The Passover Sacrifice

The Passover lambs were slaughtered in the Temple. The slaughtering could be done by anyone, but a priest had to sprinkle the blood on the altar. Each lamb was then roasted and eaten in a private home (see Ex.12:46) in Jerusalem by the group of people who had offered it (see Ex.12:3-4). The lamb had to be eaten that night; anything not eaten had to be burned (Ex.12:10). Hallel (Psalms 113-118) was recited during the sacrifice. The procedure at the meal was essentially the same as the Seder that is still conducted today, except that the lamb itself is no longer sacrificed and eaten.