Exodus 13

The Dedication of the Firstborn

(Deuteronomy 15:19–23)

1Then the LORDH3068 saidH1696 toH413 MosesH4872H559, 2“ConsecrateH6942 to Me everyH3605 firstborn maleH1060.1 The firstbornH6363 from everyH3605 wombH7358 among the IsraelitesH1121H3478 belongsH1931 to Me, both of manH120 and beastH929.”

3So MosesH4872 toldH559H413 the peopleH5971, “RememberH2142 thisH2088 dayH3117, the day you came outH3318 of EgyptH4714, out of the houseH1004 of slaveryH5650; forH3588 the LORDH3068 brought you outH3318 of itH2088 by the strengthH2392 of His handH3027. And nothingH3808 leavenedH2557 shall be eatenH398.

4TodayH3117, in the monthH2320 of AbibH24,2 youH859 are leavingH3318. 5AndH1961 whenH3588 the LORDH3068 bringsH935 you intoH413 the landH776 of the CanaanitesH3669, HittitesH2850, AmoritesH567, HivitesH2340, and JebusitesH2983—the land He sworeH7650 to your fathersH1 that He would giveH5414 you, a landH776 flowingH2100 with milkH2461 and honeyH1706—you shall keepH5647 thisH2063 serviceH5656 in thisH2088 monthH2320.

6For sevenH7651 daysH3117 you are to eatH398 unleavened breadH4682, and on the seventhH7637 dayH3117 there shall be a feastH2282 to the LORDH3068. 7Unleavened breadH4682 shall be eatenH398 during those sevenH7651 daysH3117. NothingH3808 leavenedH2557 may be foundH7200 among you, nor shallH3808 leavenH7603 be foundH7200 anywhere withinH3605 your bordersH1366.

8And on thatH1931H559 dayH3117 you are to explainH5046 to your sonH1121, ‘This is because ofH5668 whatH2088 the LORDH3068 didH6213 for me when I came outH3318 of EgyptH4714.’ 9It shall beH1961 a signH226 for you onH5921 your handH3027 and a reminderH2146 on your foreheadH996H5869 thatH4616 the LawH8451 of the LORDH3068 is to beH1961 on your lipsH6310. ForH3588 with a mightyH2389 handH3027 the LORDH3068 brought you outH3318 of EgyptH4714. 10Therefore you shall keepH8104 thisH2063 statuteH2708 at the appointed timeH4150 yearH3117 after yearH3117.

11AndH1961 afterH3588 the LORDH3068 bringsH935 you intoH413 the landH776 of the CanaanitesH3669 and gives itH5414 to you, asH834 He sworeH7650 to you and your fathersH1, 12you are to presentH5674 to the LORDH3068 the firstborn maleH6363 of everyH3605 wombH7358. AllH3605 the firstbornH6363H7698 malesH2145 of yourH1961 livestockH929 belong to the LORDH3068. 13You must redeemH6299 everyH3605 firstbornH6363 donkeyH2543 with a lambH7716, and ifH518 you do notH3808 redeem itH6299, you are to break its neckH6202. And everyH3605 firstbornH1060H120 of your sonsH1121 you must redeemH6299.

14

In the futureH4279, whenH3588 your sonH1121 asks youH7592, ‘WhatH4100 does thisH2063 meanH559?’ you are to tellH559 himH413, ‘With a mightyH2392 handH3027 the LORDH3068 brought us outH3318 of EgyptH4714, out of the houseH1004 of slaveryH5650. 15AndH1961 whenH3588 PharaohH6547 stubbornly refusedH7185 to let us goH7971, the LORDH3068 killedH2026 everyH3605 firstbornH1060 in the landH776 of EgyptH4714, bothH1060 of manH120 andH5704 beastH929. This is whyH5921H3651 IH589 sacrificeH2076 to the LORDH3068 the firstbornH6363 maleH2145 of everyH3605 wombH7358, but I redeemH6299 allH3605 the firstbornH1060 of my sonsH1121.’ 16So it shall serve asH1961 a signH226 onH5921 your handH3027 and a symbolH2903 on your foreheadH996H5869, forH3588 with a mightyH2392 handH3027 the LORDH3068 brought us outH3318 of EgyptH4714.”

17

The Pillars of Cloud and Fire

When PharaohH6547 let the peopleH5971 goH7971, GodH430 did notH3808 lead themH5148 along the roadH1870 through the landH776 of the PhilistinesH6430, thoughH3588 itH1931 was shorterH7138. ForH3588 GodH430H6435 saidH559, “If the people faceH7200 warH4421, they might change their mindsH5162 and returnH7725 to EgyptH4714.” 18So GodH430 led the peopleH5971 aroundH5437 by the wayH1870 of the wildernessH4057 toward the RedH5488 SeaH3220.3 And the IsraelitesH1121H3478 leftH5927 the landH776 of EgyptH4714 arrayed for battleH2571.4

19MosesH4872 tookH3947 the bonesH6106 of JosephH3130 with himH5973 becauseH3588 Joseph had made the sonsH1121 of IsraelH3478 swear a solemn oathH7650 when he saidH559, “GodH430 will surely attend toH6485 youH853, and then you must carryH5927 my bonesH6106 with youH854 from this placeH2088.”5

20They set outH5265 from SuccothH5523 and campedH2583 at EthamH864 on the edgeH7097 of the wildernessH4057. 21And the LORDH3068 wentH1980 before themH6440 in a pillarH5982 of cloudH6051 to guideH5148 their wayH1870 by dayH3119, and in a pillarH5982 of fireH784 to give them lightH215 by nightH3915, so that they could travelH1980 by dayH3119 or nightH3915. 22NeitherH3808 the pillarH5982 of cloudH6051 by dayH3119 nor the pillarH5982 of fireH784 by nightH3915 leftH4185 its place beforeH6440 the peopleH5971.