PASSOVEWR AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

PASSOVER AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD
LESSON 2 ^{NEW 2008}

In lesson one of the series "Passover and the Feast Days of YAHUAH," we learned just how important it is for us to keep the Passover and feast days according to YAHUAH'S appointed time, appointed place, and prescribed way. The background scriptures highlighted in lesson one of this series, which are Exodus 12:1- 51, Numbers 9:1-14, Deuteronomy 16: 1-17, Joshua 5:10-12, and Acts 2: 1-21, teaches us when, where, and how they should be observed. These background scriptures taught us that first YAHUAH wants us to keep Passover and His feast days but just as important is when, where, and how we should keep them. I proved in lesson one that YAHUAH has a prescribed way for keeping His Passover and feast days. I also proved that Passover and the feast days cannot be kept anywhere else outside of the appointed place, which is Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem). As we examine these scriptures on the Passover and Unleavened Bread, we will find that throughout scripture the Passover and feasts were always observed according to the prescribed way of YAHUAH. We too must observe these Set-Apart Days according to the prescribed way of YAHUAH. Now let us look at scriptures on Passover and Unleavened Bread.

PASSOVER AND UNLEAVENED BREAD

The word Passover is Pecach {peh'-sakh} in the Hebrew, meaning a pretermission i.e. exemption; which comes from the primitive root word pacach {paw-sakh} meaning to hop, i.e. (fig.) skip over (or spare); by implication to hesitate; also (lit): to pass over, to leap. According to the definition above, this is exactly what YAHUAH promised to do and did for our ancient ancestors, YisraYAH (Israel), who were in bondage in Egypt. YAHUAH promised our ancient ancestors that he would pass, hop, skip, spare, and leap over the houses of the children of YisraYAH (Israel) in Egypt when He struck down the Egyptians that had our ancient ancestors in bondage (See Exodus 12: 12,13, and 27). The word unleavened comes from the Hebraic word matstsah {mats-tsaw'}, which means an unfermented cake or loaf; that which is not leavened. The word bread is lechem {lekh'-em} in the Hebrew, meaning food, bread, meat, grain,corn, fruits, and food in general. So, unleavened bread in Hebrew is matstah lechem meaning unleavened food.

The word Passover is first mentioned in the book of Shemoth (Exodus) 12:11-14, "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] YAHUAH'S passover. 12 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] YAHUAH. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to YAHUAH throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Pecach (Passover) is a remembrance that YAHUAH commanded our ancestors to keep by an ordinance/statue forever throughout all our generations.

THE ORDER OF PASSOVER

Exodus 12:3-6 Speak ye unto all the congregation of YisraYAH (Israel), saying,
#1 In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: (verse 3)
#2 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take [it] according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. (verse 4)
#3 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: (verse 5)
#4 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of YisraYAH (Israel) shall kill it in the evening. (verse 6)

And YAHUAH gave Mosheh (Moses) and 'Aharown (Aaron) further instructions concerning the ordinances of Passover:
Exodus 12: 43-49 saying:
#5 There shall no stranger eat thereof: But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof. (verses 43, 44)
#6 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. (verses 45)
#7 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; (verse 46)
#8 neither shall ye break a bone thereof. (verse 46)
#9All the congregation of YisraYAH (Israel) shall keep it. (verse 47)
#10 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to YAHUAH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: (verse 48)
#11 for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. (verse 48)
#12 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. (verse 49)

Upon hearing all of these instructions and commandments that YAHUAH gave to Mosheh and 'Aharown, so they did - all the children of YisraYAH (Israel). And it came to pass, the self same day that YAHUAH after four hundred and thirty years of captivity brought the children of YisraYAH (Israel) out of the land of Egypt by their armies (Exodus 12: 50-51).

In Exodus chapter 34, YAHUAH gives further instructions concerning the ordinance of Passover saying:
#13 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning. (verse 25)

This is the ordinance of the Passover. YAHUAH gave specific instructions to our ancestors in Egypt on how and when Passover was to be observed. YAHUAH set in place the order of the Passover in Egypt. When the children of YisraYAH (Israel) left Egypt, they came to the wilderness of Sinai. Again even in the wilderness, YAHUAH spoke to Mosheh and told the children of YisraYAH (Israel) to keep the Passover. Although this was the second year, YAHUAH instructed Mosheh that Passover would be kept at the same appointed time (the first month) and according to all the ordinances/ statues that were established for the first Passover in Egypt. The same way the children of YisraYAH (Israel) observed the first Passover is the same way they observed it in the wilderness of Sinai. Let us remember that in both the observances of Passover in Egypt and Sinai that the Hebrew nation was still altogether and in one place. They were not scattered. They were altogether, on one accord, and in one place for the first Passover and were altogether, on one accord, and in one place for the second Passover. Now notice this ordinance of the Passover service, should be exactly the same as when it was celebrated for the first time. Remember this is in the wilderness of Sinai, the second year after they came out of the land of Egypt.

