Exodus 13:4

4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are going to leave.

Exodus 13:4 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 13:4

This day came ye out
Out of Egypt, on the fifteenth of Nisan, as the Targum of Jonathan: in the month Abib;
which signifies an ear of corn, because in this month barley was in the ear, see ( Exodus 9:31 ) , the Syriac version renders it, "in the month of flowers"; when the flowers were rising up out of the earth, being spring time, and a very fit time to travel in; and this is observed, not only because they might not know what month it was, in such a state of ignorance, as well as servitude, were they kept in Egypt; but as Jarchi also intimates, to point out to them the mercy and goodness of God to them, in bringing them out at such a seasonable time to travel in, when there were neither heat, nor cold, nor rain. This month answers to part of our March, and part of April.

Exodus 13:4 In-Context

2 Dedicate to me all your oldest children. Each first offspring from any Israelite womb belongs to me, whether human or animal.

3 Moses said to the people, “Remember this day which is the day that you came out of Egypt, out of the place you were slaves, because the LORD acted with power to bring you out of there. No leavened bread may be eaten.

4 Today, in the month of Abib, you are going to leave.

5 The LORD will bring you to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. It is the land that the LORD promised your ancestors to give to you, a land full of milk and honey. You should perform this ritual in this month.

6 You must eat unleavened bread for seven days. The seventh day is a festival to the LORD.

Footnotes

• [a]. March–April, named Nisan after the exile