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The last three of the Ten Plagues are
visited on Egypt: a swarm of locusts devours all the
crops and greenery; a thick, palpable darkness envelops
the land; and all the firstborn of Egypt are killed at
the stroke of midnight of the 15th of the month of
Nissan. G-d commands the first
mitzvah to be given to the people of Israel: to
establish a calendar based on the monthly rebirth of the
moon. The Israelites are also instructed to bring a
“Passover offering” to G-d: a lamb or kid is to be
slaughtered and its blood sprinkled on the doorposts and
lintel of every Israelite home, so that G-d should pass
over these homes when He comes to kill the Egyptian
firstborn. The roasted meat of the offering is to be
eaten that night together with matzah (unleavened bread)
and bitter herbs.
The death of the firstborn finally
breaks Pharaoh’s resistance and he literally drives the
Children of Israel from his land. So hastily do they
depart, there is no time for their dough to rise, and
the only provisions they take along are unleavened.
Before they go, they ask their Egyptian neighbors for
gold, silver and garments, draining Egypt of its wealth.
The Children of Israel are commanded
to consecrate all firstborn and to observe the
anniversary of the Exodus each year by removing all
leaven from their possession for seven days, eating
matzah, and telling the story of their redemption to
their children. They are also commanded to wear tefillin
on the arm and head as a reminder of the Exodus and
their resultant commitment
to G-d.
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