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Texts -- Exodus 13:1-19 (NET)

Context
The Law of the Firstborn
13:1 The Lord spoke to Moses : 13:2 “Set apart to me every firstborn male – the first offspring of every womb among the Israelites , whether human or animal ; it is mine .” 13:3 Moses said to the people , “Remember this day on which you came out from Egypt , from the place where you were enslaved , for the Lord brought you out of there with a mighty hand – and no bread made with yeast may be eaten . 13:4 On this day , in the month of Abib , you are going out . 13:5 When the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanites , Hittites , Amorites , Hivites , and Jebusites , which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey , then you will keep this ceremony in this month . 13:6 For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast , and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the Lord . 13:7 Bread made without yeast must be eaten for seven days ; no bread made with yeast shall be seen among you, and you must have no yeast among you within any of your borders . 13:8 You are to tell your son on that day , ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt .’ 13:9 It will be a sign for you on your hand and a memorial on your forehead , so that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth , for with a mighty hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt . 13:10 So you must keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year . 13:11 When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites , as he swore to you and to your fathers , and gives it to you, 13:12 then you must give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb . Every firstling of a beast that you have – the males will be the Lord’s . 13:13 Every firstling of a donkey you must redeem with a lamb , and if you do not redeem it, then you must break its neck . Every firstborn of your sons you must redeem . 13:14 In the future , when your son asks you ‘What is this ?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt , from the land of slavery . 13:15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to release us, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt , from the firstborn of people to the firstborn of animals . That is why I am sacrificing to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb , but all my firstborn sons I redeem .’ 13:16 It will be for a sign on your hand and for frontlets on your forehead , for with a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt .”
The Leading of God
13:17 When Pharaoh released the people , God did not lead them by the way to the land of the Philistines , although that was nearby , for God said , “Lest the people change their minds and return to Egypt when they experience war .” 13:18 So God brought the people around by the way of the desert to the Red Sea , and the Israelites went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle . 13:19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear , “God will surely attend to you, and you will carry my bones up from this place with you.”

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Passover

    [ebd] the name given to the chief of the three great historical annual festivals of the Jews. It was kept in remembrance of the Lord's passing over the houses of the Israelites (Ex. 12:13) when the first born of all the Egyptians ...
    [isbe] PASSOVER - pas'-o-ver (pecach, from pacach, "to pass" or "spring over" or "to spare" (Ex 12:13,23,17; compare Isa 31:5]. Other conjectures connect the word with the "passing over" into a new year, with assyr pasahu, meaning ...
    [smith] the first of the three great annual festivals of the Israelites celebrated in the month Nisan (March-April, from the 14th to the 21st. (Strictly speaking the Passover only applied to the paschal supper and the feast of unleav...
    [nave] PASSOVER Institution of, Ex. 12:3-49; 23:15-18; 34:18; Lev. 23:4-8; Num. 9:2-5, 13, 14; 28:16-25; Deut. 16:1-8, 16; Psa. 81:3, 5. Design of, Ex. 12:21-28. Special passover, for those who were unclean, or on journey, to be ...

  • Moses

    [isbe] MOSES - mo'-zez, mo'-ziz (mosheh; Egyptian mes, "drawn out," "born"; Septuagint Mouse(s)). The great Hebrew national hero, leader, author, law-giver and prophet. I. LIFE 1. Son of Levi 2. Foundling Prince 3. Friend of the Pe...
    [nave] MOSES A Levite and son of Amram, Ex. 2:1-4; 6:20; Acts 7:20; Heb. 11:23. Hidden in an ark, Ex. 2:3. Discovered and adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh, Ex. 2:5-10. Learned in all the wisdom of Egypt, Acts 7:22. His loyalt...

  • Token

    [isbe] TOKEN - to'-k'-n ('oth, usually rendered "sign" (on Dt 22:14 ff see the comms.)): "Sign" and "token" are virtually synonymous words and in the King James Version are used with little or no distinction (in Ex 13, compare 13:9...
    [nave] TOKEN A sign, Ex. 3:12. Sun and moon for time and seasons, Gen. 1:14. The mark of Cain, Gen. 4:15. Rainbow, that the world might no more be destroyed by a flood, Gen. 9:12-17. Circumcision, of the covenant of Abraham, Ge...

