Exodus 13:1-22
Q.1. Why did all Israel’s firstborn belong to the Lord? How did God connect this consecration with the Exodus? What was to be done with all the firstborn? – (Exo.13:1-2, 11-16 c.f. Exo.12:27-30)
The Lord had struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, but all the firstborn under the protection of the blood, had been spared (Exo.12:13-30). Consequently, God told Moses – Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me (Exo.13:2). When Israel took possession of the land of Canaan, they were to – 1 2… devote to the Lord the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to the Lord. 13 … and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem (Exo.13:12-13). Future generations were to understand that – 14 … With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. 15 It came about, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord the males, the first offspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem (Exo.13:14-15). Later, after Moses had received the Law, God further declared – 12 Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. The Levites shall be Mine. 13 For all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. They shall be Mine; I am the Lord (Num.3:12-13). The Levites were purchased by God, in the place of the firstborn of Israel. Because the Levites numbered more than the firstborn of the tribes of Israel, the remaining two hundred and seventy-three were ransomed for five silver shekels each (Num.3:40-51).
Q.2. What was conveyed by the annual feast of Unleavened Bread? Why was leaven to be excluded? What promise did God repeat to Israel? How would this feast act as a sign to Israel? – (Exo.13:3-10)
The year started for Israel in the month of Abib, the month when the Passover lambs were sacrificed (Exo.12:2). God commanded them to – Remember this day in which you went out from Egypt, from the house of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten (Exo.13:3). Upon settling in the land of Canaan, they were to commemorate this Feast by eating unleavened bread for seven days. All leaven (or yeast) had to be removed from their homes in the land (Exo.13:4-7). They were never to forget their miraculous birth as a nation and – it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt (Exo.13:9). The Jews wore strips of parchment on their foreheads and left wrists, with the Shema written on them (Deut:6:4-9). They then folded them and placed them in small boxes called phylacteries. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for making these phylacteries more prominent, so they would be noticed by others (Mt.6:5-6; 23:5). Israel was to keep this foundational feast front and centre, and accurately pass on its significance to future generations (Exo.13:8-10).
Q.3. Why did God lead Israel by way of the wilderness? Why did they take the bones of Joseph? How did God lead the nation? Why did He supply a pillar of fire by night? – (Exo.13:17-22)
Israel had demonstrated how weak their faith in God was, and how easily they complained (Exo.5:21; 6:9). We learn the reason for the detour, and why – 17 … God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” 18 Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea (Exo.13:17-18). We know that God would enter into a Covenant relationship with Israel, when He gave Moses the law at Mount Sinai, which was located east of the Wilderness of Sin(ai) (Exo.19:1-25). It was expressly stated that – 17 … God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near … 18 Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt (Exo.13:17-18). Martial array suggests that Israel was prepared for the journey, and ready for battle. Many understand this to mean that there were five companies of twelve thousand (six hundred thousand men … Exo.12:37), perhaps one thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. In other words, the people were organised, and went out in an orderly fashion. Joseph had been Israel’s foremost hero. Knowing the prophecies written by Abraham about the Exodus, Joseph had prophesied – I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here (Gen.50:24-25 c.f. Gen. 15:13-14; 22:15-18). They set out from Succoth. This would mark the beginning of forty years of wanderings, and of Israel living in temporary dwellings (Exo.13:20). The last of Israel’s seven feasts would mark the time of thanksgiving for the ingathering of the Fruit Harvest. Known as the Feast of Booths (Sukkot), it allowed for a weeklong family camping holiday, to commemorate their journeys from Egypt to the Promised Land (Lev.23:34-44). This will still be celebrated during the Millennial Reign of Christ (Zech.14:16-19). The Lord led Israel by – 21 … going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night (Exo.13:21). This meant that the Israelites could travel either by day or by night, to avoid the extreme heat of the desert.