The Night to Be Much Observed
In the 12th chapter of Exodus, there is an unusual observance given without much explanation, Scripturally called “the “Night to Be Much Observed””.
For those who observe Yahweh’s Holy Days, this “Night to Be Much Observed” has often been overlooked, or at least not looked at closely. Is there any value to this particular observance? Is it for us today?
Exodus 12:40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a “Night to Be Much Observed” unto Yahweh for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of Yahweh to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
Exodus 13:3 And Moses said to the people: Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Yahweh brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 4 On this day you are going out, in the month Abib. (NKJ)
Deuteronomy 16:1 Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Yahweh thy Elohim: for in the month of Abib Yahweh thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
Let’s note a few points based on the above Scriptures:
- All the hosts (both Israelite and Egyptian) went out from the land of Egypt
- They went specifically at night
- It is a “Night to Be Much Observed”
When is this “Night to Be Much Observed” when all the hosts went out from the land of Egypt? Let’s begin with a process of elimination. This event to be much observed could not be the “night” of Abib 14th (Passover) because this is the night the death angel appeared.
Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the mighty-ones of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am Yahweh. (NKJ)
Also, on Passover night, the Israelites were to remain in their homes all night and were not permitted to come out until the morning.
Exodus 12:22 And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. (NKJ)
So the “Night to Be Much Observed” was not the 14th of Abib!
In order to discover what night it was, we need to follow the sequence of events to see just when Israel WENT OUT OF THE LAND of Egypt.
After Passover, Pharaoh ordered the Israelites out of Egypt. The children of Israel then looted the Egyptians and journeyed from Rameses to Succoth. To find out if Succoth was still in Egypt, we need to do some detective work and look at many Scriptures.
Exodus 12:35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And Yahweh had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38 A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds — a great deal of livestock. (NKJ)
7486 Ra`m@cec {rah-mes-ace’} or Ra`amcec {rah-am-sace’} • of Egyptian origin;; n pr loc • AV – Rameses 4, Raamses 1; 5 • Raamses or Rameses = “child of the sun” 1) a city in lower (1) Egypt built by Hebrew slaves; probably in Goshen
Exodus 1:11 says that Rameses was one of the great treasure cities of Pharaoh. “Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.”
Genesis 47:27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.
From the above Scriptures and definition we find that Rameses was in lower Egypt in the “country of Goshen”, with Goshen being a broader area within Egypt like our county system.
- A note about “lower and upper” Egypt: The land of Egypt was divided in half, horizontally, and the terms upper and lower are in terms of the direction of the flow of the Nile River, which flows south to north. Because of the northward flow of the Nile River, which first goes through southern Egypt, southern Egypt is called “upper’, and northern Egypt where the Nile flows to the Mediterranean is called “lower” Egypt. Think of it in terms of a topographical map where southern Egypt is at a higher elevation, and northern Egypt is at a lower elevation on a descent to the Mediterranean.
The city of Rameses, then, would be north of the division between upper and lower Egypt, and apparently was in the eastern delta region not far from the Mediterranean.
Now that the geography is taken care of, we should note one other thing about the beginning of the Exodus.
Oddly enough, Scripture doesn’t say that the Israelites left Rameses (Goshen) at night. In fact, quite to the contrary.
Numbers 33:3 They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians. (NKJ)
Numbers 33:3 is very clear. When the Israelites left Rameses, they left in daylight “in the sight of all the Egyptians”, not under the cover of darkness.
As a side note, Exodus 12:38 states there were 600,000 men, plus women and children. That could be anywhere from 1.5 million to 3.0 million people, on foot. To move a group this large must have been a very slow process. How far could they go in a day?
To find out if Succoth was located in Egypt we need to continue our detective work. And we see that after they camped at Succoth they traveled to and camped at Etham. And after leaving Etham they turned towards and camped near Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
Numbers 33:5 Then the children of Israel moved from Rameses and camped at Succoth. 6 They departed from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. 7 They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, which is east of Baal Zephon (1189); and they camped near Migdol. (NKJ)
Exodus 14:1 Now Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea. (NKJ)
Note that Baal Zephon is “in Egypt”.
1189 Ba`al Ts@phown {bah’-al tsef-one’} • from 01168 and 06828;; n pr loc • AV – Baalzephon 3; 3 • Baal Tsphon or Baal-zephon = “lord of the north” 1) a place in Egypt near the Red Sea where Pharaoh and his army were destroyed during the Exodus
What land was “Succoth” in? Rameses was in the land of Egypt. Baalzephon was in the land of Egypt. There were 1.5 to 3.0 million people on foot not moving very fast. Why would anyone assume, without any evidence to the contrary, that the first stop after leaving Rameses (Goshen) would not still be within the land of Egypt?
So, just when did Israel leave the land of Egypt?
Exodus 14:9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.
Let’s ask another question. Did the Egyptian army cross any national boundaries in their pursuit of the Israelites? None are mentioned, which would make us think that they were still in their own territory during all their travels.
If Israel had already left Egypt when they departed Rameses (Goshen) on the 15th, and that is the night to be observed, then the continued journey from Succoth would not be in Egypt. Exodus 13:18 clearly shows the Israelites and mixed multitude leaving Egypt after traveling through the wilderness which is after Succoth. Therefore the journey from Succoth through the wilderness was still in the land of Egypt!
