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Moses and Aaron with Israelites near flocks and herds in an Egyptian courtyard as the people prepare after Pharaoh commands them to leave.

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The People Prepare Their Flocks

Exodus 12:1-32

The Big Idea

God’s people listened carefully and prepared to obey. They could trust the LORD as he rescued them from oppression.

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The Bible Story

The First Passover

Exodus 12:1–32 describes the LORD’s instructions for Passover. Israelite households selected a lamb or young goat, marked their doorways with its blood, and ate the meal with unleavened bread and bitter herbs while ready to depart. The marked homes were spared when the LORD struck Egypt’s firstborn. Afterward, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron during the night. He told them and the Israelites to leave Egypt, worship the LORD, and take their flocks and herds. This page focuses on that command and the careful preparation that follows it. The passage ends with Pharaoh’s order; it does not describe the Israelites’ route or later events.

Themes

Obedience to God’s instructionsPassover remembrancePharaoh’s command to leave EgyptProtection of marked householdsRescue from oppression

Bible moment

The Bible moment

Exodus 12:1–32 describes the LORD’s instructions for Passover. Israelite households selected a lamb or young goat, marked their doorways with its blood, and ate the meal with unleavened bread and bitter herbs while ready to depart. The marked homes were spared when the LORD struck Egypt’s firstborn. Afterward, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron during the night. He told them and the Israelites to leave Egypt, worship the LORD, and take their flocks and herds. This page focuses on that command and the careful preparation that follows it. The passage ends with Pharaoh’s order; it does not describe the Israelites’ route or later events.

Look closely

What children can notice

Moses and Aaron stand with Israelites near their flocks and herds after Pharaoh’s command, while the group gathers belongings in an orderly way. The composition ends at preparation, not departure, preserving the passage boundary.

Talk together

Talk about it

  • What did Pharaoh tell Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites to do?
  • How did the people show that they were preparing to obey?

For families, church, and class

Use this page

Use this page after teaching the Passover instructions and the sparing of the marked Israelite homes. Invite children to notice the flocks, herds, and orderly preparation. Remind them that this illustration ends before the Israelites leave, so do not extend the scene into travel or later Exodus events.

Source note

From this passage

Exodus 12:31-32 · Passover

Moses and Aaron stand with Israelites near their flocks and herds after Pharaoh’s command, while the group gathers belongings in an orderly way. The composition ends at preparation, not departure, preserving the passage boundary.

Continue the Story

The First Passover

More from this story

Choose another meaningful scene to color.

An Israelite family near its home prepares for the first Passover as an adult marks the doorway and lamb, unleavened bread, bitter herbs, staffs, and sandals represent the instructions in Exodus 12:1-13.

The Marked Doorway

Exodus 12:1-32

An Israelite household inside a home in Egypt shares roasted meat, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs while dressed with sandals and staffs, ready for the Passover.

Ready for the Passover Meal

Exodus 12:1-32

Israelite families gather in an Israelite house with unleavened bread and household items associated with removing leaven, representing the commanded festival in Exodus 12:14–20.

Remembering with Unleavened Bread

Exodus 12:1-32

Moses instructs Israelite elders near their homes about using hyssop, basins, Passover animals, and marked doorways.

Moses Instructs the Elders

Exodus 12:1-32

More about Aaron

Moses and the Israelites in a wilderness camp discover fine, flaky manna on the ground after the dew lifts.

Manna on the Ground

Exodus 16:1-36

Moses and the people of Israel gathered at their camp in the Wilderness of Sinai before Mount Sinai.

Israel Camps Before Mount Sinai

Exodus 19:1–20:21

The Israelites gather around Aaron at the camp near Mount Sinai and ask him to make gods to go before them while Moses is delayed on the mountain.

Waiting for Moses

Exodus 32:1-35

Moses, Joshua, Caleb, the other spies, and gathered Israelites hear a report about fruitful Canaan, with grapes, pomegranates, figs, and distant fortified cities.

Caleb Chooses Courage

Numbers 13:1–14:45

More from Exodus

Baby Moses resting in a papyrus basket coated with bitumen and pitch among the reeds beside the Nile while his sister watches from a distance.

Moses Hidden in the Basket

Exodus 1:8–2:10

Moses reverently approaches the burning bush at Horeb, where the angel of the LORD appears within flames that do not consume the bush; Moses removes his sandals on holy ground.

Moses Approaches the Burning Bush

Exodus 3:1–4:17

Moses leads the Israelites across dry ground between walls of water in the Red Sea while the pillar of cloud stands between Israel and the Egyptians.

A Safe Path Through the Sea

Exodus 14:1-31

Moses and the Israelites in a wilderness camp discover fine, flaky manna on the ground after the dew lifts.

Manna on the Ground

Exodus 16:1-36

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