Page 353
VERS. XII.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
And on the first day of unleavened bread.
SO Matth. Chap. XXVI. 17. and Luke, Chap. XXII. 7. And now let them tell me, who think that Christ indeed kept his Passover the fourteenth day, but the Jews not before the fifteenth, because this year their Passover was transferred unto the fifteenth day, by reason of the following Sabbath: Let them tell me, I say, whether the Evange∣lists speak according to the day prescribed by Moses, or according to the day prescribed by the Masters of the Traditions, and used by the Nation: If according to Moses, then the fifteenth day was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the first of Unleavened bread, Exod. XII. 15, 18. But if according to the manner of the Nation, then it was the fourteenth. And whe∣ther the Evangelists speak according to this custom, let us enquire briefly.
Sometime indeed the whole seven days feast was transferred to another month; and that not only from that Law, Numb. IX. but from other causes also; concerning which see the places quoted in the margin l 1.1 But when the time appointed for the feast occur∣red, the Lamb was always slain on the fourteenth day.
I. Let us begin with a story, where an occasion occurs, not very unlike that, for which they, of whom we spake, think the Passover this year was transferred; namely, because of the following Sabbath. The story is this. m 1.2
After the death of Shemaiah and Abta∣lion, the sons of Betyra obtained the chief place: Hillel went up from Babylon to en∣quire concerning three doubts. When he was now at Jerusalem, and the fourteenth day of the first month fell out on the Sabbath; (observe that) it appeared not to the sons of Betyra, whether the Passover drove off the Sabbath, or no. Which when Hillel had determined in many words, and had added moreover, that he had learnt this from Shemaiah and Abtalion, they laid down their authority, and made Hillel president. When they had chosen him President, he derided them saying, What need have you of this Babylonian? Did you not serve the two chief Men of the world, Shemaiah and Abta∣lion, who sat among you?These things which are already said make enough to our purpose; but with the Readers leave, let us add the whole story.
While he thus scof∣fed at them, he forgat a Tradition. For they said, What is to be done with the peo∣ple, if they bring not their knives? He answered, I have heard this tradition, but I have forgot. But let them alone, for although they are not Prophets, they are Pro∣phets sons. Presently every one, whose Passover was a Lamb, stuck his knife into the fleece of it; and whose Passover was a Kid, hung his knife upon the horns of it.
And now, let the impartial Reader judge between the reason which is given for the transferring the Passover this year unto the fifteenth day, namely, because of the Sab∣bath following, that they might not be forced to abstain from servile work for two days together; and the reason, for which it might with good reason be transferred that year, concerning which the story is. The fourteenth day fell on a Sabbath, a scruple ariseth, whether the Sabbath gives way to the Passover? Or the Passover to the Sabbath? The very chief men of the Sanhedrin, and the Oracles of Traditions are not able to resolve the business. A great Article of Religion is transacting, and what is here to be done? O ye sons of Betyra, transfer but the Passover unto the next day, and the knot is untied. Certainly, if this had been either usual, or lawful they had provided, that the affairs of Religion, and their authority and fame, should not have sunk in this strait. But that was not to be suffered.
II. Let us add a Tradition, which you may justly wonder at. n 1.3 Five things, if they come in uncleanness, are not eaten in uncleanness: the sheaf of first fruits, the two loaves, the Shew-bread, the Peace-offerings of the Congregation, and the Goats of the New-Moons. But 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Passover which comes in uncleanness, is eaten in uncleanness: because it comes not originally, unless to be eaten.
Upon which Tradition thus Maimonides. The Lord saith, And there were some that were unclean by the Carkass of a man, (Numb. IX. 6.) and he determines of them, that they be put off from the Passover of the first month to the Passover of the second. And the Tradition is, that it was thus determined, because they were few. But if the whole Congregation should have been unclean, or if the greatest part of it should have been unclean, yet they offer the Pass∣over, though they are unclean. Therefore they say, Particular men are put off to the second Pass∣over, but the whole Congregation is not put off to the second Passover. In like manner, All the oblations of the Congregation, they offer them in uncleanness, if the most are unclean; which we learn also from the Passover. For the Lord saith of the Passover, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 That it is to be of∣fered in its set time, (Note that) and saith also, of the oblations of the Congregation, Ye shall do this to the Lord in your set times, and to them all he prescribes a set time. Every thing therefore, to which a time is set, is also offered in uncleanness, if so be very many of the Con∣gregation, or very many of the Priests be unclean.