Thus shall ye eat it, to wit, for this time, because their circumstances required it, that they being suddenly to take a great journey, might be in a traveller's habit. But that these, and some other circumstances now enjoined and used, were only temporary, and not perpetual nor obligatory, sufficiently appears from the practice not only of the Jews in following ages, but also of Christ and of his apostles. And in like manner there are some institutions in the New Testament which did only oblige that age, and not all that follow them, as Acts 15:28,29. With your loins girded, like travellers and persons undertaking some difficult service; for such used to gird up their garments, which in those parts were long and troublesome. See 2 Kings 4:29, 2 Kings 9:1 Luke 12:35. Shoes on your feet; a badge,
1. Of their readiness for their journey, Isaiah 5:27 Acts 12:8.
2. Of their freedom; for slaves, such as the Israelites now were in Egypt, used to go barefooted.
3. Of joy, as on the contrary going barefoot was a badge of mourning, 2 Samuel 15:30. Your staff in your hand, like persons upon the point of departing, which was a very comfortable circumstance. In haste; for so the word signifies, Deuteronomy 16:3 Isaiah 52:12. It is the Lord's passover: this lamb, or your eating of it, is the Lord's passover, i.e. it is a sign of God's passing over you and your houses, when he comes to destroy the Egyptians on every side of you, Exodus 12:13,23. It is a metonomy usual in sacramental speeches, as Genesis 17:10 Matthew 26:26-28.