5. The sanctification of the first-born 13:1-16This section is somewhat repetitive, but the emphasis is on the Lord’s right to the first-born in Israel and how the Israelites were to acknowledge that right. The repetition stresses its importance. read more
The dedication of every first-born Israelite male baby was to take place after the nation had entered the Promised Land (Exodus 13:5; Exodus 13:11-12). This was to be a memorial of God’s redemption from Egyptian slavery, as were the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread (cf. Exodus 12:14). However, God took the Levites for His special possession in place of the first-born. This happened at Mt. Sinai (Numbers 3:12-13). Consequently this dedication never took place, but the Israelites did... read more
The Consecration of the Firstborn. The March to Etham1-16. The Consecration of the Firstborn.All Israel was holy unto the Lord: see on Exodus 19:5, Exodus 19:6. But the firstborn of man and beast were specially consecrated to Him, as the part representing the whole. There was a special fitness in the consecration of the firstborn, seeing they had been spared in the destruction which overtook the Egyptians. The firstborn of mankind were to be consecrated to the service of Jehovah as priests; the... read more
Exodus 13:14 Compare Mr. A. R. Wallace's remark on Darwin in whose character, he observed,' the restless curiosity of the child to know the "what for?" the "why?" and the "how?" of everything seems never to have abated its force'. References. XIII. 14-17 F. D. Maurice, The Doctrine of Sacrifice, p. 49. Near-cuts Not God's Exodus 13:17 I. That, then, was one feature of God's guidance. It shunned the near road, and it took the roundabout; and if you have been living with the open eye, and... read more
CHAPTER XIII.THE LAW OF THE FIRSTBORN.Exodus 13:1-22.Much that was said in the twelfth chapter is repeated in the thirteenth. And this repetition is clearly due to a formal rehearsal, made when all "their hosts" had mustered in Succoth after their first march; for Moses says, "Remember this day, in which ye came out" (Exodus 13:3). Already it had been spoken of as a day much to be remembered, and for its perpetuation the ordinance of the Passover had been founded.But now this charge is given as... read more
CHAPTER 13:1-16 The Sanctification of the Firstborn 1. The separation commanded (Exodus 13:1-2 ) 2. Remember this day: the memorial (Exodus 13:3-10 ) 3. The separation of the firstborn (Exodus 13:11-16 ) The firstborn had been delivered in a special manner in Egypt and because Jehovah had delivered them they were to be sanctified unto Him. There is an inseparable connection between redemption and holiness. What the Lord has redeemed He claims for Himself. Here we have a definition of... read more
GOD'S CLAIMS ON THE FIRSTBORN (vs.1-2) Rather than God's allowing the people to rush to get out of the borders of Egypt, He calmly insists first on His own claims over Israel. Only in verse 20 of this chapter do we see them leaving Succoth. The Lord calls upon Moses to "sanctify" or "set apart" all the firstborn of Israel and all the firstborn of their domestic animals. It was of course the firstborn who had been preserved by virtue of the blood of the lamb. God claimed these, for even by... read more
THE PILLAR OF CLOUD THE FIRST STAGE OF THE JOURNEY (Exodus 12:37-51 ) How did the Hebrews get from Goshen to Rameses? Perhaps Rameses was in the land of Goshen or it was a name used here in the sense of the general locality rather than the specific city which the Hebrews helped to build (1:11). Compare Genesis 47:11 . We cannot identify “Succoth,” but since the word means tents or places for tents some think it specifies a camping spot en route. Note the number of the men, which,... read more
The Drowning of Pharaoh Exodus 13:0 "What, still talking about miracles? We thought that faith in miracles had been given up long ago by intelligent men." Some such expression as this would not be unnatural from certain quarters. The answer is that "intelligent men" are just beginning to believe in miracles. They are nearly always the last men to come round to great conceptions and noble spiritual realisations. But even "intelligent men" are stirring themselves with somewhat of reluctance in... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Exodus 13:11-16
"And it shall be that when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah, all that openeth the womb, and every firstling that thou hast which cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah's. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem. And... read more