Exodus13
New American Standard
1Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2“Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the firstborn of every womb among the sons of Israel, among people and animals alike; it belongs to Me.”
3And Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you departed from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place. And nothing with yeast shall be eaten.
4On this day in the month of Abib, you are about to go out from here.
5And it shall be when the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall perform this rite in this month.
6For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord.
7Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing with yeast shall be seen among you, nor shall any dough with yeast be seen among you in all your borders.
8And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
9And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt.
10Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.
11“Now when the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you,
12you shall devote to the Lord every firstborn of a womb, and every firstborn offspring of an animal that you own; the males belong to the Lord.
13But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn among your sons you shall redeem.
14And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.
15And it came about, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord put to death every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborns to animal firstborns. Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord the males, every firstborn of a womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’
16So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”
17Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”
18Therefore God led the people around by way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in battle formation from the land of Egypt.
19And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will certainly take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.”
20Then they set out from Succoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.
21And the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.
22He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from the presence of the people.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 13.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The first-born sanctified to God, The remembrance of the passover commanded. (1–10). The firstlings of beasts set apart. (11–16). Joseph's bones carried with the Israelites, They come to Etham. (17–20). God guideth the Israelites by a pillar of cloud fire. (21, 22).
vv1-10
In remembrance of the destruction of the first-born of Egypt, both of man and of beast, and the deliverance of the Israelites out of bondage, the first-born males of the Israelites were set apart to the Lord. By this was set before them, that their lives were preserved through the ransom of the atonement, which in due time was to be made for sin. They were also to consider their lives, thus ransomed from death, as now to be consecrated to the service of God. The parents were not to look upon themselves as having any right in their first-born, till they solemnly presented them to God, and allowed his title to them. That which is, by special mercy, spared to us, should be applied to God's honour; at least, some grateful acknowledgment, in works of piety and charity, should be made. The remembrance of their coming out of Egypt must be kept up every year. The day of Christ's resurrection is to be remembered, for in it we were raised up with Christ out of death's house of bondage. The Scripture tells us not expressly what day of the year Christ rose, but it states particularly what day of the week it was; as the more valuable deliverance, it should be remembered weekly. The Israelites must keep the feast of unleavened bread. Under the gospel, we must not only remember Christ, but observe his holy supper. Do this in remembrance of him. Also care must be taken to teach children the knowledge of God. Here is an old law for catechising. It is of great use to acquaint children betimes with the histories of the Bible. And those who have God's law in their heart should have it in their mouth, and often speak of it, to affect themselves, and to teach others.
vv11-16
The firstlings of beast not used in sacrifice, were to be changed for others so used, or they were to be destroyed. Our souls are forfeited to God's justice, and unless ransomed by the sacrifice of Christ, will certainly perish. These institutions would continually remind them of their duty, to love and serve the Lord. In like manner, baptism and the Lord's supper, if explained and attended to, would remind us, and give us occasion to remind one another of our profession and duty.
vv17-20
There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was only a few days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red sea; the Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness. God's way is the right way, though it seems about. If we think he leads not his people the nearest way, yet we may be sure he leads them the best way, and so it will appear when we come to our journey's end. The Philistines were powerful enemies; it was needful that the Israelites should be prepared for the wars of Canaan, by passing through the difficulties of the wilderness. Thus God proportions his people's trials to their strength, 1Co 10:13. They went up in good order. They went up in five in a rank, some; in five bands, so others, which it seems rather to their faith and hope, that God would bring them to Canaan, in expectation of which they carried these bones with them while in the desert.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
קָדַשׁ: to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
בְּכוֹר: firstborn; hence, chief
פֶּטֶר: a fissure, i.e. (concretely) firstling (as opening the matrix)
רֶחֶם: the womb
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
בְּהֵמָה: properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
Cross References
Exodus 13Explicitly quotes the law of the firstborn in Ex 13:2 regarding the presentation of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Direct fulfillment of Joseph's oath that Israel must carry his bones out of Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Paul explicitly references the fathers being "under the cloud" as a type of Christian baptism and guidance.
Supported by Matthew Henry
New Testament theological commentary on Joseph's command to carry his bones as an act of faith.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The most detailed narrative description of the cloud and fire regulating Israel's journeys and encampments.
Explains the historical background: God claimed the firstborn when He slew Egypt's firstborn.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Typological fulfillment identifying the church of the firstborn registered in heaven.
Supported by JFB
New Testament fulfillment of purging out old leaven to be a new lump.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel command to bind the law as a sign on the hand and frontlets between eyes.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The explicit law detailing the redemption of unclean beasts and human firstborns.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical recording of Joseph's bones finally being buried in Shechem.
Supported by John Calvin
Nehemiah's historical prayer recalls God leading them with a pillar of cloud and fire to give light.
Poetic historical remembrance of God leading them with a cloud by day and light of fire by night.
Highlights the cloud as a protective covering and fire to give light in the night.
The culmination of Exodus where the glory of the Lord fills the tabernacle, manifest in the cloud.
Explicitly praises God for not taking away the pillar of cloud and fire despite Israel's rebellions.
Fulfills the prophecy that Egypt's king would only let Israel go by a strong hand.
Supported by JFB
Parallel instruction on how to explain the Exodus and commandments to inquiring children.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The historical event referenced: God slaying all firstborn in Egypt from Pharaoh to captive.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Prophetic reuse of the cloud and smoke by day and shining fire by night over Mount Zion.
Metaphorical binding of commandments on the fingers and writing them on the heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explores the military terminology of Israel going up 'harnessed' or armed in ranks.
Supported by John Calvin