Comentário sobre Êxodo 12:46

בבית אחד יאכל IN ONE HOUSE SHALL IT BE EATEN — in one company (cf. שה לבית); meaning that those who have registered themselves for it (the Paschal offering) shall not form themselves afterwards into two companies and divide it. An objection was raised: You say that this means “in one company”, but perhaps this is not so, but it means “in one house” (or place) as it usually signifies, and it intends to teach that if they had begun to eat, for example, in the courtyard of a house and rain fell they may not enter the house to complete the eating of the offering? The reply was given: this cannot be so, because Scripture says, (v. 7) “[They shall put the blood] upon the houses (plural) wherein they shall eat it” — and from here it follows that one who is eating the Paschal offering may eat it in two places (consequently the only meaning of the term בית is “company”, as was suggested) (cf. Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 12:46:1 and Onkelos).

ועצם לא תשברו בו, as a symbol of the haste in which it must be eaten.

From this [we infer] that whoever eats it may eat it in two places. You might ask: How does Rashi know [that in this verse, “house” means “group,” whereas in the earlier verse (v. 7), it means “place”]? Perhaps it is the opposite: בבית אחד יאכל means as it sounds, [and “house” means “place.” Thus, they shall not continue eating it in a different place from where they started]. And על הבתים אשר יאכלו אותו בהם (v.7) teaches that the group is allowed to break up [before they start eating,] and eat it separately in two different houses. Re”m answers: Since our verse is vocalized יֵאָכֵל (it must be eaten), perforce it refers to the korbon Pesach. [This way the emphasis is on the korbon Pesach itself, teaching that it must remain in one group, although the eaters themselves may move from place to place, as long as they stay as one group]. For if it was referring to [the eater of the korbon Pesach, that he shall not move from house to] house, then it would be vocalized יֹאכַל (he must eat it). Then it would mean that its members shall eat it in one house [and shall not continue eating in a different place, even if they stay as one group].