At the time of their deliverance from Egypt, the children of Israel ate the Passover supper standing, with their loins girded, and with their staves in their hands, ready for their journey. The manner in which they celebrated this ordinance harmonized with their condition; for they were about to be thrust out of the land of Egypt, and were to begin a painful and difficult journey through the wilderness. But in Christ's time the condition of things had changed. They were not now about to be thrust out of a strange country, but were dwellers in their own land. In harmony with the rest that had been given them, the people then partook of the Passover supper in a reclining position. Couches were placed about the table, and the guests lay upon them, resting upon the left arm, and having the right hand free for use in eating. In this position a guest could lay his head upon the breast of the one who sat next above him. And the feet, being at the outer edge of the couch, could be washed by one passing around the outside of the circle.

Dengang udfrielsen fra Ægypten skete, spiste Israels børn påskemåltidet stående, rejseklædte og med staven i deres hånd, rede til at drage bort. Den måde, hvorpå de højtideligholdt denne forordning, stemte overens med deres tilstand; thi de var lige ved at blive forjaget fra Ægyptens land og skulle til at bekende en besværlig og vanskelig færd gennem ørkenen. Men på Kristi tid var forholdene blevet ændret. Nu skulle de ikke til at fordrives fra et fremmed land, men boede i deres eget land. I overensstemmelse med den fred, der var blevet givet dem, indtog folket dengang påskemåltidet i hvilende stilling. Der var stillet løjbænke rundt om bordet, og gæsterne lå på dem, idet de støttede sig til den venstre arm og havde den højre fri til at spise med. I denne stilling kunne en af deltagerne lægge sit hoved på dens bryst, som sad nærmest foran ham. Og fødderne, der hvilede ved løjbænkens yderste kant, kunne tvættes af en, som gik rundt om kredsens yderside.