The Passover Lamb or Goat? Exodus 12:4-5, by Dr. Terry Harman

Image of Goat used by permission from freepik.com

Passover Goat - Are You Crazy?

Did I add something that is not in the Bible? I received feedback on my post, Unveiling the Mysteries of the Passover Lamb: Discover the Hidden Symbolism in Exodus 12:1-14. In particular, Exodus 12:4-5 was cited as the rationale for stating there could have been a Passover goat!

One individual, privately suggested that I was “adding things that are not in the Bible!” Which is it? A Passover goat or a lamb? I kindly responded to his private email by referring him to those better equipped than me to explain the constellations in the sky. See the references at the end of this post.

I do not know anyone who ever ate roasted goat meat during Passover. Nor have I heard anyone placing a goat bone on the Seder plate rather than a lamb shank bone. For the most part, Jews refrain from eating lamb at the Seder because the Temple no longer stands in Jerusalem. (This is discussed in detail in my blog, Why is lamb not on the menu at Passover?).

Exodus 12:4-5 JPS 1917

4 If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. 5 Your lamb (= young age) shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 

The Blog in Question

"We tend to think of Passover as associated with sheep and not goats. The Passover selection of a goat or a sheep may have been an option for the Hebrews who had been influenced by another "god" of the region associated with goats! Although most Egyptians worshiped Aries the Ram, religious sects among the Sabeans who worshiped demons, assumed the form of goats. Those sects abstained from eating goats' flesh."

Resources on the Passover Goat

Here are the links to articles that do a much better job explaining the idea of the possibility of a Passover goat during the first Passover in Egypt. Is this the reason why Exodus 12:5 is part of the historical record? You decide. Enjoy the reading.

1 Lamb or Kid? - Parshah Focus - Parshah (chabad.org)

2 Chassidic Insights for Parshah Bo - Kehot Chumash - Parshah (chabad.org)

3 Exodus 12:5 with Rashi (sefaria.org)

4 The goat picture used with permission:

www.freepik.com/free-ai-image/long-horns-goat-isolated-white-background

5 Unveiling the Mysteries of the Passover Lamb: Discover the Hidden Symbolism in Exodus 12:1-14 by Dr. Terry Harman (thetabernacleman.com)

How You Can Thank Me

If you enjoyed reading this post, and you're wondering how you can thank me, here’s what I ask: Take the inspiration you’ve found here and pass it on.

Consider donating some of your time, your talents, or your treasure to a worthy cause in your own community. Maybe there’s a widow who could use help with her yard. Maybe you know someone who’s recently lost a job and could use a helping hand. Maybe your local community center, homeless shelter, or school program is looking for mentors - step in and support them.

Look within your own religious or spiritual community, too. What needs do you see around you? Where can you make a difference?

You don’t need to have a lot. You just need to do what you can, with what you have, to make this world a better place. Your kindness will ripple out farther than you can imagine. Thank you for being here, for reading, and for choosing to be a light.

Shalom, Terry