Bemidbar (Numbers) 9: 1-5 And YAHUAH spake unto Mosheh in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
**Let the children of YisraYAH (Israel) also keep the passover at his appointed season. (verse 2)
**In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: (verse 3)
**according to all the chuqqah (meaning: rites, statue, ordinance, that which has been prescribed) of it, and according to all the mishpat (meaning: ceremonies, judgment, ordinance, process, procedure, execution, manner, plan) thereof, shall ye keep it. (verse 3)

So Mosheh did as YAHUAH commanded and spoke to the children of YisraYAH (Israel) that they should keep the Passover, and so did they keep the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month of the second year after they came out of the land of Egypt between the evenings in the wilderness of Sinai. And they kept it according to all that YAHUAH had instructed and commanded Mosheh so did the children of YisraYAH (Israel) keep the Passover (Numbers 9: 4-5).

Numbers 9: 6-13: Even though we are scattered abroad; yet YAHUAH requires for us to assemble ourselves together in one accord, at the same time, at the same place, and keep it the same way. Because YAHUAH is so adamant about us keeping His Passover and feast days according to His appointed time, appointed place, and prescribed way that He has even made provisions for those that are unclean or on a long journey and cannot keep the Passover the first month of the year. “And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day (verse 6): And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of YAHUAH in his appointed season among the children of YisraYAH (Israel)
(verse 7)? And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what YAHUAH will command concerning you (verse 8). And YAHUAH spake unto Moses, saying (verse 9), Speak unto the children of YisraYAH (Israel), saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or [be] in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto YAHUAH (verse 10)." Notice the instructions YAHUAH gave to Moses concerning those who were unclean or had to travel from a far distance and could not keep the Passover the first month.
** Passover still will be observed on the fourteenth day but in the second month between the evenings. (verse 11)

** They shall keep it and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. (verse 11)

** They shall leave nothing of it until morning nor break any bones of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. (verse 12)

** But the man that is clean and is not on a journey, and has failed to keep the Passover, that same soul/ being shall be cut off from among his people, because he did not bring the offering of YAHUAH at its appointed time- that man bears his sin.
(verse 13)

In Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 23:5 and in Bemidbar (Numbers) 28:16, YAHUAH confirms that His Passover is to be kept the fourteenth day of the first month.

In the book of Bemidbar (Numbers) 33:1-3, the scriptures says: "These [are] the journeys of the children of YisraYAH (Israel), which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Mosheh and Aaron. 2 And Mosheh wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of YAHUAH: and these [are] their journeys according to their goings out. 3 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 YisraYAH (Israel) went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians."

YAHUAH always reminded the people to observe Passover in the first month, which is called the month of Abib. Debarim (Deuteronomy) 16:1-2, Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto YAHUAH thy YAHUAH: for in the month of Abib YAHUAH thy YAHUAH brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. 2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto YAHUAH thy YAHUAH, of the flock and the herd, in the place which YAHUAH shall choose to place his name there.

Joshua 5:10-12 is the celebration of the Passover service that Moses prophesied about in Exodus 12:25. The scripture teaches us that the children of YisraYAH (Israel) encamped in Gilgal. Gilgal is the first sight of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho; they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho. Jericho is a city five miles west of the Jordan and seven miles north of the Dead Sea and the first city that was conquered by our ancestors, the Hebrew Israelites, upon entering the land of promise (Canaan). We know from the study of the previous scripture that the month Passover is celebrated in is the first month, which is also know as the month of Abib. So it is the first month of the year when YAHUAH caused the children of YisraYAH (Israel) to enter into the land of promise, and they entered into the land at evening.

