Passover & the Bible’s Sacrificial Symbolism

Christ-bearing-His-crossIn two weeks the Biblical calendar commemorates one of the most important milestones in YHWH’s redemptive plan for mankind. We know it as Pesach or Passover and it is a Biblical holyday in which nearly every aspect of the celebration reminds us of Yeshua’s sacrifice on our behalf.

Each year more and more believers are becoming aware of the rich context and symbolism of Passover. From the Passover supper and Unleavened Bread to the Firstfruits offering several days later this holyday practically shouts to us of YHWH’s redemptive plan through Yeshua our Messiah.

Today I’d like to share with you a bit of wonderful symbolism which is often overlooked in the celebration of Passover. As many of you know Passover is part of the “law” YHWH gave to Israel through Moses. The author of the book of Hebrews described the law as but a “shadow of good things to come…” Hebrews goes on to show why Yeshua was a literal fulfilment of those shadow pictures found in the Torah.

We have to look no further for confirmation of this than Matthew 5:17 where Yeshua proclaimed:

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

So let’s look into the law and see if we can see another way in which the Bible represents Yeshua as the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world” and a fulfillment of the “shadows” the author of Hebrews talked about. Today we will explore the number and order of the sacrifices required during the feast of Passover. You’ll be thrilled to learn that here too we have a wonderful example of Messianic symbolism which points us to Yeshua as the Messiah promised from the foundation of the world. The following is an excerpt from my book The 13th Enumeration: Key to the Bible’s Messianic Symbolism.

13th-Enumeration-Chapter-10The 14th Sacrifice

“Yet it pleased YHWH to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of YHWH shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. —Isaiah 53:10–12

I’m continually thrilled by the Messianic symbolism YHWH has hidden in the Scripture for us to find. To me, it’s the ultimate treasure hunt, with each new find bringing additional depth and beauty to our Creator’s plan of reconciliation for all mankind through Yeshua.

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Corinthians 5:7–8)

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these . . . So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:23–28)

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect . . . we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:1–10)

 A Wonderful Puzzle

Right up front, I’ll admit my bias: I believe the Bible to be the inspired words of YHWH. When there are passages that don’t make any sense or seem downright funky—passages like Matthew 1—I like to look at these parts as a wonderful puzzle to solve.

Another good example of what I’m talking about is the order and number of sacrifices prescribed during the biblical feast days. I mean, have you ever looked at the numbers of the sacrifices YHWH commanded Israel to offer? For instance, why were two bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs required to be offered during the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Doesn’t that seem just a little unusual to you? Their number and order are obviously specific—but why?

For those who have looked, you would have to say it is almost like a code. If there is a symbolic or coded message in the number of sacrifices prescribed in the Old Testament, could it somehow be related to the Messianic symbolism we have already found in the biblical holy days—or to Matthew 1? What are the chances the 13th Enumeration could be the key? Let’s take a look and see.

 The Book of Numbers
What better place to start than the book of the Bible the Jewish people call Bemidbar, “in the desert”—probably better known to you and me as the book of Numbers. The fourth book of the Bible, Numbers gives more details about the biblical sacrifices prescribed during the feast days than any other place in the Scriptures.

The first biblical feast day begins in the spring, with Passover, on the 14th day of the first month at “even.” In biblical timekeeping, evening, or sundown, begins the day. In this case, the evening of the 14th is the start of the 15th day of Nisan.

Fourteen days earlier, the Torah honors the start of the biblical calendar with the following instructions:

 And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto YHWH; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot . . . and one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto YHWH shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. (Numbers 28:11–15)

Altar-of-burnt-offering600You know, I still ask myself how I missed it all these years:

2 bullocks (burnt offering)
1 ram (burnt offering)
7 lambs (burnt offering)
1 kid of the goats (sin offering)
2 lambs (continual burnt offering)
13 total sacrifices

Right there in the book of Numbers, the biblical calendar begins with 13 sacrifices. How awesome is that! 

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2)

But the symbolism doesn’t stop there. Numbers 28 and 29 go on to prescribe 13 sacrifices each day for the entire Feast of Unleavened Bread, as well as during Shavuot, Yom Kippur, and the 8th day of Tabernacles.[1] As we will see in the next chapter, the sacrificial instructions for the first seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) are nothing short of amazing!

