For us hast Thou chosen; and us hast Thou sanctified from among all nations, and Thy

holy festivals with joy and with gladness hast Thou caused us to inherit. Blessed art

Thou, O Jehovah, who sanctifiest Israel and the appointed seasons! Blessed art Thou,

Jehovah, King of the Universe, who hast preserved us alive and sustained us and

brought us to this season!'128

The first cup of wine was then drunk, and each washed his hands.129

It was evidently at this time that the Saviour in His self-humiliation proceeded also to

wash the disciples' feet (John 13:5). Our Authorised Version wrongly translates verse 2

by, 'and supper being ended,' instead of 'and when supper had come,' or 'was begun.'

Similarly, it was, in all probability, in reference to the first cup that Luke gives the

following account (Luke 22:17): 'And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take

this, and divide it among yourselves'--the 'cup of blessing,' which was the third, and

formed part of the new institution of the Lord's Supper, being afterwards mentioned in

verse 20. In washing their hands this customary prayer was repeated: 'Blessed art Thou,

Jehovah our God, who hast sanctified us with Thy commandments, and hast enjoined

us concerning the washing of our hands.' Two different kinds of 'washing' were

prescribed by tradition--'dipping' and 'pouring.' At the Paschal Supper the hands were

to be 'dipped' in water.130

These preliminaries ended, the Paschal table was brought forward. The president of the

feast first took some of the herbs, dipped them in salt water, ate of them, and gave to the

others. Immediately after it, all the dishes were removed from the t able (as it was thought

so strange a proceeding would tend to excite the more curiosity), and then the second

cup was filled. A very interesting ceremony now took place, It had been enjoined in the

law that at each Paschal Supper the father was to show his son the import of this

festival. By way of carrying out this duty, the son (or else the youngest) was directed at

this particular part of the service to make inquiry; and, if the child were too young or

incapable, the father would do it for him.

The son asks: 'Why is this night distinguished from all other nights? For on all other

nights we eat leavened or unleavened bread, but on this night only unleavened bread?

On all other nights we eat any kind of herbs, but on this night only bitter herbs? On all

other nights we eat meat roasted, stewed, or boiled, but on this night only roasted? On

all other nights we dip (the herbs) only once, but on this night twice?' Thus far

according to the earliest and most trustworthy tradition. It is added (Mishnah, Pes. x. 4):

'Then the father instructs his child according to the capacity of his knowledge,

beginning with our disgrace and ending with our glory, and expounding to him from, "A

Syrian, ready to perish, was my father," till he has explained all through, to the end of

the whole section' (Deut 26:5-11). In other words, the head of the house was to relate the

whole national history, commencing with Terah, Abraham's father, and telling of his

idolatry, and continuing, in due order, the story of Is rael up to their deliverance from

Egypt and the giving of the Law; and the more fully he explained it all, the better.