[307] Talmud. tract. de paschate. c. 1. in initio.
Furthermore, the Lamb was to be eaten with bitter herbs: the reason of this command is, that thereby they might be moved to thankfulness towards God, for their deliverance from the Egyptian bondage, in which their lives were made bitter unto them, Ex. 1. 14.
These bitter herbs they dipt in a certain sauce thick like Mustard, called Charoseth,[308] which thick sauce (say they)[309] was a memorial of the day wherein they wrought in Egypt. This is thought of some[310] to be that wherein Christ diped the sop which he gave to Judas. Of this sauce the Hebrews write thus;[311] they used to dip the unleavened bread in that sauce Charoseth, and to eat; then they dipt the bitter herbs in the Charoseth, and did eat them. It was made[312] of the Palm-tree branches, or of dry Figs, or of Raisins, which they stamped and put Vinegar thereto, and seasoned it, and made it like Clay; and brought it unto the Table in the night of the Passover.
[308] חרוסת
[309] Moses Kotsensis, fol. 118
[310] Scalig. de emend. temp. l. 6. p. 272.
[311] Maim. de fermento. c. 8. sect. 7.
[312] Maimon. in חמץ ומצה c. 7. sect, 11.
The other seven daies following the fourteenth of Nisan, were in strictness of speech a distinct Feast, as is above-shewed; namely, the Feast of unleavened bread because in that space of time, no leavened bread ought to be found in their houses;[313] their degrees[314] of preparation to this feast are four. 1. Expurgatio fermenti, the cleansing of all their houshold stuff and vessels, unto which leaven might haply cleave; and this was done two or three daies before the Passover. 2. Inquisitio fermenti, the searching after leaven throughout all the rooms of their houses, even to the Mouse-holes: this they did with a waxen Candle, and as Buxtorfus noteth, upon the night before the Passover: and Scaliger delivereth it in other words to the same purpose, namely,[315] that this search was made, Ineunte quarta decima, usque ad quartam horam post ortum solis. At the beginning of the fourteenth day, until the fourth hour after the rising of the Sun. Now, the beginning of the fourteenth day was the night going before; for the Jews, in the computation of their Holy-daies, counted their day from even to even. 3. There was Exterminatio, or Conflagratio fermenti, A burning of the leaven; and this was done from the fourth to the sixth hour, about dinner-time; at which time followed the last degree, which Scaliger hath ommitted, namely, Execratio fermenti, the cursing of the leaven, in this form:[316] Let all that leaven, or whatsoever leavened thing is in my power, whether it were seen of me, or not seen, whether cleansed by me, or not cleansed; let all that be scattered, destroyed, and accounted as the dust of the earth.
[313] Huius moris vestigia quædam sunt reperta in Roman. Flamine Diali. A. Gell. noct. Attic. lib. 10. c. 15.