Hey,
A friend put this post (below) on Facebook. It is an interesting possibility, and I feel like it is a much better translation possibility for Ex. 12:23, 27 especially. The blood on the doors is a figure of the Spirit, so the idea of covenant and presence of God in this post has merit.
In Isaiah 31:5, the idea of hovering seems much better than “pass over her“, as we have it.
Like birds flying, so will Jehovah of Hosts defend Jerusalem; He will defend and deliver her. He will pass over her and spare her.
This article https://www.thetorah.com/article/how-pesach-became-passover was interesting as background to the history of the translation of the word.
Damien
“Most people think Passover means God skipped over the houses with blood on the doorposts. But the Hebrew word “pesach” doesn’t mean “to pass by”—it means to hover over or protect.
God didn’t avoid those homes…
He entered into covenant with them.
He hovered over them like a shield.
He stood guard as death swept through Egypt.
Passover isn’t about avoidance—it’s about presence.
A God who draws near to protect those marked by His covenant.”
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Hi Damien.
I have to wonder if this is an idea that comes from people wanting to help clean up God’s reputation, to keep Him from being a killer. If He is only hovering over and protecting the houses of the Israelites, then what is He protecting them from? A rogue angel. In Ex. 12:12, He said this:
וְעָבַרְתִּ֣י בְאֶֽרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם֮ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַזֶּה֒
He is the one (in the angel of death) who is passing through Egypt killing people. It seems to me that God is not hovering over the Israelites protecting them, but is letting them live as He passes through the land killing the firstborn.
Exodus 22:23 says that God will “pass across/through” Egypt and will “skip over” the Israelites. I don’t see the need to make that “hover over” them. I don’t see a problem with “pass over” there.
All this seems suspect to me of a new-age type defense of God’s character. That’s my take on it, anyway.
jdc.
PS
What would we do with “killing the Passover” as in Ex. 12:21; Dt. 16:2, 5–6, etc., “keeping the Passover” as in 2Chron. 35:1, or “eating the Passover” as in 2Chron. 30:18?
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Yes, I think you have it right. Thanks.
djc
Tell us what you think:
https://x.com/WitnessofSpirit/status/1913597361579778548