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Exodus 13

1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Consecrate to me every firstborn, every one that opens the womb among the sons of Israel, human and animal. It is mine.”

3Moses said to the people, “Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slaves, for by strength of hand Yahweh brought you out of here. Nothing leavened is to be eaten. 4Today you are going out, in the month of Abib. 5When Yahweh brings you into 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, you are to perform this service in this month. 6For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival for Yahweh. 7Unleavened bread is to be eaten for the seven days. Nothing leavened is to be seen with you, and no leaven is to be seen with you anywhere in your territory. 8You are to tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what Yahweh did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9It is to be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder between your eyes, so that Yahweh's instruction may be in your mouth, for with a strong hand Yahweh brought you out of Egypt. 10You are to keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

11“When Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, 12you are to set apart for Yahweh every one that opens the womb. Every first offspring of your livestock, the males, belong to Yahweh. 13Every firstborn donkey you are to redeem with an animal from the flock; if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. Every human firstborn among your sons you are to redeem. 14When your son asks you in days to come, ‘What is this?’ you are to say to him, ‘By strength of hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slaves. 15When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the human firstborn to the firstborn of livestock. That is why I sacrifice to Yahweh all the males that open the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16It is to be a sign on your hand and bands between your eyes, for by strength of hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt.”

17When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, although it was near. For God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18So God led the people around by the wilderness road toward the Sea of Reeds. The sons of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. 19Moses took Joseph's bones with him, for Joseph had solemnly made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely attend to you, and you must bring my bones up from here with you.” 20They journeyed from Succoth and camped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness. 21Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the road, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night. 22The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Translation notes 6

13:2, 12–15 — Firstborn and redemption. “Opens the womb” preserves the birth image. The following commands specify males and distinguish animals offered in sacrifice from sons who must be redeemed, that is, released from the claim by a substitute payment or offering. The passage does not command the sacrifice of sons.

13:3, 9, 14, 16 — Hand and house. “Strength of hand” and “strong hand” preserve the bodily image for power. “House of slaves” describes Egypt as the place of their enslavement.

13:4 — Abib. This month-name is associated with ears of ripening grain; it falls in the spring. It is not the name of a modern calendar month.

13:9, 16 — Signs and bands. The Hebrew preserves the hand, the area between the eyes, and the mouth as places of remembrance and instruction. “Bands” in verse 16 renders a rare term associated with something bound or worn on the forehead; its exact form is uncertain. The translation does not settle the relationship between metaphorical remembrance and physical observance.

13:18 — Equipped for battle. The Hebrew term is uncommon and can describe an armed or organized company. A precise formation or number of ranks is not specified. “Sea of Reeds” translates the Hebrew name without fixing the route on a modern map.

13:19 — Attend to you. The repeated Hebrew verb emphasizes God's eventual intervention on the people's behalf; it is not merely a visit to inspect them. Joseph's oath recalls the end of Genesis.