1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

3And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

4This day came ye out in the month Abib.

5And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

6Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.

7Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

8And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is donebecause of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

9And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

10Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.

11And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

12That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S.

13And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

14And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

15And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

16And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.

17And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

18But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

19And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

20And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

21And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

22He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,

2Sanctifie vnto me all the first borne, whatsoeuer openeth the wombe, among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

3 And Moses said vnto the people, Remember this day, in which yee came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage: for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall no leauened bread be eaten.

4This day came yee out, in the moneth Abib.

5 And it shalbe when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hiuites, and the Iebusites, which he sware vnto thy fathers to giue thee, a land flowing with milke and hony, that thou shalt keepe this seruice in this moneth.

6Seuen dayes thou shalt eate vnleauened bread, and in the seuenth day shall be a feast to the Lord.

7Unleauened bread shall be eaten seuen dayes: and there shall no leauened bread bee seene with thee: neither shall there be leauen seene with thee in all thy quarters.

8 And thou shalt shew thy sonne in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did vnto mee, when I came forth out of Egypt.

9And it shall bee for a signe vnto thee, vpon thine hand, and for a memoriall betweene thine eyes, that the Lords law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hande hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.

10Thou shalt therfore keepe this ordinance in his season from yeere to yere.

11 And it shalbe when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites as he sware vnto thee, and to thy fathers, and shall giue it thee:

12That thou shalt set apart vnto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and euery firstling that commeth of a beast, which thou hast, the males shall be the Lords.

13And euery firstling of an asse thou shalt redeeme with a lambe: and if thou wilt not redeeme it, then thou shalt breake his necke, and all the first borne of man amongst thy children shalt thou redeeme.

14 And it shalbe when thy sonne asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? That thou shalt say vnto him; By strength of hand the Lord brought vs out from Egypt, from the house of bondage.

15And it came to passe when Pharaoh would hardly let vs goe, that the Lord slew all the first borne in the land of Egypt, both the first borne of man, and the first borne of beast: Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the matrix, being males: but all the first borne of my children I redeeme.

16And it shall be for a token vpon thine hand, and for frontlets betweene thine eyes. For by strength of hand the Lord brought vs foorth out of Egypt.

17 And it came to passe when Pharaoh had let the people goe, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was neere: For God saide, Lest peraduenture the people repent when they see warre, and they returne to Egypt:

18But God ledde the people about through the way of the wildernesse of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went vp harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

19And Moses tooke the bones of Ioseph with him: for hee had straitly sworne the children of Israel, saying; God will surely visite you, and ye shall cary vp my bones away hence with you.

20 And they tooke their iourney from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wildernesse.

21And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to giue them light to goe by day and night.

22He tooke not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

II == Lev 27:26 ; Num 3:13 ; 8:16-17 ; 18:15 ; Deut 15:19 ; Luke 2:23

III == Ex 6:1 ; 12:8 , 42 ; Deut 16:3

V == Ex 3:8 ; 6:8 ; 12:25-26

VI == Ex 12:15-16

VIII == Ex 12:26 ; 13:14

IX == Ex 12:14 ; 13:16 ; Num 15:39 ; Deut 6:8 ; 11:18 ; Prov 1:9 ; Isa 49:16 ; Jer 22:24 ; Matt 23:5

XII == Ex 13:2 ; 22:29 ; 34:19 ; Lev 27:26 ; Num 8:17 ; 18:15 ; Deut 15:19 ; Ezek 44:30

XIV == Ex 12:26 ; 13:3 : Deut 6:20 ; Josh 4:6 , 21

XV == Ex 12:29

XVI == Ex 13:9

XVII == Ex 14:11-12 ; Num 14:1-4 ; Deut 17:16

XVIII ==Ex 14:2 ; Num 33:6

XIX == Gen 50:25 ; Josh 24:32 ; Acts 7:16

XXI == Ex 14:19 , 24 ; 40:38 ; Num 9:15 ; 10:34 ; 14:14 ; Deut 1:33 ; Neh 9:12 , 19 ; Ps 78:14 ; 99:7 ; 105:39 ; Isa 4:5 ; 1st Cor 10:1

1 The LORD spoke to Moses and said,

2 "Consecrate to me every first-born that opens the womb among the Israelites, both of man and beast, for it belongs to me."

3 Moses said to the people, "Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, that place of slavery. It was with a strong hand that the LORD brought you away. Nothing made with leaven must be eaten.

4 This day of your departure is in the month of Abib.

5 Therefore, it is in this month that you must celebrate this rite, after the LORD, your God, has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers he would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey.

6 For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and the seventh day shall also be a festival to the LORD.

7 Only unleavened bread may be eaten during the seven days; no leaven and nothing leavened may be found in all your territory.

8 On this day you shall explain to your son, 'This is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'

9 It shall be as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead; thus the law of the LORD will ever be on your lips, because with a strong hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.

10 Therefore, you shall keep this prescribed rite at its appointed time from year to year.

11 "When the LORD, your God, has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, which he swore to you and your fathers he would give you,

12 you shall dedicate to the LORD every son that opens the womb; and all the male firstlings of your animals shall belong to the LORD.

13 Every first-born of an ass you shall redeem with a sheep. If you do not redeem it, you shall break its neck. Every first-born son you must redeem.

14 If your son should ask you later on, 'What does this mean?' you shall tell him, 'With a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, that place of slavery.

15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every first-born in the land of Egypt, every first-born of man and of beast. That is why I sacrifice to the LORD everything of the male sex that opens the womb, and why I redeem every first-born of my sons.'

16 Let this, then, be as a sign on your hand and as a pendant on your forehead: with a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt."

17 Now, when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the Philistines' land, though this was the nearest; for he thought, should the people see that they would have to fight, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.

18 Instead, he rerouted them toward the Red Sea by way of the desert road. In battle array the Israelites marched out of Egypt.

19 Moses also took Joseph's bones along, for Joseph had made the Israelites swear solemnly that, when God should come to them, they would carry his bones away with them.

20 Setting out from Succoth, they camped at Etham near the edge of the desert.

21 The LORD preceded them, in the daytime by means of a column of cloud to show them the way, and at night by means of a column of fire to give them light. Thus they could travel both day and night.

22 Neither the column of cloud by day nor the column of fire by night ever left its place in front of the people.

v 1,2. See verses 12 and 15 for proof that whenever sanctifying the first born is mentioned, God is referring to first born males, both of man and beast.

v 3. Not eating unleavened bread on this date was to help remind them of how the Lord delivered them from Egypt.

v 4. Abib, Jewish. Nisan, Babylonian. March - April for us.

v 5-7. First was the Passover feast, then seven days of feast of unleavened bread. This is spelled out in more detail in Lev. 23. The point here is that this is to be kept perpetually when they get into the land, only one is recorded in the wilderness.

v 8-10. This celebration would be to teach the great deliverance of the Lord to children in the future. The sign on their hand and memorial between their eyes (or frontlets, Deut. 11:18) was meant for them to keep this in the forefront of their lives. The Lord didn’t intend, I don’t believe, but they later took this literally and bound little boxes, or phylacteries, to their arms and foreheads.
These are black calf skin boxes about an inch and a half square and contain verses of scripture from Exodus 13:1-10, 11-16, Deuteronomy 6;4-9 and 11:13-21. These are written with special ink on parchment. The boxes have long narrow strips of leather attached, and one is bound upon the inner side of the left arm. The straps are wound around the arm seven times and around the fingers, the ends coming out at the middle finger. It is usually fastened near the wrist, but some mount them between the elbow and the shoulder, with the idea being that when the arm touches the body, the law would be near the heart. The strap through the fingers would be awkward for a laborer, but only Pharisees wear them all day. In fact they make their boxes larger than needed to attract attention. Some people call this ‘making broad their phylacteries’.(Mt. 23:5) Some seem to wear them as sort of a good luck charm.
The second phylactery encloses the four scriptures on four separate strips of parchment. It is bound high on the forehead above the nose with the knot at the back of the head in the middle of the neck, and the ends passed over the shoulders to hang in front of the body. The common man wears it every morning in the daily prayer, because as those verses say, they are a sign. On the Sabbath and Holy Days they are not worn, because the Sabbath itself is a sign. At the time of prayer, besides the phylacteries, men also have to wear a shawl as a prayer garment. By Bar Mitzvah a young man has to learn several prayers and portions from the five books of Moses.
This might be a good place to mention the Mezuzoth. God commanded in Deuteronomy (6:9 and 11:20) to write His Word on the hand and forehead, and also said to write it on the door posts. Originally it was to be written right on the door post, but many people disobeyed God and were ashamed to have the scripture in plain sight. So they made cases called Mazuzoths. The same scripture from Deuteronomy that is on the phylacteries is written on a square piece of parchment with special ink and special square letters. Then it is rolled up and put in that case. Before the case is fastened by the door, the word Shaddai is written on it. That is one of the names of God, and that is where Jews touch it, then kiss their finger.”

v 11-13. This continues the thought of verse 2, that all firstborn males were to be set apart. Animals are included too, because they experienced the Lords preservation or redemption in Egypt. Donkeys were unclean so the first-born could not be sacrificed, but a lamb was to be killed in their place or their neck was to be broken. Redemption price of first-born of man is detailed in Num. 3:46. Levites were to take the place of first-born, and those remaining were redeemed with 5 shekels of silver each.

v 14-16. This is to reinforce what has been previously said considering the importance of setting the first-born apart as a reminder of the Lord’s deliverance.

v 17. The simple and closest way was to take one of the two main roads going up from Egypt, one along the coast of the Philistines, the other toward Hebron, or the road to Shur. However, these untrained people would have been frightened by enemies and fled back to Egypt.

v 18. Moses’ military training was valuable in leading them in ranks and orderly.

v 19. The remnant who had remained strong in faith no doubt were responsible for making sure Joseph’s bones were obtained at Succoth and brought along as he ordered.

v 20. In 12:37 they journey from Ramses to Succoth, here from Succoth to Etham. They followed the Egyptian military route nearly to Migdol on the Gulf of Aqaba branch of the Red Sea where they crossed at Ezion-geber, where they crossed on what is now the underwater land bridge into Saudi Arabia across the 5000 foot deep water . The wadi led them into a trap until the Lord parted the water. Except for resting, they had traveled day and night to get there. Solomon built a pillar at each side of the crossing, and countless Egyptian chariot parts are found under water.

v 21,22. Fire and cloud was God’s means of guidance for the next 40 years, probably until they were ready to cross the Jordan. It could be correctly stated that the Shekinah glory, the visible sign of the presence of the Lord went before them.
Since remains of crossing has been found in the eastern brach of the Red Sea, it would appear they traveled day and night to get there. They probably rested in the heat of the day.