  • Frontlets

    [ebd] occurs only in Ex. 13:16; Deut. 6:8, and 11:18. The meaning of the injunction to the Israelites, with regard to the statues and precepts given them, that they should "bind them for a sign upon their hand, and have them as fr...
    [isbe] FRONTLETS - frunt'-lets (ToTaphoth, from Tuph, "to bind"): Ornaments worn on the forehead, particularly phylacteries (which see), which were worn in this manner and also on the arms (Ex 13:16; Dt 6:8; 11:18; compare also Ex ...
    [nave] FRONTLETS A leather band worn on the forehead, Ex. 13:6-16; Deut. 6:1-8; 11:18. See: Phylactery.

  • Judgments

    [nave] JUDGMENTS On the serpent, Gen. 3:14, 15. Eve, Gen. 3:16; Adam, Gen. 3:17-19. Cain, Gen. 4:11-15; the Antediluvians, Gen. 6; 7; Sodomites, Gen. 19:23-25; Egyptians, the plagues and overthrow, Ex. 7-14; Nadab and Abihu, Lev....

  • Quotations and Allusions

    [nave] QUOTATIONS AND ALLUSIONS. In the New Testament from, and to, the Old Testament Matt. 1:23 Isa. 7:14. Matt. 2:6 Mic. 5:2. Matt. 2:15 Hos. 11:1. Matt. 2:18 Jer. 31:15. Matt. 3:3 Isa. 40:3. Matt. 4:4 Deut. 8:3; Luke 4:4. Matt...

  • Sin

    [nave] SIN. Index of Sub-Topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to, Defining, and Illustrating; Confession of; Consequences of, Entailed Upon Children; Conviction of; Forgiveness of; Fruits of; Kn...

  • EXODUS, THE BOOK OF, 2

    [isbe] EXODUS, THE BOOK OF, 2 - II. Structure of the Book According to the Scriptures and According to Modern Analyses. In the following section (a) serves for the understanding of the Biblical text; (b) is devoted to the discussio...

  • GENESIS, 1-2

    [isbe] GENESIS, 1-2 - jen'-e-sis: I. GENERAL DATA 1. The Name 2. Survey of Contents 3. Connection with Succeeding Books II. COMPOSITION OF GENESIS IN GENERAL 1. Unity of the Biblical Text (1) The Toledhoth (2) Further Indication of...

  • FRONTLETS, OR PHYLACTERIES

    [smith] (Exodus 13:16; 6:8; 11:18; Matthew 23:5) These "frontlets" or "phylacteries" were strips of parchment, on which were written four passages of Scripture, (Exodus 13:2-10,11-17; 6:4-9,13-23) in an ink prepared for the purpose. ...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Firstborn

    [smith] Under the law, in memory of the exodus (when the first-born of the Egyptians were slain), the eldest son was regarded as devoted to God, and was in very case to be redeemed by an offering not exceeding five shekels, within on...
    [nave] FIRSTBORN, of human and beast, reserved to himself by God, Ex. 13:2, 12-16; 22:29, 30; 34:19, 20; Lev. 27:26; Num. 3:13; 8:17, 18; Deut. 15:19-23; Neh. 10:36. Redemption of, Ex. 13:13; 34:20; Lev. 27:27; Num. 3:40-51; 18:15-...

  • Phylacteries

    [ebd] (Gr. phulakteria; i.e., "defences" or "protections"), called by modern Jews tephillin (i.e., "prayers") are mentioned only in Matt. 23:5. They consisted of strips of parchment on which were inscribed these four texts: (1.) E...

  • Phylactery

    [isbe] PHYLACTERY - fi-lak'-ter-i (phulakterion, "guard"): 1. Bible References: This word is found only in Mt 23:5 in our Lord's denunciation of the Pharisees, who, in order that their works might "be seen of men," and in their zea...
    [nave] PHYLACTERY A small box containing slips of parchment on which were written portions of the law, Ex. 13:9, 16; Deut. 6:4-9; 11:18. Worn ostentatiously by the Jews, on the head and left arm, Matt. 23:5. See: Frontlets.

  • Instruction

    [nave] INSTRUCTION From nature, Prov. 24:30-34; Eccl. 1:13-18; 3; 4:1; Matt. 6:25-30. See: Parables. From the study of human nature, Eccl. 3-12. By Object Lessons: The pot of maa, Ex. 16:32. The pillar of twelve stones at the f...

