Paschal Lamb be killed. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ our passover.htm

When Christ Ate the Passover.
... more difficult question is whether the Lord's paschal feast was ... Savior died on the
day the passover lamb was slain ... Jewish day that began in the evening with the ...
/.../the new testament commentary vol iii john/when christ ate the passover.htm

The Morning of Good Friday.
... house would not have ceased in the evening (so as to ... The Chagigah could not, but
the Paschal Lamb might be ... informal manner in which Stephen was killed and they ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xiv the morning of.htm

How the Abbot Ceolfrid Sent Master-Builders to the King of the ...
... it most plainly appears, that in the Paschal observance, though ... be kept on that day;
but on the evening of the ... the sky, it is commanded that the lamb be killed ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxi how the abbot.htm

Last Week of Jesus.
... he repented,[1] and, it is said, killed himself ... The evening of the next day commenced
the festival of the ... begun by the feast in which the Paschal lamb was eaten ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/chapter xxiii last week of.htm

The Fourth Day in Passion-Week - Jesus in his Last Sabbatic Rest ...
... of Isaac's sacrifice on Mount Moriah to the Paschal Lamb in the ... Thursday - and at
its Even the Paschal supper ... day, growing into midday-strength and evening-glory ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter viii the fourth day.htm

The Blood
... The paschal lamb was killed every year; but now Christ hath appeared to take away
sin ... The Jew had the lamb every morning and every evening, for there ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the blood.htm