It was a memorial festival throughout the generations of the children of Israel, to mark their deliverance from bondage in Egypt, and the special Providence which protected them from the destroying angel, who procured that deliverance by slaying all the first-born of man and beast in Egypt. A lamb of the first year, a male from the sheep or goats and without blemish, was killed at even, and the flesh roasted with fire was eaten by every household that night, while the destroying angel was at work around them; but prior to this the blood of the lamb had been sprinkled on the two side posts, and upper door post of the houses, “and the blood shall be to you for a token. . . . And when the Lord seeth the blood, He will pass over you;” so that while every other house had its dead, they ate securely under cover of the sprinkled blood. This festival was instituted on the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt, and before the giving of the Law, or the appointment of the priesthood of Aaron and his sons. As with the patriarchal sacrifices, it was provided by the head of the household. In allusion to _subsequent_ times, when their children should inquire the meaning of the service, they were to say “It is the _sacrifice_ of the Lord’s passover” (Exod. xii. 27). The Passover has a very marked reference to our Lord Jesus Christ. Shortly before His death He said to His disciples, “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer;” and at that supper He said of the bread, which as the master of the feast He broke, “This is My body which is given for you;” and of the cup, “This is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke xxii. 15–20). 4th. Immediately upon the Paschal feast followed, during the next seven days, _the Feast of Unleavened Bread_, during which were to be offered, _each day_— Two young bullocks, For a burnt-offering, with flour and oil, One ram, Seven lambs, and _one goat_ daily for a _sin-offering_ (Num. xxviii. 17–25). 5th. On presenting the _sheaf of First-fruits_ to the Lord, of which it is said “Ye shall neither eat _bread_ nor _parched corn_, nor _green ears_, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God” {20} (Lev. xxiii. 14). On that day was to be offered a male lamb, without blemish, of the first year, for a burnt-offering, with flour, oil, and wine,—“an offering made by fire unto the Lord for a sweet savour” (Lev. xxiii. 13). 6th. The _Feast of Pentecost_ (called also feast of weeks, Ex. xxxiv. 22), fifty days later, on presenting to the Lord a _new meat-offering __from their habitations_ (Lev. xxiii. 16). Two wave loaves of fine flour, baken with leaven, “They are the first-fruits unto the Lord” (Lev. xxiii. 17), and the accompanying offerings were— Seven lambs of first year, For a burnt-offering, Two {21} young bullocks, One ram,