13:1 The LORD said to Moses,
13:2 “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal.”
13:3 Then 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.
13:4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are leaving.
13:5 When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites–the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey–you are to observe this ceremony in this month:
13:6 For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD.
13:7 Eat 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.
13:8 On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
13:9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand.
13:10 You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.
13:11 “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 forefathers,
13:12 you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD.
13:13 Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
13:14 “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.
13:15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’
13:16 And 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.”
13:17 When 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.”
13:18 So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.
13:19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel 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.”
13:20 After leaving Succoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.
13:21 By 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.
13:22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.
13:1 Then Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,
13:2 Sanctify to Me all the firstborn: Whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast, it is Mine.
13:3 And Moses said to the people, Remember this day on which you came out from Egypt, from the slave house, for by strength of hand Jehovah brought you out from this place; and nothing leavened shall be eaten.
13:4 On this day in the month of Abib you are going out.
13:5 And when Jehovah brings you into the land of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall observe this service in this month:
13:6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to Jehovah.
13:7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days, and nothing leavened shall be seen with you, nor shall any leaven be seen with you in all your territory.
13:8 And you shall tell your son in that day, saying, It is because of what Jehovah did for me when I came out of Egypt.
13:9 And it shall be for a sign to you upon your hand and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of Jehovah may be in your mouth; for with a mighty hand Jehovah brought you out of Egypt.
13:10 You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.
13:11 And when Jehovah brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you,
13:12 You shall set apart to Jehovah everything that opens the womb and the first offspring of every beast which is yours; the males shall be Jehovah s.
13:13 And every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you do not redeem it, you shall break its neck. And every firstborn male among your sons you shall redeem.
13:14 And when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? you shall say to him, By strength of hand Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from the slave house.
13:15 And when Pharaoh hardened himself against letting us go, Jehovah slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore I am one who sacrifices to Jehovah every male that opens the womb; and all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.
13:16 So it will be as a sign upon your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand Jehovah brought us out of Egypt.
13:17 Now when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Perhaps the people will change their minds when they see war and will return to Egypt.
13:18 Thus God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up arrayed for battle out of the land of Egypt.
13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the children of Israel solemnly swear, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall bring my bones up from here with you.
13:20 And they journeyed from Succoth and encamped in Etham on the edge of the wilderness.
13:21 And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might go by day and by night.
13:22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night departed from before the people.