Exodus 13

Exodus 13:1

13:1-15 God had saved the firstborn of the Israelites from death in Egypt; therefore, the firstborn of humans and of animals were to be consecrated to God, as belonging to Him. The firstborn sons became priests of God, until the tribe of Levi was later set apart for this service. The firstborn of clean animals were to be sacrificed to God within a year. The firstborn of unclean animals, such as a donkey, could not be sacrificed to the Lord; therefore, it had to be redeemed by the death of a lamb; that is, a lamb had to die in its place. If the donkey was not redeemed, then its neck had to be broken. It was a choice between redemption and destruction.

Later, provision was made for the donkey to be redeemed with money (Lev_27:27; Num_18:15). The firstborn child, born in sin, also had to be redeemed, the payment being five shekels (Num_18:16). This was a solemn reminder of man’s unclean moral condition before God. Just as the sanctification of the firstborn spoke of dedication to God, so the Feast of Unleavened Bread spoke of the moral purity that was expected of a redeemed people. For seven days the people were to eat unleavened bread, and their houses were to be leaven-free. Both the sanctification of the firstborn and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were to be object lessons to future generations of how the Lord had delivered His people from Egypt. 13:16 The Jews later followed verses 9 and 16 literally by making phylacteries, or little leather boxes containing portions of God’s Word, and tying them to their foreheads and wrists. But the spiritual meaning is that all we do (hand) and all we desire (eyes) should be in accordance with God’s Word. 13:17-20 The most direct route from Egypt to Canaan would have been through Philistine country, a trip of about two weeks along the coastal road known as “The Way of Horus.” But this was a busy thoroughfare, under constant surveillance by the Egyptian army. To save His people from attack and consequent discouragement, God led them by a more southerly route through the Sinai Peninsula. The children of Israel went up in orderly ranks. They were also taking the bones of Joseph back to his native Canaan, in accordance with their ancestors’ solemn oath to do so. C. F. Pfeiffer writes: The Biblical term for the sea which was opened before the Israelites is “Yam Suph,” literally the “Sea of Reeds” (Exo_13:18). The area now known as the Bitter Lakes may have been connected with the Red Sea in ancient times, thus accounting for the traditional rendering of “Reed Sea” by “Red Sea.” There are numerous theories of the exact spot of crossing, but none has gained unqualified acceptance. 13:21, 22 The Lord’s presence with His people was indicated by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. “These were,” as Matthew Henry puts it, “constant standing miracles.” This glory cloud is known as the Shekinah, from the Hebrew word for dwell. The pillar (or column) spoke of God’s guidance for His people and His protection from their enemies (Exo_14:19-20). In both respects it is a good picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.