Exodus13
New International Version
1The Lord said to Moses,
2“Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”
3Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast.
4Today, in the month of Aviv, you are leaving.
5When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month:
6For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord.
7Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders.
8On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
9This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand.
10You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.
11“After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors,
12you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord.
13Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
14“In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
15When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’
16And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”
17When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
18So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.
19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”
20After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.
21By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.
22Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front 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