Moses Summons the Elders to Draw Out and Take the Passover Lamb

"And Moses called for all the elders of Israel" (Exodus 12:21). This teaches that Moses showed honor to the elders. It teaches that the elders take precedence over all Israel. It teaches that Moses made use of the elders of his generation. Rabbi Yose the Galilean says: Great is old age. If they are great men, old age is great, for thus has Scripture cherished it; and if they were young in their conduct, old age is great, for thus has youthfulness been joined to it. "And he said to them" (Exodus 12:21). This teaches that he fixed his eyes upon them from the moment he said to them, "Draw out." Rabbi Eliezer says: He said to them, "Withdraw your hands from idolatry," as in the matter that is said, "And I said to them, Cast away every man the detestable things of his eyes" (Ezekiel 20:7). Rabbi Akiva says: "Draw out" — whoever has a lamb of his own; "and take" — whoever has none; "for yourselves" — this includes one who gives it as a gift. "A lamb" (Exodus 12:21) — wherever "flock" is stated, it embraces sheep and goats. Another interpretation: "Draw out and take for yourselves a lamb" — we thus learn that a small domestic animal is acquired by drawing it. "And slaughter the Passover offering" (Exodus 12:21). Its commandment is fulfilled only by slaughtering. For one might argue: if a burnt offering, for which no time of slaughter was set, may be fulfilled only by slaughtering, then the Passover, for which a time of slaughter was set, all the more should require slaughtering. But no: you could say of the burnt offering that a place of slaughter was set for it, whereas for the Passover no place of slaughter was set; and since no place was set for it, perhaps its commandment is not fulfilled by slaughtering. Therefore Scripture teaches, "And slaughter the Passover offering" — its commandment is fulfilled only by slaughtering.