But before we get to that, there is a hidden treasure yet to be discovered in the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Unleavened Bread is a feast of seven days which began with the Passover supper. In order to see the wonderful symbolism here, a little history of Israel’s exodus from Egypt is required.

Overthrow-of-Pharoah-Red_Se The Passover and the Exodus
Few Old Testament stories capture our imaginations like the exodus of Israel from Egypt. From Moses’s confrontation with Pharaoh to the plagues, the angel of death, and finally the crossing of the Red Sea, the imagery is captivating, sobering, and finally triumphant. The events described in the book of Exodus set a pattern or shadow, if you will, which the New Testament sees fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Yeshua.

Most of us know the story of the Passover. Every Israelite household was instructed to kill a lamb and mark the doorposts with its blood. This sacrifice is described in the Bible as “YHWH’s Passover.” The angel of death would “pass over” any house upon which this blood was found, thus sparing the inhabitants the death of their firstborn in Egypt’s most terrible plague.

The order and timing of these events are fascinating, not least because they mark the Passover with the symbolism of the Messiah factors. Let’s take a look:

And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which YHWH had smitten among them: upon their gods also YHWH executed judgments. (Numbers 33:3 4)

The above passage gives us an excellent fixing point in the chronology of the exodus. Verse 3 makes it clear that the exodus from Egypt began on the 15th day of the first month. Further, it informs us that this same day, the Egyptians were busy burying their firstborn dead. Exodus 12 fixes the chronology even further with the instructions concerning the Passover lamb. They were to keep this lamb until the 14th day, kill it in the evening (sundown) of the 14th day, and then eat it that night, which began the 15th of Nisan—the same night the angel of death passed over Egypt.

 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year . . . And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof . . . And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is YHWH’S passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am YHWH. (Exodus 12:5–12)

And it came to pass, that at midnight YHWH smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt . . . 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 there was not one dead. And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people . . . And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men. (Exodus 12:29–33)

 Based upon the above chronology, the Passover lambs were killed on the 14th of Nisan just before or right at sundown, which began the 15th day of the month. This passage makes it clear that the sacrifice was not eaten until that “night,” the very same night the angel of death “passed over” the land of Egypt. Remember, a new biblical day begins at sundown.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (Genesis 1:5)

Now consider once again the instructions of Numbers 28 in light of this chronology. Numbers 28 requires 13 sacrifices to be made on the 15th of Nisan, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. But there is a 14th sacrifice as well. The Passover lamb, killed on the 14th, was to be eaten “in that night,” which began the 15th of Nisan. So in fitting symbolism, just as Matthew 1 showed Yeshua as both the 13th and 14th Enumerations, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the very biblical holyday which represents Yeshua’s atonement on our behalf, requires 13 sacrifices to be made, but in fact 14 are consumed! This brings new meaning to the words of Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians:

Yeshua-13-&-14

Click on Image to enlarge

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
(1 Corinthians 5:7)

 “And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto YHWH; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.”
—Numbers 28:3–4

 “And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of YHWH. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten . . . But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto YHWH; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year . . . and one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering. After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto YHWH: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.”
—Numbers 28:16–24

 “Also in the day of the firstfruits . . . But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto YHWH; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year . . . and one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.”
—Numbers 28:26–31

[1] The Feast of Trumpets, according to Numbers 29, also requires 13 sacrifices, but if the new-moon sacrifices of the first month are included, they make for 24. Leviticus 23 includes two peace offerings for the feast of Shavuot that are not included in the sacrifices of Numbers 28. This would make for 15 if both instructions were combined. It is also important to note that any day that fell on a Sabbath required two additional sacrifices.

Book 1
Book I - Description

The 13th Enumeration
"A book that will change how you look at the Bible's Messianic Symbolism."

Book 2
Book 2 - Description

Daniel's 70 Weeks -
"A book that will forever change how you understand the Bible's greatest Messianic prophecy."

Book 3
Book 3 - Description

The Jubilee Code -
"A book that will show you real Biblical evidence for Yahweh's guiding in hand history bringing about His redemptive plan for mankind."