In II Kings chapter 23, we see were Yo'shiYAH (Josiah- meaning "whom YAHUAH heals") commanded our ancestors to keep the Passover of YAHUAH. "And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto YAHUAH your YAHUAH, as [it is] written in the book of this covenant." "As it is written in the book of the covenant" signifies that all of the ordinances, the rites, and ceremonies of the Passover ceremony would be observed. 22 "Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged YisraYAH (Israel), nor in all the days of the melekYAH (kings) of YisraYAH (Israel), nor of the melekYAH (kings)" of Yahudah (Judah); 23 But in the eighteenth year of melekYAH Yo'shiyah (king Josiah), wherein this passover was holden to YAHUAH in Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem)."

II Chronicles 30:1-5, 18-20: Here we see another melekYAH (king) of YisraYAH (Israel) by the name of ChizqiYAH (Hezekiah- meaning "YAHUAH is my strength"). ChiziqiYAH (Hezekiah) strengthened the children of YisraYAH (Israel) to observe Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread at Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem) since they had not done it for a long time, as it is written. "And ChizqiYAH (Hezekiah) sent to all YisraYAH (Israel) and Yahudah (Judah), and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of YAHUAH at Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem), to keep the passover unto YAHUAH - YAHUAH of YisraYAH (Israel). 2 For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem), to keep the passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem). 4 And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation." 5 So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all YisraYAH (Israel), from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto YAHUAH - YAHUAH of YisraYAH (Israel) at Yruwshalaim
(Jerusalem): for they had not done [it] of a long [time in such sort] as it was written.
18 "For a multitude of the people, [even] many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But ChizqiYAH (Hezekiah) prayed for them, saying, The good YAHUAH pardon every one 19 [That] prepareth his heart to seek YAHUAH, YAHUAH - YAHUAH of his fathers, though [he be] not [cleansed] according to the purification of the sanctuary. 20 And YAHUAH hearkened to ChizqiYAH (Hezekiah), and healed the people."

It is good to remember as we stated in lesson one that miraculous things happen around the feast days of YAHUAH. Major events have always happened around the feast days. Here is a question for you: In your celebration of keeping the Passover in this land, have any miraculous things happened to you; has there been any healing, has any gadowl (great) things taken place among you as it did among our ancestors when they kept the Passover YAHUAH’S way and in His appointed time and His appointed place. I can answer this for you. The answer is NO, and the reason why is because we haven’t done it YAHUAH’S way. It is only when we do things YAHUAH’S way that we get YAHUAH’S results.

In II Chronicles 35:1-13, melekYAH Yo'shiyah (king Josiah) had a desire to keep Passover according to the appointed time, appointed place, and prescribed way of YAHUAH in so much that he encouraged and charged the priests and Levites to perform their service to make sure that the service was carried out exactly how YAHUAH prescribed it at the first. The priests and Levites service included setting the tabernacle of YAHUAH, which is in Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem), in order and preparing themselves and the people for Passover and the feast. To ensure that this was accomplished, melekYAH Yo'shiyah (Josiah) along with his princes gave willingly the necessary animals that were needed for Passover and the feast offerings. "1 Moreover Yo'shiyah (Josiah) kept a passover unto YAHUAH in Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem): and they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month. 2 And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of YAHUAH, 3 And said unto the Levites that taught all YisraYAH (Israel), which were set- apart unto YAHUAH, Put the set- apart ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of YisraYAH (Israel) did build; [it shall] not [be] a burden upon [your] shoulders: serve now YAHUAH your YAHUAH, and his people YisraYAH (Israel), 4 And prepare [yourselves] by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of YisraYAH (Israel), and according to the writing of Solomon his son. 5 And stand in the set- apart [place] according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and [after] the division of the families of the Levites. 6 So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that [they] may do according to the word of YAHUAH by the hand of Mosheh. By the "hand of Mosheh" signifies that the Passover must be kept according to all that Mosheh commanded at the very beginning. We too must keep Passover the exact same way. 7 And Yo'shiyah (Josiah) gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these [were] of the king's substance. 8 And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and JehiYAH, rulers of the house of YAHUAH, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred [small cattle], and three hundred oxen. 9 Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and JeiYAH and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand [small cattle], and five hundred oxen. 10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment. 11 And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled [the blood] from their hands, and the Levites flayed [them]. 12 And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto YAHUAH, as [it is] written in the book of Mosheh. And so [did they] with the oxen. 13 And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the [other] set- apart [offerings] sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided [them] speedily among all the people."

In Ezra 6: 1-20, we see yet another king, king Darius who was the first Persian king, make a decree that allowed our ancient ancestors even though they were in captivity to return back to the appointed place, Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem) to keep the feast. The king gave our ancestors everything they needed to build and restore the house of YAHUAH at Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem) back to its proper function. Not only did King Darius along with his princes give our ancestors what they needed to build and restore the tabernacle of YAHUAH, but he also gave them everything they needed to keep Passover and the feast according to YAHUAH'S prescribed way.

YehezqYAH (Ezekiel) 45:21 once again emphasizes that Passover should be kept at YAHUAH'S appointed time and appointed place, and according to His prescribed way. "In the first [month], in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten."

These scriptures so far are evidence that Passover was always kept according to YAHUAH'S {mo-ade} (appointed time and appointed season) and according to all the rites (statues and ordinances) that were prescribed at the first Passover. From the Old Testament scriptures and even throughout New Testament scriptures, when Passover was celebrated it was done at the same appointed time, appointed place, and prescribed way that Mosheh declared in the beginning at the first Passover observance in Egypt. We too are also required to keep the Passover the same identical way- at His appointed time and appointed place.

THE ORDER OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

This is the ordinance/prescribed way that YAHUAH wants us to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This order of Unleavened Bread was carried out every time YisraYAH (Israel) observed this feast. Shemoth (Exodus)12: 15- 20:
#1 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; (verse 15)
#2 even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: (verse 15)
#3 for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from YisraYAH (Israel). (verse 15)
#4 And in the first day [there shall be] an qodesh (set apart) convocation, (verse 16)
#5 and in the seventh day there shall be an qodesh (set apart) convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save [that] which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. (verse 16)
#6 And ye shall observe [the feast of] unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Mitsrayim (Egypt): therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. (verse 17)
#7 In the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. (verse 18)
#8 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: (verse 19)
#9 for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of YisraYAH (Israel), whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. (verse 19)
#10 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. (verse 20)
#11 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire (two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish) unto YAHUAH seven days: (Leviticus 23: 8 and Numbers 28:19)
#12 And their meal offering [shall be of] flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; (Numbers 28:20)
#13 A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: (Numbers 28: 21)
#14 And one goat [for] a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. (Numbers 28:22)
#15 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which [is] for a continual burnt offering. (Numbers 28:23)

In the book Shemoth (Exodus) chapter 34, we see YAHUAH reminding Mosheh again to hew out two tables of stone likened unto the first that he might bring them with him up to Mt. Sinai that HE (YAHUAH) might write upon the stones that which was on the first tablets, which Mosheh broke. And YAHUAH wrote upon the tablets stone concerning the Feast of Unleavened Bread: "The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt" (verse 18).

In Wayyiqra (Leviticus) 23:6-8, again YAHUAH gives Mosheh the {mo-ade} (appointed time/ season) and prescribed way in which the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be kept. It is the same way and at the same season that He established at the first.
** And on the fifteenth day of the same (first) month [is] the feast of unleavened bread unto YAHUAH: (verse 6)
** seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. (verse 6)
** In the first day ye shall have an qodesh (set apart) convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. (verse 7)
** But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YAHUAH seven days: (verse 8)
** in the seventh day [is] an qodesh (set apart) convocation: ye shall do no servile work [therein]. (verse 8)

In Bemidbar (Numbers) 28:17-25, the appointed time and the prescribed way is laid out again according to the commandments of YAHUAH concerning the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the way that it should be observed.
**And in the fifteenth day of this month [is] the feast: (verse 17)
** seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. (verse 17)
**In the first day [shall be] an qodesh (set apart) convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work [therein]: (verse 18)
** But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire [for] a burnt offering unto YAHUAH; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish: (verse 19)
**And their meat (meal) offering [shall be of] flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram; (verse 20)
** A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: (verse 21)
**And one goat [for] a sin offering, to make an atonement for you. (verse 22)
** Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which [is] for a continual burnt offering. (verse 23)
** After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto YAHUAH: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering. (verse 24)
** And on the seventh day ye shall have an set- apart convocation; ye shall do no servile work. (verse 25)

I would like to pose a question to you: When you celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in this land do you offer a sacrifice made by fire unto YAHUAH which consists of two young bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year that are without blemish? Do you offer a meat offering and a sin offering? Do you offer these burnt offerings unto YAHUAH daily for the entire seven days of Unleavened Bread? After all, this is the prescribed way, and according to YAHUAH we are to keep this ordinance forever throughout all our generations. This ordinance was carried out from the Old Testament throughout the New Testament scripture. Many believe that a new order was instituted with the New Testament, but I will show you from scripture that even in the New Testament they kept YAHUAH'S feast days according to the prescribed way instituted at the very beginning. The New Testament saints performed all things according to the torah (law) of YAHUAH (see Luke 2: 39).

In Debarim (Deuteronomy) 16: 3-4, Mosheh (Moses) again commanded the people that the Feast of Unleavened Bread should be kept according to the prescribed way of YAHUAH saying,
**Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it;
**seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, [even] the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
** And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days;

In Joshua 5: 11, when first entering the land of promise in a place that is named Gilgal, our ancestors did eat old corn of the land and unleavened bread on the morrow after the Passover on the selfsame day. "And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched [corn] in the selfsame day."

Over and over again, we begin to see YAHUAH emphasizing the appointed place were the feasts (The Feast of Unleavened Bread) should be kept. The place were YAHUAH placed His name is in the Tabernacle (House) of YAHUAH in Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem), which He had established there. II Chronicles 30:13, 21: "And there assembled at Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem) much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 21 And the children of YisraYAH (Israel) that were present at Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem) kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised YAHUAH day by day, [singing] with loud instruments unto YAHUAH." "For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem), to keep the passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time (for they were unable to perform it at its time), because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem) (verses 2-3)."

Again in II Chronicles 35:17, we see that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is kept according to YAHUAH'S appointed time, appointed place, and prescribed way, "And the children of YisraYAH (Israel) that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days."

Ezra 6:22, "And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for YAHUAH had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of YAHUAH, YAHUAH of YisraYAH (Israel).": Even though our ancestors were in captivity under the Assyrian king, yet the king by the power of YAHUAH, allowed our ancestors to go back to Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem) to keep the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread according to His appointed time, appointed place, and prescribed way. If at any time, the children of YisraYAH (Israel) could have observed Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread anywhere outside of Yruwshalaim (Jerusalem), this would have been the time because they were in captivity, but this was not the appointed place of YAHUAH. Our ancestors had to go back to YAHUAH'S appointed place at YAHUAH'S appointed time to observe the feasts and perform the rites of the feasts according to His prescribed way.

In YehezqYAH (Ezekiel) 45:21-24, again we see that the people of YAHUAH always followed YAHUAH'S prescribed way in His appointed season concerning the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread: "In the first [month], in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover,
**a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. (verse 21)
**And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock [for] a sin offering. (verse 22)
** seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to YAHUAH, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; (verse 23)
** a kid of the goats daily [for] a sin offering. (verse 23)
**And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an ephah. (verse 24)

These scriptures describe the ordinance of YAHUAH'S Passover and His Feast of Unleavened Bread. As you can see from the scriptures above, the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread were carried out at the appointed time, appointed place, and prescribed way of YAHUAH. The children of YisraYAH (Israel) could not keep these observances at anytime, any place, and anyway they wanted to. At all times, they had to observe them the way that YAHUAH prescribed them in scripture at the first. Over and over again, we saw the consistency of scripture in how the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread of YAHUAH were performed. In the coming lesson, lesson three, we will deal with the New Testament scriptures that speak about the Passover and Feast Days of YAHUAH. We will see that even in the New Testament, they were carried out according to the prescribed way of YAHUAH that He set forth at the first, and we too must carry out these observances the same way YAHUAH has prescribed in scripture. I am not trying to teach anyone not to keep the Passover and feast days of YAHUAH, but I am trying to point out that it must be done according to YAHUAH'S appointed time, appointed place, and prescribed way. The Hebrew nation is still a hard - headed, stiff-necked, and a rebellious people, who still take pleasure in doing things "our own way" rather than doing things YAHUAH'S way, but as YAHUAH has taught us when we do things His way, we get His results. I hope that these lessons will inspire you and encourage you to research the scripture concerning YAHUAH'S Passover and feasts days that we all may be barak (blessed) of YAHUAH. I desire with a great passion to keep YAHUAH'S Passover and feast days, but He has taught me that I was not keeping it according to what He has prescribed. As our hearts turn to YAHUAH to be obedient in all things of YAH, He will bring us to a place were we can observe Passover and His feast days with great delight. Let us turn our heart to YAH and walk in His ways, so that we may be restored to the land of promise were all things will be made right so that we may serve YAH with all our hearts that He might rejoice over us in our obedience unto Him beyond that of our ancient ancestors. More on Passover and the Feast Days of YAHUAH in lesson three.

In the Yachal (Hope) of YAHUSHA HA MASHAYAH,
Raah Brown

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