Esodo 13

1 E IL Signore parlò a Mosè, dicendo: Consacrami ogni primogenito,

2 tutto quello che apre la matrice fra i figliuoli d’Israele, così degli uomini come degli animali; esso è mio.

3 E Mosè disse al popolo: Ricordatevi di questo giorno, nel quale siete usciti di Egitto, della casa di servitù; conciossiachè il Signore ve ne abbia tratti fuori con potente mano; perciò non mangisi alcuna cosa lievitata.

4 Oggi voi uscite fuori nel mese di Abib.

5 Quando adunque il Signore ti avrà introdotto, nel paese de’ Cananei, degl’Hittei, degli Amorrei, degl’Hivvei, e de’ Gebusei, ch’egli giurò a’ tuoi padri di darti, ch’è un paese stillante latte e miele, osserva questo servigio in questo mese.

6 Mangia per sette giorni pani azzimi; e nel settimo giorno siavi festa solenne al Signore.

7 Manginsi pani azzimi per sette giorni, e non veggasi appo te cosa lievitata, nè lievito, in tutti i tuoi confini.

8 E in quel giorno dichiara questa cosa a’ tuoi figliuoli, dicendo: Questo si fa per cagion di quello che mi fece il Signore, quando io uscii di Egitto.

9 E ciò ti sia per segnale sopra la tua mano, e per ricordanza fra’ tuoi occhi; acciocchè la Legge del Signore sia nella tua bocca; conciossiachè egli ti abbia tratto fuori di Egitto con potente mano.

10 E osserva questo statuto d’anno in anno, nella sua stagione.

11 E quando il Signore ti avrà introdotto nel paese de’ Cananei, come egli ha giurato a te e a’ tuoi padri, e te l’avrà dato;

12 rassegna al Signore tutto ciò che apre la matrice: parimente, d’ogni primo portato del tuo bestiame, i maschi apparterranno al Signore.

13 Ma riscatta ogni primo portato dell’asino, con un agnello, o con un capretto; e se tu non lo riscatti, fiaccagli il collo: riscatta eziandio ogni primogenito dell’uomo d’infra i tuoi figliuoli.

14 E quando per innanzi il tuo figliuolo ti domanderà: Che vuol dir questo? digli: Il Signore ci trasse fuori di Egitto, della casa di servitù, con potenza di mano.

15 E avvenne che, mostrandosi Faraone duro a lasciarci andare, il Signore uccise tutti i primogeniti nel paese di Egitto, da’ primogeniti degli uomini, fino a’ primogeniti delle bestie; perciò io sacrifico al Signore i maschi d’ogni primo portato, e riscatto ogni primogenito de’ miei figliuoli.

16 Ciò adunque ti sarà per segnale sopra la tua mano, e per frontali fra’ tuoi occhi, che il Signore ci ha tratti fuori di Egitto con potenza di mano.

17 OR, quando Faraone ebbe lasciato andare il popolo, Iddio, non condusse quello per la via del paese de’ Filistei; benchè quella fosse la più corta; perciocchè Iddio disse: Che talora il popolo non si penta, quando vedrà la guerra, e non se ne ritorni in Egitto.

18 Ma Iddio fece fare un giro al popolo, traendo al deserto, verso il mar rosso. E i figliuoli d’Israele salirono del paese di Egitto in ordinanza.

19 E Mosè prese seco l’ossa di Giuseppe; perciocchè egli avea espressamente fatto giurare i figliuoli d’Israele, dicendo: Iddio per certo vi visiterà; allora trasportate di qui le mie ossa con voi.

20 E gl’Israeliti, partitisi di Succot, si accamparono in Etam all’estremità del deserto.

21 E il Signore camminava davanti a loro; di giorno, in una colonna di nuvola, per guidarli per lo cammino; e di notte, in una colonna di fuoco, per illuminarli; acciocchè camminassero giorno e notte.

22 Egli non rimosse dal cospetto del popolo la colonna della nuvola di giorno, nè la colonna del fuoco di notte.

Esodo 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.