Sanctification of the Firstborn
Exodus 13, verse 1. Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Exodus 13, verse 2. “Sanctify to Me all the first-born, the first-begotten, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both man and cattle; it is Mine.”
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Exodus 13, verse 3. Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you went out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. Exodus 13, verse 4. On this day you are going out, in the month of new grains. Exodus 13, verse 5. And it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Gergesites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month. Exodus 13, verse 6. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. Exodus 13, verse 7. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days, and no leavened bread shall be seen among you; nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your regions. Exodus 13, verse 8. Then you shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘This is done because of what the Lord my God did for me when I came up from Egypt.’ Exodus 13, verse 9. It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial before your eyes, that the Lord's law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord God brought you out of Egypt. Exodus 13, verse 10. You shall therefore keep this law according to the times of the seasons from year to year.
Tradition of the Firstborn
Exodus 13, verse 11. “Then it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to your fathers, and gives it to you, Exodus 13, verse 12. that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every male, everything that opens the womb from the herds or among your cattle; as many as you shall have, you shall sanctify the males to the Lord. Exodus 13, verse 13. But every offspring that opens the womb of a donkey you shall exchange for a sheep; but if you will not exchange it, you shall redeem it; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. Exodus 13, verse 14. So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘With a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Exodus 13, verse 15. Thus it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of cattle. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all males that open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ Exodus 13, verse 16. It shall be as a sign on your hand and immoveable before your eyes, for with a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”
Pillar of Cloud, Pillar of Fire
Exodus 13, verse 17. Thus when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” Exodus 13, verse 18. So God led the people around by way of the desert to the Red Sea, and in the fifth generation the children of Israel went up from the land of Egypt. Exodus 13, verse 19. Now Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.” Exodus 13, verse 20. So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham by the desert. Exodus 13, verse 21. Moreover, God led them, by day in a pillar of cloud to show them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire. Exodus 13, verse 22. Thus the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before all the people.