The Skeptics Annotated Bible (68 page)

9 And
the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

(11.9)
“The LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”
God explains to Moses that he has been hardening Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh will not let the Israelites go and he’ll be able to show off his latest signs and wonders (by murdering little children).

10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and
the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go
out of his land.

(11.10)
“The LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
” God hardens Pharaoh’s heart one last time (the eighth time) “so that he would not let the children of Israel go.”
95 Who hardened the Pharaoh’s heart?

12
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

(12.3-13) God tells the Israelites to smear some blood on their doors. That way when he’s going around killing Egyptian children, he’ll remember not to kill their children too. He probably said to himself when he saw the blood, “Oh yeah, I remember now. I’m not supposed to kill the children in this house.” (And be sure to sacrifice a male lamb. Only males are good enough for God.)

3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, 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
:

(12.3)
“Take … every man a lamb … for an house.”

4 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.

5
Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male
of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

(12.5)
“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male.”

6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and
the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

(12.6)
“The whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.”

7 And
they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses
, wherein they shall eat it.

(12.7)
“They shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses.”

8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

11 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 the LORD’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 the LORD.

(12.12a)
“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.”

(12.12b)
“Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment.”>
9 How many gods are there?