Exodus 13

1 Und Jehova redete zu Mose und sprach:

2 Heilige mir alles Erstgeborene, was irgend die Mutter bricht unter den Kindern Israel, an Menschen und an Vieh; es ist mein. -

3 Und Mose sprach zu dem Volke: Gedenket dieses Tages, an welchem ihr aus Ägypten gezogen seid, aus dem Hause der Knechtschaft; denn mit starker Hand hat Jehova euch von hier herausgeführt; und es soll nichts Gesäuertes gegessen werden.

4 Heute ziehet ihr aus, im Monat Abib.

5 Und es soll geschehen, wenn Jehova dich bringt in das Land der Kanaaniter und der Hethiter und der Amoriter und der Hewiter und der Jebusiter, das er deinen Vätern geschworen hat, dir zu geben, ein Land, das von Milch und Honig fließt, so sollst du diesen Dienst in diesem Monat halten.

6 Sieben Tage sollst du Ungesäuertes essen, und am siebten Tage ist ein Fest dem Jehova.

7 Die sieben Tage soll Ungesäuertes gegessen werden; und nicht soll Gesäuertes bei dir gesehen werden, noch soll Sauerteig bei dir gesehen werden in allen deinen Grenzen.

8 Und du sollst deinem Sohne an selbigem Tage kundtun und sprechen: Es ist um deswillen, was Jehova mir getan hat, als ich aus Ägypten zog.

9 Und es sei dir zu einem Zeichen an deiner Hand und zu einem Denkzeichen zwischen deinen Augen, damit das Gesetz Jehovas in deinem Munde sei; denn mit starker Hand hat Jehova dich aus Ägypten herausgeführt.

10 Und du sollst diese Satzung beobachten zu ihrer bestimmten Zeit, von Jahr zu Jahr.

11 Und es soll geschehen, wenn Jehova dich in das Land der Kanaaniter bringt, wie er dir und deinen Vätern geschworen hat, und es dir gibt,

12 so sollst du Jehova alles darbringen, was die Mutter bricht; und alles zuerst Geworfene vom Vieh, das dir zuteil wird, die Männlichen gehören Jehova.

13 Und jedes Erstgeborene des Esels sollst du mit einem Lamme lösen, und wenn du es nicht lösest, so brich ihm das Genick; und jedes Erstgeborene des Menschen unter deinen Söhnen sollst du lösen.

14 Und es soll geschehen, wenn dein Sohn dich künftig fragt und spricht: Was ist das? so sollst du zu ihm sagen: Mit starker Hand hat Jehova uns aus Ägypten herausgeführt, aus dem Hause der Knechtschaft.

15 Und es geschah, da der Pharao sich hartnäckig weigerte, uns ziehen zu lassen, tötete Jehova alle Erstgeburt im Lande Ägypten, vom Erstgeborenen des Menschen bis zum Erstgeborenen des Viehes; darum opfere ich dem Jehova alles, was die Mutter bricht, die Männlichen, und jeden Erstgeborenen meiner Söhne löse ich.

16 Und es sei zu einem Zeichen an deiner Hand und zu Stirnbändern zwischen deinen Augen; denn mit starker Hand hat Jehova uns aus Ägypten herausgeführt.

17 Und es geschah, als der Pharao das Volk ziehen ließ, da führte Gott sie nicht den Weg durch das Land der Philister, wiewohl er nahe war; denn Gott sprach: Damit es das Volk nicht gereue, wenn sie den Streit sehen, und sie nicht nach Ägypten zurückkehren.

18 Und Gott führte das Volk herum, den Weg der Wüste des Schilfmeeres; und die Kinder Israel zogen gerüstet aus dem Lande Ägypten herauf.

19 Und Mose nahm die Gebeine Josephs mit sich; denn er hatte die Kinder Israel ausdrücklich schwören lassen und gesagt: Gott wird euch gewißlich heimsuchen; so führet denn meine Gebeine mit euch von hier hinauf!

20 Und sie brachen auf von Sukkoth und lagerten sich in Etham, am Rande der Wüste.

21 Und Jehova zog vor ihnen her, des Tages in einer Wolkensäule, um sie auf dem Wege zu leiten, und des Nachts in einer Feuersäule, um ihnen zu leuchten, damit sie Tag und Nacht ziehen könnten.

