Passover

===The passover in other biblical passages===
Called the "festival [of] the [[Matzah|matzo]]t" (Hebrew: {{lang|hbo|חג המצות}} {{transliteration|hbo|ḥag ha-matzôth}}) in the [[Hebrew Bible]], the commandment to keep Passover is recorded in the [[Book of Leviticus]]:
{{blockquote
|text=In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at dusk is the {{LORD}}'s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the {{LORD}}; seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work. And ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the {{LORD}} seven days; in the seventh day is a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work.
|source={{bibleverse|Leviticus|23:5–8|HE}} ([[Jewish Publication Society of America Version|JPS 1917 Version]])
}}

The sacrifices may be performed only in a specific place prescribed by God. For Judaism, this is Jerusalem.<ref>{{bibleverse|Deuteronomy|16:2, 5|HE}}</ref>

The biblical commandments concerning the Passover (and the Feast of Unleavened Bread) stress the importance of remembering:
* Exodus 12:14 commands, in reference to God's sparing of the firstborn from the [[Plagues of Egypt#plague10|Tenth Plague]]: "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the {{LORD}}; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever."<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|12:14|HE}}</ref>
* Exodus 13:3 repeats the command to remember: "Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for by strength the hand of the {{LORD}} brought you out from this place."<ref>{{Bibleverse|Exodus|13:3|HE}}</ref>
* Deuteronomy 16:12: "And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt; and thou shalt observe and do these statutes".<ref>{{Bibleverse|Deuteronomy|16:12|HE}}</ref>

In 2 Kings 23:21–23 and 2 Chronicles 35:1–19, King [[Josiah]] of [[Kingdom of Judah|Judah]] restores the celebration of the Passover,<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Kings|23:21–23|HE}} and {{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|35:1–19|HE}}</ref> to a standard not seen since the days of the [[Biblical judges|judges]] or the days of the [[Biblical prophet|prophet]] [[Samuel]].<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Kings|23:21–23|HE}}; {{bibleverse|2 Chronicles|35:1–18|HE}}</ref>

Ezra 6:19–21 records the celebration of the passover by the Jews who had returned from [[Babylonian captivity|exile in Babylon]], after the [[Second Temple|temple had been rebuilt]].<ref>{{bibleverse|Ezra|6:19–21|HE}}</ref>