Every Firstborn Belongs to God
Study note
Because God had saved the firstborn of Israel on Passover night while striking down every firstborn in Egypt, He claimed every firstborn Israelite son and animal as belonging to Him. Moses told the people to remember this day and celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread when they reached the Promised Land. He also said they should teach their children why they observed these practices. Firstborn sons were to be redeemed, or bought back, with a sacrifice. Firstborn donkeys could be redeemed with a lamb. This was to serve as a lasting reminder of God's powerful rescue from Egypt.
1 The Lord spoke to Moses and said, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 "Dedicate to me every firstborn son among the Israelites, as well as every firstborn male animal. They are mine." Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
3 Moses addressed the people: "Never forget this day — the day you walked free from Egypt, from the place where you were slaves. The Lord used his incredible power to bring you out. On this day, eat no bread that contains yeast." And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
4 "Today you are leaving, during the month of Abib." This day came ye out in the month Abib.
5 "Someday the Lord will bring you into the land he promised your ancestors — the territory of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. It is a land overflowing with good things. When you get there, you must perform this ceremony every year during this same month." And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.
6 "For seven days straight, eat only bread without yeast. Then on the seventh day, hold a special celebration to honor the Lord." Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.
7 "Throughout those seven days, eat only unleavened bread. No bread containing yeast should be found with you. In fact, no yeast should be found anywhere in your territory." Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.
8 "When that day comes, explain to your children, 'I do this to remember what the Lord did for me when he brought me out of Egypt.'" And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
9 "This observance will serve like a mark on your hand and a reminder between your eyes. It will keep the Lord's teachings at the center of your thoughts, because the Lord used his mighty power to bring you out of Egypt." And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
10 "Follow this practice at the right time, year after year." Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.
11 "After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites -- just as he promised you and your ancestors -- and gives it to you," And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,
12 "you must present every firstborn male to the Lord. Every firstborn male animal belongs to the Lord as well." That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD's.
13 "You may redeem a firstborn donkey by giving a lamb in exchange. But if you choose not to redeem it, you must break the donkey's neck. You must also redeem every firstborn son." And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.
14 "Someday when your child asks, 'What is all this about?' tell your child, 'The Lord used his mighty power to bring us out of Egypt, out of the land where we were slaves.'" And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
15 "Pharaoh refused to let us go. So the Lord killed every firstborn in Egypt. He killed both people and animals. Therefore I offer every firstborn male animal to the Lord. And I buy back each of my firstborn sons." And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
16 "This will be like a mark on your hand and a sign on your forehead. It will remind everyone that the Lord brought us out of Egypt by his mighty power." And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
God Leads with a Pillar of Cloud and Fire
Study note
God did not lead the Israelites along the shortest route to Canaan, which went through Philistine territory. He knew that if the people faced war, they might give up and go back to Egypt. Instead, God led them on a longer route through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Moses also took the bones of Joseph, fulfilling a promise Joseph had made his descendants swear to keep. God went ahead of the people in a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. These pillars never left the people and gave them constant guidance.
17 After Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the coast road through Philistine land, even though that was the shortest way. God said, "If they run into a fight, they might get scared and run back to Egypt." And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
18 Instead, God guided the people on a roundabout route through the desert toward the Red Sea. The Israelites marched out of Egypt equipped and ready for whatever lay ahead. But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
19 Moses brought Joseph's bones along. Years before, Joseph had made the Israelites promise. He said, "When God comes to rescue you, carry my bones out with you." And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
20 Leaving Succoth, the Israelites set up camp at Etham, right at the edge of the open desert. And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
21 The Lord himself went ahead of them — appearing as a tall pillar of cloud during the daytime to show them the way, and a pillar of fire at night to give them light. Because of this, they could keep moving day and night. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
22 The cloud pillar by day and the fire pillar by night never moved from their place in front of the people. He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.