Deuteronomy 16:5—Was the passover lamb to be slain at home or at the sanctuary?

Problem: Exodus 12:7 instructs that the passover lamb be killed in one’s place of residence, but Deuteronomy declares that it should not be slain “within any of your gates.”

Solution: This is an example of a change in revelation (see Introduction “Mistake 17”) because of a change in conditions. When the Passover instruction was first given (Ex. 12), they had no common sanctuary. Later in Deuteronomy, they did and were instructed to kill the passover lamb there “in the place where the Lord chooses to put His name” (Deut. 16:2).

This excerpt is from When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Click here to purchase this book.