Notice: Undefined variable: niv in /var/www/html/familytimes/classes/CreateContent.php on line 102

Notice: Undefined index: scripture_memory_verse in /var/www/html/familytimes/classes/ccIncludes/webService-preachingCentral.php on line 11

Notice: Undefined variable: kjv in /var/www/html/familytimes/classes/ccIncludes/webService-preachingCentral.php on line 30

Notice: Undefined variable: scripture_memory_index in /var/www/html/familytimes/classes/ccIncludes/webService-preachingCentral.php on line 55
Commentary » Exodus 12:25-Exodus 12:36 » Family-Times.net

The Largest Mass Funerals in World History

When his pager went off during a council meeting in Knoxville, Tenn., police chief Phil Keith was startled to see that the call was from his mother. Concerned, he rushed to the press table and phoned her. “Phil Keith, are you chewing gum!” asked his mom, who had been wa … More


Moses called all of the elders of Israel together and repeated to them the instructions for the Passover that God had explained to him (vv. 25-27). Having witnessed the previous nine terrifying plagues that had come upon the Egyptians the Israelites were quick to do what God had commanded and depart (v. 28).

Just as God  had promised, judgment fell and great sorrow gripped the nation as God destroyed the sons of families in every stratum of society, from royalty to political prisoners (vv. 29-30). That night the king, his officials, and everyone else in Egypt got up and started crying bitterly. In every Egyptian home, someone was dead. It must have created one of the largest mass funerals in the history of the earth.

In response to the tragedy, Pharaoh released the Israelites that they might go without any restrictions. He even demanded that they leave (vv. 31-32). The king told Moses and Aaron , “Get your people out of my country and leave us alone! Go and worship the Lord, as you have asked. Take your sheep, goats, and cattle, and get out, but ask your God to be kind to me.” Also the Egyptian people urged the Israelites to leave quickly for fear they too would all die (v. 33). In fact we see (Ex. 3:21-22) fulfilled as the Egyptians were willing to do anything to hasten their departure, even to giving away valuable jewelry and clothing (vv. 34-36). In this way they carried away the wealth of the Egyptians when they left. The Israelites quickly made some bread dough and put it in pans. They did not mix any yeast in the dough to make it rise. They simply wrapped cloth around the pans and carried them on their shoulders.


How would I rate myself as it pertains to how quick or slow I do what the Lord wants me to do. It says that the Israelites moved quickly. Delayed obedience is really disobedience!

Exodus 12:25-36 (English Standard Version)

"And when you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads and worshiped. Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!" The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, "We shall all be dead." So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »