Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does 'this service' refer to in Exodus 12:25?
A: According to Rashi and traditional Jewish sources, 'this service' refers to the Passover sacrifice (Korban Pesach) and the observance of the Passover holiday, including eating matzah and bitter herbs, as commanded earlier in the chapter (Exodus 12:1-20).
Q: Why is this verse important in Judaism?
A: This verse is important because it establishes the eternal nature of the Passover observance. The Rambam (Maimonides) explains in Hilchot Korban Pesach that this commandment applies not only in the wilderness but for all generations when the Jewish people enter the Land of Israel, showing the lasting significance of Passover in Jewish tradition.
Q: How does this verse apply to Jews today?
A: While we currently cannot bring the Passover sacrifice without the Temple, Orthodox Judaism maintains all other aspects of Passover observance mentioned in this verse - the Seder, eating matzah, telling the Exodus story - as eternal commandments. The Talmud (Pesachim) discusses how these observances keep the memory of the Exodus alive even in exile.
Q: What does 'the land which the Lord will give you' refer to?
A: This refers to the Land of Israel, as promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Midrash (Mechilta) explains that this verse emphasizes that entering the land is part of fulfilling God's covenant, and the Passover observance there would be especially significant as it commemorates the redemption that made their entry possible.
Q: Why does the verse say 'when you shall come' rather than 'if you shall come'?
A: Traditional commentators like the Sforno explain that the wording 'when you shall come' expresses certainty that the Jewish people would inherit the land, reflecting God's unconditional promise to the forefathers. This shows God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the Jewish people.
Context and Source
The verse appears in Shemot (Exodus) 12:25, part of the narrative surrounding the mitzvah of Pesach (Passover) and the Exodus from Egypt. It is spoken by Moshe to Bnei Yisrael before their departure, instructing them about the future observance of the Pesach sacrifice once they enter Eretz Yisrael.
Rashi's Commentary
Rashi explains that the phrase "וְהָיָה כִּי־תָבֹאוּ אֶל־הָאָרֶץ" ("And it shall come to pass, when you shall come to the land") refers to the obligation to observe the Korban Pesach (Paschal sacrifice) after entering the Land of Israel. He emphasizes that this mitzvah was not fully binding in the wilderness but would take effect once they settled in Eretz Yisrael (Rashi on Shemot 12:25).
Rambam's Perspective
Rambam (Maimonides), in Hilchot Korban Pesach, elaborates that the mitzvah of the Pesach sacrifice applies only when the majority of the Jewish people dwell in their land. This aligns with the verse's implication that the observance is tied to the inheritance of Eretz Yisrael (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Korban Pesach 1:2-3).
Midrashic Interpretation
The Mechilta (a halachic Midrash on Shemot) connects this verse to the broader theme of divine promise and fulfillment. It teaches that Bnei Yisrael were assured that just as Hashem fulfilled His promise to bring them out of Egypt, He would also bring them into Eretz Yisrael, where they would observe the Pesach service (Mechilta de-Rabbi Yishmael, Bo 12).
Key Themes
Halachic Implications
The Talmud (Pesachim 96a) discusses whether the mitzvah of Pesach applied in the wilderness. The conclusion aligns with Rashi's view—that it was only fully obligatory upon entering Eretz Yisrael, though it was observed voluntarily in the wilderness (e.g., in the second year after the Exodus, as described in Bamidbar 9).