# Exodus 13 đ: Consecration of the Firstborn
[[đ Explore the Bible Books]]
[[-Exodus Overview]] | [[Exodus 12]] | [[Exodus 14]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### The Law of the Firstborn
[[#Verse 01.]] The Lord spoke to Moses,Â
[[#Verse 02.]] âSet apart to me every firstborn maleâthe first offspring of every womb among the Israelites, whether human or animal; it is mine.â
[[#Verse 03.]] Moses said to the people, âRemember 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 handâand no bread made with yeast may be eaten.Â
[[#Verse 04.]] On this day, in the month of Abib, you are going out.
[[#Verse 05.]] âWhen 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.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the Lord.
[[#Verse 07.]] 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.
[[#Verse 08.]] âYou are to tell your son on that day, âIt is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.âÂ
[[#Verse 09.]] 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.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] So you must keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.
[[#Verse 11.]] âWhen the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you,Â
[[#Verse 12.]] then you must give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. Every firstling of a beast that you haveâthe males will be the Lordâs.
[[#Verse 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.
[[#Verse 14.]] âIn the future, when your son asks you âWhat is this?â you are to tell him, âWith a mighty hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the land of slavery.Â
[[#Verse 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.âÂ
[[#Verse 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.â
## The Leading of God
[[#Verse 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, âLest the people change their minds and return to Egypt when they experience war.âÂ
[[#Verse 18.]] So God brought the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea, and the Israelites went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle.
[[#Verse 19.]] Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear, âGod will surely attend to you, and you will carry my bones up from this place with you.â
[[#Verse 20.]]Â They journeyed from Sukkoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the desert.Â
[[#Verse 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, so that they could travel day or night.Â
[[#Verse 22.]]Â He did not remove the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The firstborn belong to the Lord because He spared Israel's firstborn in Egypt (13:2, 15).
2. A firstborn donkey had to be redeemed with a lamb or have its neck broken (13:13).
3. Firstborn sons were redeemed (13:13). Luke records Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus to the Lord according to this law (Luke 2:22-23).
4. The command to have these words as a sign on the hand and between the eyes (13:9, 16) later shaped the Jewish practice of wearing tefillin, or phylacteries.
5. The "way of the land of the Philistines" (13:17) was the main coastal route, guarded by Egyptian forts.
6. Moses carried Joseph's bones (13:19), keeping the promise made in Genesis 50:25. They were later buried at Shechem (Joshua 24:32).
7. The Hebrew name for the Red Sea (*yam suph*) is often translated "Sea of Reeds."
8. Israel left "prepared for battle" (13:18), though the meaning of the Hebrew word is debated.
9. Etham was on the edge of the wilderness (13:20).
10. The pillar of cloud and fire never left them (13:22). Nehemiah later praises God for this faithfulness (Nehemiah 9:19).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the firstborn presented to the Lord. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple in obedience to this law (13:2; Luke 2:22-23), and He became the Redeemer who leads His people out of slavery to sin.
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. God told parents to explain the feast when their children ask (13:14). How do you create moments for children to ask about faith?
2. God led Israel the long way to protect them from turning back (13:17). How has God led you on a longer road for your good?
3. The pillar of cloud and fire never left the people (13:22). What reminders of God's presence do you lean on?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verse 2: Every firstborn belongs to the Lord.
- đ verse 17: God did not lead them by the Philistine road, so they would not turn back when they saw war.
- đ verses 21-22: The Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[Luke 02#Verse 22.|Luke 2:22-23]] - Jesus presented to the Lord as a firstborn.
- đ [[Genesis 50#Verse 24.|Genesis 50:24-25]] - Joseph's request about his bones.
- đ [[Hebrews 11#Verse 22.|Hebrews 11:22]] - By faith Joseph gave instructions about his bones.
- đ [[Deuteronomy 06#Verse 06.|Deuteronomy 6:6-8]] - Teach these words to your children.
- đ [[1 Corinthians 10#Verse 01.|1 Corinthians 10:1-2]] - Our fathers were all under the cloud.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[Exodus 13- SOAP|The LORD Guides Our Steps]]
## đ Internal Notes