Deuteronomy 16:1
That "God brought you out of Egypt by night" ought to give us a clue as to what this context is about. It is about coming out, the Exodus from Egypt, not Passover night and the slaying of the firstborn. This is what we have called the Night To Be Much Observed (Exodus 12:40-42). Anyone who understands the context of Exodus 12 and similar places can understand that the instruction in Deuteronomy 16:1-8 does not contemplate Passover per se. It certainly speaking of the Passover season, but it is generally describing the Days of Unleavened Bread and specifically the Night To Be Much Observed.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Night to be Much Observed
Related Topics: Days of Unleavened Bread
| Exodus
| Night To Be Much Observed
| Passover
| Passover Season
God bringing Israel out of Egypt "by night" signals that the context concerns the Exodus rather than Passover night and the slaying of the firstborn. Set in the Passover season, the instruction describes the Days of Unleavened Bread, specifically the Night To Be Much Observed. Elsewhere (Exodus 13:4; 23:15; 34:18), "the month of Abib" appears only in connection with Unleavened Bread. Passover commemorates God passing over Israel's houses, while Unleavened Bread commemorates the going out. Israel left on the 15th, not Passover, still being in their houses. Deuteronomy 16 alone links Passover with leaving Egypt, subtly setting up what follows and suggesting "something is rotten." Eating unleavened bread seven days recalls the Exodus, an affliction, and God's miraculous deeds for His people.