13:11 The Lord spoke2 to Moses: 13:2 “Sanctify3 to me every firstborn male—whatever opens4 every womb among the Israelites, whether human or animal, is mine.”5
13:3 And Moses said to the people, “Remember6 this day in which you came out from Egypt, from the place where you were enslaved,7 for the Lord brought you out of there8 with a mighty hand—and no leavened bread may be eaten.9 13:4 On this day,10 in the month of Abib,11 you are going out.12
13:5 When13 the Lord brings you to 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,14 then you will keep15 this service16 in this month. 13:6 For seven days17 you will eat18 unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there is to be19 a festival to the Lord. 13:7 Unleavened bread must be eaten20 for seven days;21 no leavened bread will be seen22 by you, nor will leaven be seen by you within any of your borders.
13:8 And you are to tell your son23 on that day,24 ‘It is25 because of what26 the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 13:927 And it28 will be a sign29 for you on your hand, and a memorial30 between your eyes,31 so that the law of the Lord may be32 in your mouth,33 for34 with a mighty hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt.
13:10 So you must keep35 this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.36
13:11 When the Lord brings you37 into the land of the Canaanites,38 as he swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it39 to you, 13:12 then you must give over40 to the Lord everything that opens the womb.41 Every firstling42 of beasts that you have43—the males will be the Lord’s.44 13:13 Every firstling45 of a donkey you must redeem46 with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, then you must break its neck.47 Every firstborn of48 your sons you must redeem.
13:1449 When your son asks you50 in time to come,51 ‘What is this?’52 you are to say to him, ‘With a mighty hand53 the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the land of bondage.54 13:15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused55 to release us, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of people even to the firstborn of animals.56 That is why I am sacrificing57 to the Lord every male that opens the womb, but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.’ 13:16 And it will be for a sign on your hand, and for frontlets58 between your eyes, for with a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”59
The Leading of God
13:1760 When Pharaoh released61 the people, God did not lead them62 on the way to the land63 of the Philistines,64 although65 that was nearby, for God said,66 “Lest67 the people change their minds68 when they experience69 war, and return to Egypt.” 13:18 And so God led the people around on the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea.70 And the Israelites went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle.71
13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph72 had made the Israelites solemnly swear,73 “God will surely visit you, and you will carry74 my bones up from this place with you.”
13:20 So they journeyed from Sukkoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the desert. 13:21 Now the Lord was going before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light,75 so that they could76 go day or night.77 13:22 He did not take away from before the people78 the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night.
The Victory at the Red Sea