How were the Israelites to eat Passover meal?

According to the Bible, the Israelites were instructed to eat the Passover meal in a specific manner. The following are the key points:

1. Dressed for Travel: The Israelites were to eat the Passover meal with their loins girded, shoes on their feet, and staffs in their hands, ready for a journey. This symbolized their readiness to depart from Egypt.

2. No Leavened Bread: The meal was to be free from leavened bread. Leavened bread represented sin, and its removal signified the removal of sin from their lives.

3. Unleavened Bread and Bitter Herbs: Unleavened bread, symbolizing haste and affliction, was to be eaten with bitter herbs. The herbs served as a reminder of the bitterness of their slavery in Egypt.

4. Lamb: A spotless, year-old male lamb was to be slaughtered, and its blood applied to the doorposts and lintels of their houses. This served as a sign of protection and deliverance from the plague that would strike the Egyptians.

5. Roasting the Lamb: The lamb was to be roasted, not boiled. Boiling was associated with ordinary meals, while roasting was reserved for special occasions, emphasizing the significance of the Passover.

6. Consuming the Whole Lamb: The entire lamb was to be consumed, except for any leftover meat, which had to be burned before morning. This represented their trust in God's provision and their assurance of safety.

7. Gathering of Households: The Passover meal was to be eaten as a household, and non-members were not allowed to participate. If a household was too small to consume a whole lamb, they could join with their neighbors to ensure that none of the meat was wasted.

8. Recounting the Story of Exodus: While eating, the Israelites were instructed to recount the story of their deliverance from Egypt to their children, teaching them about God's faithfulness and redemptive acts.

These aspects of the Passover meal served as symbolic reminders of God's deliverance, freedom from slavery, and the establishment of the covenant between God and the people of Israel.