 

 

 

6 thoughts on “Passover & the Bible’s Sacrificial Symbolism

  1. Christopher Savarimuthu

    Dear sir,

    Thank you for this article. It’s very informative. I’m sorry if I seem a little dense but I just would like for you to clear up a little confusion on my understanding of the divisions of the day and night.

    And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. (Genesis 1:5)

    The above from Genesis is the matter in question. It tells us the evening and the morning were day one. So, it is the morning prior to the evening or the morning after the evening that is named first day?

    Since a new day began at sundown, this would include the night as part that new day. The thing is, the lighted part of day God called Day and the dark part He called Night.

    I’m not sure if you will understand just what I’m trying figure out. It seems strange that duration of a day (the whole 24 hours) is from night to night. Even the modern calendar begins the new day at midnight. I would like to think that a new day begins at dawn. So, sunrise to sunrise would be a nice idea of a day.

    Reply
    1. William Struse Post author

      Hi Christopher,

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I hadn’t given the subject a lot of thought (in respect to a day and night within a day in general). The only place that I know of in the Scripture that really spells out how a day is calculated is in Leviticus 23. Here is defines the 10th day (Yom Kippur) as the 9th day from even unto even. Hope this helps and thanks for getting me to think about the subject in new way.

      warm regards,
      William

      Leviticus 23:27-32 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

      Reply
  2. Jorge

    Greetings William,
    Great article; to put it in today’s vernacular “that was really cool”!
    Here is another puzzle regarding the symbolism of the sacrifices: what is the significance of the specific animals chosen for the sacrifices? i.e., why a bull, a ram, kid goat? what do those represent? I know for a fact bulls represent sexual prowess and physical strength; what about the others? Why is the bull and the ram a burnt offering, and the kid goat a sin offering? what does this tell us about the goat and what it represents? maybe we can discuss this sometime. In my studies I have concluded the sacrifices are symbolic of the things we are to WILLINGLY bring before Christ, that we may fulfill the scriptures: “For those that are of the Christ have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts”. There is so much more on this, but I won’t take up the room.

    One last thing to consider: why 7 lambs? what is so significant about the number 7? Does this have to do with the 7 Spirits of God in Revelation 3? any relation to the statement ” God is light” (1 John 1:5) and that white light can be said to break up into 7 distinct colors when passed through a prism?
    It appears we won’t be running out of puzzles any time soon! :D
    Best Regards.

    Reply
    1. William Struse Post author

      Good morning Jorge,

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Not sure what the different animals represent but I believe they have significance. Same with the meat offerings of oil & grain. Interesting thoughts on 7, never looked at it that way. I’m a firm believer that the created world around us reflects the creative genius of YHWH. I think the sacrificial instructions given in the Bible is another wonderful place to look for that.

      Appreciate your comments.
      Warm regards,
      William

      Reply
  3. Lawrence

    Hi William,

    Thanks for post.

    “Also in the day of the firstfruits . . . But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto YHWH; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year . . . and one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.”
    —Numbers 28:26–31

    Tazria haftarah for Sabbath today.

    Includes:

    “Elisha Feeds One Hundred Men
    42 A man came from Ba′al-shal′ishah, bringing the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Eli′sha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.””

    Gene has written about chronology that this represents.

    Today is Nisan 1, 6016, I believe according to Gene’s timeline.

    Reply
  4. Susan Preston

    Fo my book series I had to study out the Biblical meaning of the day/night. At the time the Aoostle John series was set – the Roman calendar (one of the many) was in use. Roman reckoning then calculated the day as starting at midnight. But this was not God’s way of reckoning it. Evening and morning – were a day.
    So Passover on the 14th began at ‘even’ as the 13th was finishing. Passover itself was not a Feast. It was in commemoration of God ‘passing over’ the Children of Israel’.in their homes in Goshen.
    As the 15th sarted – at even – the Israelites left Egypt – and that was the start of the Holy Day on the 1st Day of Unleavened Bread.
    It can be confusing to our minds because we live in the Roman calendar system – but I have read and researched so much on this – sometimes my head spins LOL

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *