Consecration of the Firstborn
Exodus 13YHWH spoke to Moses, saying, “Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.”
The Feast of Unleaved Bread
Moses said to the people, “Remember this day when y’all came out of Egypt, out from the house of slavery, for YHWH brought y’all out with a mighty hand. No leavened bread may be eaten. Today, in the month Abib, y’all are going out. When YHWH brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you must keep this service in this month. Seven days you must eat unleavened bread, and the seventh day will be a feast to YHWH. Unleavened bread must be eaten throughout the seven days; and no leavened bread may be seen with you. No yeast is to be seen with you, within all your borders. You are to tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which YHWH did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ This will be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that YHWH’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand YHWH has brought you out of Egypt. You must keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
“When YHWH brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your ancestors, and will give it to you, that you are to set apart to YHWH all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males will belong to YHWH. Every firstborn of a donkey you are to redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you must break its neck; and you must redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons. When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you are to tell him, ‘By strength of hand YHWH brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, YHWH killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I sacrifice to YHWH all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It will be for a sign on your hand and a symbol between your eyes, for by strength of hand YHWH brought us out of Egypt.”
Pillars of Cloud and Fire
When Pharaoh had let the people go, God didn’t lead them by the 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 they return to Egypt”; but God led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, because Joseph had made the children of Israel swear-swear an oath, saying, “God will aid-aid y’all, and y’all must carry up my bones away from here with y’all.” They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. YHWH went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.