Sabbath,' and prescribes particular prayers and special instruction with a view to the

coming festival. For, according to Jewish tradition, at the original institution of the

Passover (Exo 12:3), the 10th of Nisan, on which the sacrifice was to be selected, had

fallen on a Sabbath. But there is no evidence that either the name or the observance of

this 'Great Sabbath' had been in use at the time of our Lord, although it was enjoined to

teach the people in the various synagogues about the Passover during the month which

preceded the festival. There is also a significant tradition that some were wont to select

their sacrificial lamb four days before the Passover, and to keep it tied in a prominent

place within view, so as constantly to remind them of the coming service.

We have already explained that according to the Rabbis (Chag. ii, 1; vi. 2), three things

were implied in the festive command to 'appear before the Lord'--'Presence,' the

'Chagigah,' and 'Joyousness.' As specially applied to the Passover, the first of these

terms meant, that every one was to come up to Jerusalem and to offer a burnt-offering, if

possible on the first, or else on one of the other six days of the feast. This burnt-offering

was to be taken only from 'Cholin' (or profane substance), that is, from such as did not

otherwise belong to the Lord, either as tithes, firstlings, or things devoted, etc. The

Chagigah, which was strictly a peace-offering, might be twofold. This first Chagigah was

offered on the 14th of Nisan, the day of the Paschal sacrifice, and formed afterwards part

of the Paschal Supper. The second Chagigah was offered on the 15th of Nisan, or the

first day of the feast of unleavened bread. It is this second Chagigah which the Jews

were afraid they might be unable to eat, if they contracted defilement in the judgment-

hall of Pilate (John 18:28). In reference to the first Chagigah, the Mishnah lays down the

rule, that it was only to be offered if the Paschal day fell on a week-day, not on a

Sabbath, and if the Paschal lamb alone would not have been sufficient to give a

satisfying supper to the company which gathered around it (Pes. vi. 4). As in the case of

all other peace-offerings, part of this Chagigah might be kept, though not for longer than

one night and two days from its sacrifice. Being a voluntary offering, it was lawful to

bring it from sacred things (such as tithes of the flock). But the Chagigah for the 15th of

Nisan was obligatory, and had therefore to be brought from 'Cholin.' The third duty

incumbent on those who appeared at the feast was 'joyousness.' This expression, as we

have seen, simply referred to the fact that, according to their means, all Israel were,

during the course of this festival, with joyous heart to offer peace-offerings, which

might be chosen from sacred things (Deut 27:7). Thus the sacrifices which every

Israelite was to offer at the Passover were, besides his share in the Paschal lamb, a

burnt-offering, the Chagigah (one or two), and offerings of joyousness--all as God had

blessed each household. As stated in a previous chapter, all the twenty-four courses,

into which the priests were arranged, ministered in the temple on this, as on the other

great festivals, and they distributed among themselves alike what fell to them of the

festive sacrifices and the shewbread. But the course which, in its proper order, was on

duty for the week, alone offered all votive, and voluntary, and the public sacrifices for

the whole congregation, such as those of the morning and the evening (Succah v. 7).

The special preparations for the Passover commenced on the evening of the 13th of

Nisan, with which, according to Jewish reckoning, the 14th began, the day being always

computed from evening to evening.121

Then the head of the house was to search with a lighted candle all places where leaven

was usually kept, and to put what of it he found in the house in a safe place, whence no

portion could be carried away by any accident. Before doing this, he prayed: 'Blessed art

Thou, Jehovah, our God, King of the Universe, who hast sanctified us by Thy