Tyndale Open Study NotesExodus 13

This review of the customs for Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread prepares the way for teaching about the dedication of the firstborn (13:11–16).

Like the Passover celebration, the dedication of the firstborn helped the people remember what God did during the Passover. God spared the firstborn sons of Israel. Because of this, those firstborn sons belonged to him and had to be redeemed (bought back with a price).

Each year, the people sacrificed and ate a lamb. This act pointed forward to what God would do by giving his Son, Jesus Christ, as a substitute. All people deserve death because of sin. But God redeems them through a price, the life of his Son.

a land flowing with milk and honey: This describes a land that is rich and good for farming. There is grass for cattle to eat, and there are many plants and flowers. From these flowers, bees can make honey.

• The annual Passover celebration was a sign to show you belonged to the Lord. It marked his ownership, reinforcing a spiritual truth.

• a sign … and a reminder … the Law of the LORD: The second part of the verse can be seen either as a statement to recite or as a description of the God's work.

Parents had to redeem their firstborn son. They could not sacrifice him to the Lord, as child sacrifice is condemned throughout Scripture (see Leviticus 18:21; 20:2; Ezekiel 23:37–39).

Like the yearly Passover celebration, dedicating the firstborn to the Lord was a visible sign of belonging to the LORD (13:9).

The Lord’s redemptive power was demonstrated as he brought Israel into a place where they were completely helpless and had to either rely on him for rescue or die.

At the time, it might have seemed foolish. But Israel would thank God throughout its history for guiding them to that situation (see Psalm 106:7–12; compare Isaiah 12:2–6).

If the people face war: The Israelites had not yet seen God fight on their behalf. Even though they left Egypt like an army ready for battle (13:18; see also 12:51), it was only an appearance. Until they experienced the Lord as fighting for them (14:14) in the crossing of the sea, they were not ready to face enemies in the promised land.

• around by the way: There is disagreement among scholars about the identification of some of the sites mentioned (13:20; 14:2). So, there is little agreement on the exact route the Israelites took.

• Red Sea (literally sea of reeds): The actual Red Sea is too far south. The Sea of Reeds was part of the Red Sea, probably located at the northern end of the Gulf of Suez.

Joseph knew that God would not leave his people in Egypt forever. God had promised them the land of Canaan (see Genesis 50:24–25).

The locations of Succoth and Etham are uncertain, although the reference to the edge of the wilderness suggests that they were in the region southeast of the Nile delta toward the Gulf of Suez.

The pillar of cloud and pillar of fire stayed with the Israelites for the next 40 years.