  • Thankfulness

    [nave] THANKFULNESS Jesus set an example of, Matt. 11:25; 26:27; John 11:41. The heavenly host engage in, Rev. 4:9; 7:11, 12; 11:16, 17. Commanded, Psa. 50:14. Should be offered to God, Psa. 50:14; to Christ, 1 Tim. 1:12; throug...

  • Children

    [nave] CHILDREN In answer to prayer: To Abraham, Gen. 15:2-5, with Gen. 21:1, 2; Isaac, Gen. 25:21; Leah, Gen. 30:17-22; Rachel, Gen. 30:22-24; Haah, 1 Sam. 1:9-20; Zacharias, Luke 1:13. Treatment of, at birth, Ezek. 16:4-6; Luke ...

  • Memorial

    [nave] MEMORIAL Passover, Ex. 12:14. See: Passover. Firstborn set apart as a, Ex. 13:12-16. Pot of maa, Ex. 16:32-34. Feast of tabernacles, Lev. 23:43. Shoulder stones of the ephod, Ex. 28:12. Lord's supper, Luke 22:19; 1 Cor...

  • God

    [nave] GOD. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Access to; Compassion of; Creator; Creator of Mankind; Eternity of; Faithfulness of; Fatherhood of; Favor of; Foreknowledge of; Glory of; Goodness of...

  • First-born, Redemption of

    [ebd] From the beginning the office of the priesthood in each family belonged to the eldest son. But when the extensive plan of sacrificial worship was introduced, requiring a company of men to be exclusively devoted to this minis...
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Arts

Questions

  • Curtis Mitchell's article in Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol 147 #588 Oct 1990 answers this question well. The Practice of Fasting in the New Testament Is religious fasting a legitimate practice for today? If it is, how and wh...
  • I'm going to copy some articles on this subject, but let me give you my summation of all of them. In the Old Testament, the firstborn son was the one who normally received a double inheritance, and was the one who would inher...

Sermon Illustrations

Influences of Culture; Qualities Needed in Parenting; Deuteronomy 6; Leo Tolstoy; Slavery