22 Des Tages wich nicht die Wolkensäule noch des Nachts die Feuersäule vor dem Volke.

Exodus 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

The first-born sanctified to God The remembrance of the passover commanded. (1-10) The firstlings of beasts set apart. (11-16) Joseph's bones carried with the Israelites, They come to Etham. (17-20) God guideth the Israelites by a pillar of cloud fire. (21,22)

Verses 1-10 In remembrance of the destruction of the first-born of Egypt, both of man and of beast, and the deliverance of the Israelites out of bondage, the first-born males of the Israelites were set apart to the Lord. By this was set before them, that their lives were preserved through the ransom of the atonement, which in due time was to be made for sin. They were also to consider their lives, thus ransomed from death, as now to be consecrated to the service of God. The parents were not to look upon themselves as having any right in their first-born, till they solemnly presented them to God, and allowed his title to them. That which is, by special mercy, spared to us, should be applied to God's honour; at least, some grateful acknowledgment, in works of piety and charity, should be made. The remembrance of their coming out of Egypt must be kept up every year. The day of Christ's resurrection is to be remembered, for in it we were raised up with Christ out of death's house of bondage. The Scripture tells us not expressly what day of the year Christ rose, but it states particularly what day of the week it was; as the more valuable deliverance, it should be remembered weekly. The Israelites must keep the feast of unleavened bread. Under the gospel, we must not only remember Christ, but observe his holy supper. Do this in remembrance of him. Also care must be taken to teach children the knowledge of God. Here is an old law for catechising. It is of great use to acquaint children betimes with the histories of the Bible. And those who have God's law in their heart should have it in their mouth, and often speak of it, to affect themselves, and to teach others.

Verses 11-16 The firstlings of beast not used in sacrifice, were to be changed for others so used, or they were to be destroyed. Our souls are forfeited to God's justice, and unless ransomed by the sacrifice of Christ, will certainly perish. These institutions would continually remind them of their duty, to love and serve the Lord. In like manner, baptism and the Lord's supper, if explained and attended to, would remind us, and give us occasion to remind one another of our profession and duty.

Verses 17-20 There were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was only a few days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. The Egyptians were to be drowned in the Red sea; the Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness. God's way is the right way, though it seems about. If we think he leads not his people the nearest way, yet we may be sure he leads them the best way, and so it will appear when we come to our journey's end. The Philistines were powerful enemies; it was needful that the Israelites should be prepared for the wars of Canaan, by passing through the difficulties of the wilderness. Thus God proportions his people's trials to their strength, 1Co. 10:13 . They went up in good order. They went up in five in a rank, some; in five bands, so others, which it seems rather to their faith and hope, that God would bring them to Canaan, in expectation of which they carried these bones with them while in the desert.

Verses 21-22 The Lord went before them in a pillar, or appearance of the Divine Majesty. Christ was with the church in the ( 1 Corinthians. 10:13 ) he will not leave nor lose there, but will take care to lead them through it. It was great satisfaction to Moses and the pious Israelites, to be sure that they were under Divine guidance. Those who make the glory of God their end, and the word of God their rule, the Spirit of God the guide of their affections, and the providence of God the guide of their affairs, may be sure that the Lord goes before them, though they cannot see it with their eyes: we must now live by faith. When Israel marched, this pillar went before, and pointed out the place of encampment, as Divine Wisdom saw fit. It sheltered by day from the heat, and gave light by night. The Bible is a light to our feet, a lantern to our paths, with which the Saviour's love has provided us. It testifies of Christ. It is to us like the pillar to the Israelites. Listen to that voice which cries, I am the Light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life, ( John 8:12 ) . Jesus Christ alone, as shown in the Bible, and as the Holy Spirit, in answer to prayer, recommends him to the soul, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, ( John 14:6 ) .

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 13

This chapter begins with an order to sanctify or set apart the firstborn of man and beast to the Lord, Ex 13:1,2 and the people of Israel are charged to keep the feast of unleavened bread in its season, from year to year, when they came into the land of Canaan, the reason of which they were to acquaint their children with, Ex 13:3-10 and they are also directed, when come into the land of Canaan, to set apart every firstling of a beast unto the Lord, and particularly the firstling of an ass was to be redeemed with a lamb, or its neck to be broke, and all the firstborn of men were to be redeemed also, Ex 13:11-13, and when their children inquired the reason of it, they were to be told it was on account of the Lord's slaying the firstborn of men and beast among the Egyptians, when Pharaoh would not let Israel go, and of saving the firstborn of his people, Ex 13:14-16, and it is observed, that when the children of Israel went out of Egypt, they were not led by the nearest way, the way of the land of the Philistines, but a round about way, the way of the wilderness of the Red sea, when they took the bones of Joseph with them, as he had adjured them to do, Ex 13:17-19, and the chapter is concluded with an account of their journeying from Succoth to Etham, the Lord going before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night, Ex 13:20-22.