Exodus 13

Read Exodus 13.

Exodus 13 opens with the LORD commanding Moses to consecrate all the firstborn of Israel to Him. Every firstborn male (whether human or animal) was to be set apart as holy to the LORD. This reflected the significance of the final plague in Egypt, during which God had struck down the firstborn of the Egyptians while sparing those of the Israelites.

Moses then addressed the people of Israel, instructing them to commemorate their escape from Egypt. The LORD had delivered them from slavery with a mighty hand. He told them to observe a feast of unleavened bread each year during the month of Abib, the month of their exodus. For seven days they were to eat unleavened bread. On the seventh day, a special feast was to be held in honor of the LORD. Moses emphasized that no leavened bread was to be found among them during this time, and they were to explain to their children that the feast was observed because of what the LORD had done for them when He brought them out of Egypt. The practice was to serve as a sign on their hands and a reminder between their eyes, so that the law of the Lord would always be on their lips.

Moses also gave instructions concerning the consecration of firstborn animals. Every firstborn donkey was to be redeemed with a lamb, or else its neck was to be broken. Every firstborn son was to be redeemed in the same way. Parents were told that, when their children asked about this practice in the future, they should explain that it commemorated the LORD’s powerful act of bringing Israel out of Egypt — and how, when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let them go, the LORD struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt. This was the reason every firstborn male, both of man and of animal, was sacrificed or redeemed to the LORD.

Exodus 13 then describes the beginning of Israel’s journey out of Egypt. Rather than leading the people along the shorter coastal road through Philistine territory, God chose a longer route through the wilderness toward the Red sea. He did this deliberately, knowing that, if the people faced war too soon, they might regret leaving Egypt and go back there. The LORD Himself went before them in a pillar of cloud by day to guide their way and a pillar of fire by night to give them light so they could travel at any hour of the day or night. These pillars never left their place in front of the people.

Finally, Moses carried the bones of Joseph with him on the journey, fulfilling the oath that the Israelites had sworn to Joseph long before. Joseph had made them promise that, when God came to their aid, they would bring his bones up with them out of Egypt — a testament to his faith that God would one day lead his people back to the land He had promised them.