Discovery BoxExodus 12:16 
Context12:16 On the first day there will be a holy convocation, 1 and on the seventh day there will be a holy convocation for you. You must do no work of any kind 2 on them, only what every person will eat – that alone may be prepared for you.
Exodus 13:15
Context13:15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused 3 to release us, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of people to the firstborn of animals. 4 That is why I am sacrificing 5 to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb, but all my firstborn sons I redeem.’
Exodus 37:19
Context37:19 Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on the first branch, and three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on the next 6 branch, and the same 7 for the six branches that were extending from the lampstand.
1 sn This refers to an assembly of the people at the sanctuary for religious purposes. The word “convocation” implies that the people were called together, and Num 10:2 indicates they were called together by trumpets.
2 tn Heb “all/every work will not be done.” The word refers primarily to the work of one’s occupation. B. Jacob (Exodus, 322) explains that since this comes prior to the fuller description of laws for Sabbaths and festivals, the passage simply restricts all work except for the preparation of food. Once the laws are added, this qualification is no longer needed. Gesenius translates this as “no manner of work shall be done” (GKC 478-79 §152.b).
3 tn Heb “dealt hardly in letting us go” or “made it hard to let us go” (see S. R. Driver, Exodus, 110). The verb is the simple Hiphil perfect הִקְשָׁה (hiqshah, “he made hard”); the infinitive construct לְשַׁלְּחֵנוּ (lÿshallÿkhenu, “to release us”) could be taken epexegetically, meaning “he made releasing us hard.” But the infinitive more likely gives the purpose or the result after the verb “hardened himself.” The verb is figurative for “be stubborn” or “stubbornly refuse.”
4 tn The text uses “man” and “beast.”
5 tn The form is the active participle.
6 tn Heb “the one branch.” But the repetition of “one…one” means here one after another, or the “first” and then the “next.”
7 tn Heb “thus for six branches….”
