A lamb was the chosen sacrifice in the welcome to Jehovah. Each
household, or family, was to take one lamb for this offering. No
directions were given as to the place or manner of its sacrifice; for
that seems to have been understood by all, because of the very term
“pass-over,” or threshold cross-over. This is implied, indeed, in the
directions for the use of the blood when it was poured out: “Kill the
passover,” in the usual place; “and ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and
dip it in the blood that is at the _threshold_ [Hebrew, _saph_], and
strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is at the
_threshold_.”[544]
In that welcome with blood there was covenant protection from Jehovah as
he came into Egypt to execute judgment on his enemies. The Egyptians had
already refused him allegiance, and put themselves in open defiance of
his authority. They were now to be visited in judgment.[545] But in
order to the distinguishing of the Lord’s people from his enemies, the
Hebrews were to prepare a blood welcome at their doorway, and the Lord
would honor this welcome by covenanting with those who proffered it.
“And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into
the midst of Egypt: and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall
die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even
unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all
the firstborn of cattle.... But against any of the children of Israel
shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know
how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and
Israel.”[546]
In furtherance of this purpose, the Lord asked for the sacrifice of the
threshold cross-over by the Hebrews: “For the Lord will pass through
[the land] to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the
lintel, and on the two side posts [of the Hebrew homes], the Lord will
pass over [cross-over or through] the door, and will not suffer the
destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.”[547] Obviously the
figure here employed is of a sovereign accompanied by his executioner, a
familiar figure in the ancient East. When he comes to a house marked by
tokens of the welcoming covenant, the sovereign will covenant-cross that
threshold, and enter the home as a guest, or as a member of the family;
but where no such preparation has been made for him, his executioner
will enter on his mission of judgment.[548]