Exodus 12:21
“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, “Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Passover.”
What does Exodus 12:21 mean?
Moses is instructing the Israelite leaders to prepare for their escape from Egypt by selecting and sacrificing lambs in a specific way. Each family would choose a lamb, kill it, and use its blood as a sign on their doorframes so that God's judgment would pass over their homes while striking down the firstborn of Egypt. This was both a practical instruction for survival and a deeply meaningful act of faith and obedience, marking the moment when God was about to free His people from slavery. The careful, family-by-family preparation shows how this wasn't a chaotic event but something done with intention and community participation, with each household taking responsibility for their own protection and remembrance.