The question that preoccupied the Israelite people as Exodus 11 came to its conclusion was simple, but had many implications; how could they avoid the consequences when the angel of the Lord executes the recently delivered tenth plague. The tenth plague, or the plague of the firstborn, would soon befall the people of Israel. A scourge that would see all firstborns, men and animals, killed throughout the night. The reasons for celebrating the original Passover quickly become apparent. How would this original event evolve in the years to come? Why celebrate it after the initial event? This article will attempt to discover why the Israelites had to engage in the first celebration, how they celebrated it, and why many people still celebrate the sacred tradition today. Although the origins of Passover can be debated among scholars, it is commonly accepted that the festival celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from the land of Egypt. Modern thinking tells us that Passover is known as a memorial of the original holiday, rather than something that is still practiced today. This feast can be compared to the Lord's Supper which Christians regularly celebrate today. Although this act is not necessary to sustain life, the celebration remains a tribute to God's grace. During the Exodus, a number of plagues were inflicted on the Egyptian people. The last of these ten plagues was the plague of the firstborn. A scourge that would see each of the eldest sons of each Egyptian family die. This curse would also apply to the Egyptians' livestock. This scourge was inflicted on the Egyptians because of their behavior towards Moses and the Israelite people. ...... middle of paper ......el Press. 1998 Christensen, Duane, ed. Experiencing the exodus from Egypt. Berkeley, CA: Bibal Press. 1988 Janzen, J. Gerald. Exodus. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. 1997 Janzen, Waldemar. Believers' Church Bible Commentary: Exodus. Waterloo, ON: Herald Press. 2000 Mann, Thomas. The Book of the Torah: The Narrative Integrity of the Pentateuch. Louisville: John Knox Press. 1988 Motyer, Alec. The message of the Exodus. Downers Grove, IL: Intercollegiate Press. 2005. Rosen, Ceil and Rosen, Moishe. Christ at Passover: why is this night different? Chicago, IL: Maddy Press. 1978. Sarna, Nahum. Exploring the Exodus: The Origins of Biblical Israel. New York, NY: Shocken Books. 1996. Wenham, Gordon. Exploring the Old Testament: A Guide to the Pentateuch. Downers Grove, IL: Intercollegiate Press. 2003 Youngblood, Ronald. Exodus. Chicago, IL: Moody Press. 1983