Exodus 13

Firstborn are Sanctified to God

(1) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

(2) "Set apart to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast; it is mine."

(3) So Moses said to the people, "Remember this day, in which YOU came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of his hand the LORD brought you out from this place. There shall be no leavened bread eaten.

(4) This day YOU came out in the month of Abib.

(5) And it shall be when the LORD shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.

(6) Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.

(7) Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; and no leavened bread shall be seen with you, neither shall there be leaven seen with you in all your quarters.

(8) In that day you shall tell your son, saying, 'This is done because of that which the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'

(9) It shall be as a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.

(10) Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

Firstlings are Set Apart

(11) It shall be when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you,

(12) that you shall set apart to the LORD all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from a animal which you have; the males shall be the LORD’S.

(13) Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break his neck; and all the firstborn of man among your children shall you redeem.

(14) It shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' that you shall say to him, 'By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

(15) It came to pass, when Pharaoh stubbornly would not let us go, that the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that opens the womb, but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.'

(16) It shall be for a sign on your hand, and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt."

Israelites Leave Egypt With Joseph’s Bones

(17) It came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people become sorry they left when they see war, and they return to Egypt."

(18) But God led the people around, by the way of the wilderness of the Red sea. And the children of Israel went up in battle array out of the land of Egypt.

(19) Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, "God will surely visit you; and YOU shall carry up my bones away from here with you."

Pillars of Cloud and Fire

(20) They took their journey from Succoth, and camped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.

(21) And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, so they might go by day and by night.

(22) He did not take away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

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