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • One of the significant changes in the emphasis that occurs at this point in Genesis is from cursing in the primeval record to blessing in the patriarchal narratives. The Abrahamic Covenant is most important in this respect. H...
  • In obedience to God's command Abraham took his promised heir to Moriah to sacrifice him to the Lord. Because Abraham was willing to slay his uniquely begotten son God restrained him from killing Isaac and promised to bless hi...
  • Exodus embraces about 431 years of history, from the arrival of Jacob and his family in Egypt (ca. 1876 B.C.) to the erection of the tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai (ca. 1445 B.C.). However 1:1-7 is a review of Jacob's ...
  • I. The liberation of Israel 1:1-15:21A. God's preparation of Israel and Moses chs. 1-41. The growth of Jacob's family 1:1-72. The Israelites' bondage in Egypt 1:8-223. Moses' birth and education 2:1-104. Moses' flight from Eg...
  • This pericope serves a double purpose. It introduces the rigorous conditions under which the Egyptians forced the Israelites to live, and it sets the stage for the birth of Moses.1:8-14 The new king (v. 8) was perhaps Ahmose ...
  • 4:19-23 Moses did not return immediately to Egypt when he arrived back in Midian following his encounter with God at Horeb (v. 19). God spoke to him again in Midian and sent him back to Egypt assuring His servant that everyon...
  • This section is somewhat repetitive, but the emphasis is on the Lord's right to the first-born in Israel and how the Israelites were to acknowledge that right. The repetition stresses its importance.13:1-2 "Every"refers to th...
  • "The way of the land of the Philistines"refers to the most northern of three routes travelers took from Egypt to Canaan (v. 17). The others lay farther south. The Egyptians had heavily fortified this caravan route, also calle...
  • The Israelites erected the tabernacle on the first day of the first month, almost exactly one year after the Israelites left Egypt (vv. 2, 17). This was about nine months after Israel had arrived at Mt. Sinai (cf. 19:1).First...
  • Adams, Dwayne H. "The Building Program that Works (Exodus 25:4--36:7 [31:1-11])."Exegesis and Exposition1:1 (Fall 1986):82-92.Aharoni, Yohanan. "Kadesh-Barnea and Mount Sinai."In God's Wilderness: Discoveries in Sinai, pp. 11...
  • "This chapter contains a selected list of creatures that divides each type of creature into various classes of purity. According to the final verse in the chapter, the decisive question was whether a class of animals was uncl...
  • Here begins the fourth and last leg of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.1. From Egypt to Sinai (Exod. 12-19)2. From Sinai to Kadesh (Num. 11-12)3. From Kadesh back to Kadesh--38 years of wilderness wand...
  • Moses had finished what he had to say about provisions for the needy (the Levites, the alien, orphans, widows, the poor, and slaves; 14:22-15:18). Here his thoughts turned back to the subject of the first-born of animals that...
  • The Israelites felt the main influence of the Ammonites on the east side of the Jordan River that bordered Ammon (v. 8). However the Ammonites also attacked the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim west of the Jordan (v. 9)...
  • God had promised the Israelites that if they departed from Him He would discipline them by sending famine on the Promised Land (Deut. 28:17, 23, 38-40, 42).16The famine on Israel at this time indicates God's judgment for unfa...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • 105:7-11 God remembered His people (v. 7, cf. v. 42) so His people should remember Him (v. 5). God had been faithful to the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3, 7; 15:18-21; 22:15-18; 28:13-15). He made this covenant with Abraham...
  • There are several thematic connections between this chapter and chapter 28.298The general structure of the chapter is chiastic."AContemporary events: Egypt no help (1-7)BComing human events: the refusal of the word, the way o...
  • 1:4 Ezekiel saw within the opened heavens a great cloud blown toward him by the north wind with lightning flashing from it almost constantly (cf. 1 Kings 19:11-13; Job 38:1; 40:6; Ps. 29:3-5). Israel's enemies had invaded fro...
  • 20:10-12 So the Lord led the Israelites out of Egypt and into the wilderness. At Mount Sinai He gave them statutes and ordinances that would result in their welfare if they obeyed them, namely, the Mosaic Law. He also gave th...
  • 23:1 As we have seen, there were three groups of people present in the temple courtyard. These were the disciples of Jesus, His critics, namely the various groups of Israel's leaders, and the crowds of ordinary Israelites. Je...
  • 26:26 "And"introduces the second thing Matthew recorded that happened as Jesus and His disciples were eating the Passover meal, the first being Jesus' announcement about His betrayer (v. 21). Jesus took bread (Gr. artos, 4:4;...
  • These verses introduce the whole passion narrative. Passover commemorated the Israelites' redemption from slavery in Egypt through the Exodus (Exod. 12:1-13:16). It anticipated a greater deliverance from the consequences of s...
  • Mark said that Jesus appeared to the Eleven on this occasion. However, John qualified that statement by explaining that Thomas was absent (John 20:24). Mark was speaking of the Eleven as a group.16:14 This event evidently hap...
  • The emphasis in this section is Simeon's prediction of Jesus' ministry (cf. 1:67-79). He pointed out the universal extent of the salvation that Jesus would bring and the rejection that He would experience.2:22-24 Under Mosaic...
  • John began his version of this civil trial by narrating the initial public meeting of Pilate and Jesus' accusers.54318:28 "They"(NASB) refers to all the Jewish authorities (cf. Matt. 27:1-2; Mark 15:1; Luke 23:1). They led Je...
  • Paul argued for the man's removal from the church with this analogy. It was primarily for the sake of the church that they should remove him, not for the man's sake.5:6 It was not good for the Corinthians to feel proud of the...
  • Paul continued dealing with the subject of going to idol temples to participate in pagan feasts in this section. In it he gave a warning to the believer who considered himself strong, the one who knew there were really no god...
  • There was an even more serious dimension to this problem. The Corinthians were sinning against the Lord as well as one another.11:23 What Paul taught here came ultimately from the Lord Jesus Himself. This reminder stresses th...
  • Peter proceeded to clarify the nature of the church and in doing so explained the duty of Christians in the world.2:9 All the figures of the church that Peter chose here originally referred to Israel. However with Israel's re...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Exodus 13:9The question may be asked, whether this command is to be taken metaphorically or literally. No doubt the remembrance of the great deliverance was intrusted to acts. Besides the annual Passover feasts, inscriptions ...
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