Exodus

Describes how Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery, and how they receive laws from God.

Chapter 13

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

*Set apart for me all the firstborn from the children of Israel, whether human or animal. They belong to me.

3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

*Moses told the people, "Remember today - the day you left Egypt and left behind slavery. The Lord helped you leave this place. Don't eat any bread with yeast today."

4 This day came ye out in the month Abib.

*Today, you left during the month of Abib.

5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

*When God brings you to the land of Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites - the land he promised your ancestors with milk and honey - you must follow these rules this month.

6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.

*For seven days, eat bread without yeast, and on the seventh day, have a special celebration for God.

7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

*Eat unleavened bread for seven days, and don't have any yeast bread or leaven visible anywhere around you, including all parts of your home.

8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

*"And you will tell your son on that day, 'This happened because of what the Lord did for me when I left Egypt.'"

9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

*This means: It will serve as a reminder on your hand and forehead about God's rules, which you should follow. This is because God has powerfully saved you from Egypt.

10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.

*You must follow this rule each year during the right time.

11 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

*When the Lord leads you to the land of the Canaanites, just as He promised your ancestors, He will give that land to you.

12 That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s.

*You should give to the LORD everything that opens the birth canal and every firstborn animal from those you own - the males will belong to the LORD.

13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

*You must buy the first baby donkey with a lamb. If you don't buy it, you must break its neck. Also, you need to buy the first child born in your family.

14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

*When your son asks you about this in the future, tell him that with God's power we were freed from Egypt, where we were slaves.

15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

*One day, when Pharaoh wouldn't let us go, God killed all the firstborn in Egypt - people and animals. So, I offer to God every male born from the womb, but I buy back my own firstborn children.

16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.

*This means that you will have a symbol on your hand and headbands on your forehead as a reminder. These symbols are there because God helped us escape from Egypt using powerful actions.

17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

*After Pharaoh allowed the people to leave, God didn't lead them through the land of the Philistines, even though it was close. God did this because he didn't want the people to change their minds when they saw fighting and go back to Egypt.

18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

*But God guided the people through the desert by the Red Sea. The Israelite children left their weapons behind as they left Egypt.

19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

*Moses brought Joseph's bones along. He promised the Israelites that God would help them, and they must take Joseph's bones with them when they leave.

20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

*They left Succoth and set up camp at Etham, near the wilderness border.

21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

*The LORD guided them during the day with a cloud, showing them the way, and at night with fire, providing light, so they could travel both day and night.

22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

*He didn't remove the cloud during the day or the fire at night, keeping them in front of the people.

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