Matthew Poole and continuators on Exodus 12:3

3 Speak ye unto all the Congregation of Israel, saying, in the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house.

Partly that they might have the lamb ready for the Sacrifice, and might not be distracted about procuring it when they should be going to use it; partly that by the frequent contemplation of the lamb, as a sign appointed by God, they might have their saith strengthned as to their approaching deliverance, and afterwards might have their minds quickned to the more serious consideration of that great deliverance out of Egypt, and of that more glorious deliverance from Hell by Christ the true Passeover, which should be offered for them; partly to teach the Church in all ages, how necessary a thing preparation is to the solemn duties and exercises of Religion; and partly to signifie, that Christ should be first set apart and separated to the Ministry, which was done 3 or 4 Prophetical days, i. e. years, before his death, and afterwards offered: Most of which reasons being perpetual, it may seem this usage was so too, and not for the first passeover onely.

Into their houses, where the Iews tell us he was tied to the beds post.

Or, Kid, ver. 5. for the same word signifies both, though a lamb was commonly used, and a kid onely in case of the want of a lamb: and the Chaldee and LXX do almost constantly translate the Hebrew word lamb. And Christ is seldom or never typified by a kid, but generally by a lamb, as he is called Ioh. 1. 29. partly for his innocency, meekness, patience, &c. but principally with respect to this [illegible: 1 word] lamb▪ in stead whereof he was in due time to be offered, whence he is called our Passeover, 1 Cor. 5. 7.

A [illegible: 1+ letters]amb was to be disposed of to every house or family, according to its quantity or the numbers of persons in it, as the next verse explains it. The several families are called the houses of their fathers, because they consist of those persons which come from one father or grandfather. The people were divided into Tribes, the Tribes were subdivided into Families, and the Families again into Houses, which were like sprigs taken from the greater branches and planted apart, and each of these had their several fathers, from whom they were denominated, as here they are.

Marginal references: Or, kid.