Exodus 13:17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that Elohim did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for Elohim said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 So Elohim led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. (NKJ)
Israel had observed Yahweh’s Passover…looted the Egyptians…left Rameses (Goshen) during the day on the 15th of Abib…journeyed to Succoth and camped…journeyed to Etham and camped…. journeyed to before Migdol and camped….and journeyed near Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon and camped, but nothing memorable at night occurs worthy of special note. Also, it seems clear that at this point the Israelites had not gone out of the land of Egypt.
What is so special about “This Night” that Yahweh makes it an observance to all generations?
Let us continue in Exodus 14 as the children of Israel cried out to Yahweh (not in faith … but out of fear).
Exodus 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to Yahweh. 11 Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? 12 “Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” (NKJ)
And Moses tells the people to stand still and wait upon Yahweh.
13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 “Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (NKJ)
Maybe something momentous is about to happen and we are getting closer to solving our mystery.
15 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 “But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 “And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 “Then the Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” 19 And the Angel of Elohim (Yahweh, note verse 24 below), who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one (i.e. Egyptians), and it gave light by night to the other (i.e. Israelites), so that the one did not come near the other all that night. (NKJ)
We are starting to see a truly momentous event…at night…when Yahweh delivers Israel from the land of Egypt!
21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (NKJ)
Finally, here is an absolutely outstanding event…at night…when Israel is delivered OUT OF THE LAND of Egypt!
In the morning, we find Israel on the other side…and the Egyptians still trying to pursue.
23 And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that Yahweh (Angel, note verse 19 above) looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud (see verse 19), and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. 25 And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for Yahweh fights for them against the Egyptians.” (NKJ)
And when the morning appeared, Yahweh destroys Pharaoh and his army!
26 Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” 27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So Yahweh overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them. Not so much as one of them remained. (NKJ)
And Yahweh saves Israel!
29 But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 So Yahweh saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Thus Israel saw the great work which Yahweh had done in Egypt; so the people feared Yahweh, and believed Yahweh and His servant Moses. (NKJ)
A runaway slave is not free until the running ends. Israel was not truly free when they left Rameses, but when their enemy no longer pursued them, they were truly free!
We return to Exodus 12:40.
Exodus 12:40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a “Night to Be Much Observed” unto Yahweh for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of Yahweh to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
So clearly this “Night to Be Much Observed” was the night Yahweh was a cloud of darkness to the Egyptians, a light to the Israelites, guiding them across the divided Red Sea OUT OF EGYPT. This event culminates at the crack of dawn with the utter destruction of Pharaoh and his army. Israel was truly set free from the bondage of Egypt. This was the “Night to Be Much Observed”.
What does this have to do with us today?
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Let us back up to verse one in 1 Corinthians 10 to see what examples Paul was talking about.
1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Messiah. 5 But with many of them Yahweh was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Messiah, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Paul makes a couple of very interesting comments. The first was that “all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized”. The act of water baptism is linked to the “Night to Be Much Observed”.
Another interesting comment Paul makes is that the spiritual Rock that followed Israel was Messiah. This clearly shows that the Yahweh who spoke to Moses and was with the Israelites during the Exodus was Messiah.
Psalm 18:2 YAHWEH is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my El, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing unto YAHWEH: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
The “Night to Be Much Observed” was given to us as an example for our lives today. So when should we celebrate the “Night to Be Much Observed”?
First of all, we know that Passover starts at the evening of the 14th of Abib and represents our faith toward Elohim in that He sent His son to die for our sins. Messiah was our perfect Passover lamb. This correlates to the Israelites who had faith towards Yahweh by sacrificing an unblemished lamb and putting that blood on their door posts.
We also know that Unleavened Bread, including the first high day (15th of Abib), symbolizes our repentance with the removal of leavening (i.e. sin) from our households and the eating of unleavened bread (i.e. the righteousness of Messiah). This correlates to the Israelites leaving their home of Rameses and only eating unleavened bread during their journey out of Egypt.
The second High Day of Unleavened Bread (21st of Abib) represents our water baptism, which is for the remission of sins to prepare the new convert for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Again, this correlates to the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea (1 Corinthians 10:3). Therefore we observe the “Night to Be Much Observed” on the 21st of Abib at evening, the second High Day of Unleavened Bread. For more information on water baptism, see “Does a believer need to be water baptized for salvation?”
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of Yahweh our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Yahwehshua Messiah our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
HalleluYah
(3/13d)
Addendum:
Below is a possible timeline of the Exodus.
|
14th Passover |
15th UB-1 Exodus begins morning @ Rameses/ Goshen |
16th UB-2 Camp @ Succoth |
17th UB-3 |
18th UB-4 |
19th UB-5 |
20th UB-6 |
21st UB-7 continued night crossing Red Sea. Morning Egyptians drown In Red Sea |
1st wk |
Why are there only four stops in six days before the crossing of the Red Sea out of the land of Egypt on the seventh day?
Exodus 13:21 And YAHWEH went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
It is clear that Yahweh provided shade to travel by day and light to travel by night and that the Israelites and others did not need to stop and camp to rest everyday.
It is roughly 200 miles from Rameses to the Red Sea. The Israelites and mixed multitude with their elderly, children, sick, livestock, and all their possessions made the journey in only six days! How could they do this? Of course it had to be with Yahweh’s help.
Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting Elohim, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon Yahweh shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.