Philo’s Explanation of Passover

Philo

On the Special Laws 2.145–161

First Half of 1st Century

After the New Moon comes the fourth feast, called the Crossing-feast, which the Hebrews in their native tongue call Pascha. In this festival many myriads of victims from noon till eventide are offered by the whole people, old and young alike, raised for that particular day to the dignity of the priesthood. For at other times the priests according…

Please login or register for free access to Posen Library
Register
Already have an account?
Engage with this Source

Philo’s explanations of the festivals both paraphrase scripture and supply the author’s own philosophical symbolism, which draws on Stoicism and Middle Platonism. His explanation of Passover addresses several distinctive features of the festival, including consumption of unleavened bread and the fact that the Passover sacrifice is made by individual households rather than priests in the Temple. Philo also discusses the date of the festival: the Passover sacrifice is offered at twilight on the fourteenth of Nisan, designated the first month in the Bible (Exodus 12:2), and the Festival of Unleavened Bread begins on the fifteenth, at the spring equinox.

Read more
Restricted
Some content is unavailable to non-members, please log in or sign up for free for full access.

Related Guide

Jewish Daily Life in Roman-Era Palestine

1st Century BCE–6th Century CE
Restricted
Some content is unavailable to non-members, please log in or sign up for free for full access.

Related Guide

Ancient Jewish Festivals

4th Century BCE–6th Century CE
Restricted
Some content is unavailable to non-members, please log in or sign up for free for full access.

Related Guide

Passover in Early Judaism

1st–6th Centuries

Creator Bio

Philo

ca. 25 BCE–ca. 40

Philo of Alexandria was one of the most important figures in Hellenistic Judaism and a significant influence on early Christianity. Raised in a wealthy Jewish family and educated in Greek rhetoric and logic, Philo served as a delegate to Rome on behalf of the Jewish community of Alexandria. Most innovative among his writings are his commentaries on the Pentateuch, which approach the text allegorically and employ various Platonic perspectives in their interpretations. Philo appears to have had only minimal exposure to the Hebrew and likely relied on the Septuagint and synagogue orations on the biblical texts.

You may also like

Passover Pilgrims

As the Festival of Unleavened Bread was at hand in the first month, which the Macedonians call Xanthicus and we call Nisan, all the people flowed together out of the villages to the city and…
View Source

Passover Observance

Now, the appointed time had drawn near for the festival during which the Jews have as their ancestral law to serve unleavened bread, whose feast is called Passover and is a memorial of their…
View Source

Pilgrim Numbers on Passover

As long as Cestius Gallus was busy in Syria with the administration of his province, no one dared to approach him with a formal complaint against Florus. But when he visited Jerusalem at the start of…
View Source

Rejoicing on Passover

The sages taught [in a baraita]: All are obligated in these four cups, including men, women, and children. R. Judah said: What benefit do children receive from wine? [They do not enjoy it.] Rather…
View Source