Exodus 13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:22

He took not away the pillar of the cloud - Neither Jews nor Gentiles are agreed how long the cloud continued with the Israelites. It is very probable that it first visited them at Succoth, if it did not accompany them from Rameses; and that it continued with them till they came to the river Jordan, to pass over opposite to Jericho, for after that it appears that the ark alone was their guide, as it always marched at their head. See Joshua 3:10-11 , etc. But others think that it went no... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:2

Verse 2 2.Sanctify unto me all the first-born. This also refers to the First Commandment, because God asserts His right over the first-born, lest the recollection of their redemption should ever be lost. For thus were the Israelites admonished that they must honor that God by whose grace they had escaped in safety from the common destruction of Egypt, and, moreover, that they were rescued by His special blessing, in order that they should consecrate themselves to God their Deliverer. For the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:3

Verse 3 3.And Moses said unto the people. He repeats what he had said more at length in the foregoing chapter, respecting the unleavened bread, not so much to instruct as to exhort them; for he had already expressed the matter with so much clearness, that there was no need of further explanation; but it was useful to stimulate them, that they might devote themselves with greater zeal to their duty, and especially lest, after a longer lapse of time, their ardor should, as usual, gradually abate.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:4

Verse 4 4.This day came ye out. He compares the day of their coming out with the whole time of their sojourning in the land of Canaan; as if he had said that they were redeemed not to enjoy a mere transient joy, but that they might be mindful of their blessing throughout all ages. He proceeds to eulogize the extent and the fertility of the land again, principally for two reasons. The first is, lest after such glorious victories pride should possess their minds, and in the abundance of their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:8

Verse 8 8.And thou shalt shew thy son in that day. He repeats what we have already remarked, viz., an injunction to parents to teach their children, that they may thus transmit the service of God to their descendants. In the preceding chapter it was said, “when your children shall say unto you,” etc.; and now he more briefly commands that God’s goodness should be proclaimed, although none should make inquiry respecting it; because parents ought to be voluntarily disposed to educate their... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:11

Verse 11 11.And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee. He proceeds with what had been glanced at in the beginning of the chapter with respect to the consecration of the first-born, that in this way they should bear witness to the special blessing of God which preserved them when He destroyed the first-born of the Egyptians. But He commands the animals to (329) be brought to Him, in order that they should be slain in the tabernacle. It is a common figure of speech to say, that the faithful... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:17

Verse 17 17.And it came to pass when Pharaoh. Moses here assigns the reason why God did not immediately lead His people by the more direct way into the land of Canaan, which would have been just as easy to Him, but preferred to bring them round through the desert, by a long and difficult and dangerous journey; viz., lest, if perhaps they had met with enemies to contend against, a ready means of return would have encouraged them to go back into Egypt. We know how great was the supineness and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:18

Verse 18 18.The children of Israel went up harnessed. The word חמשים, (148) chemishim, is derived from “Five,” from whence some have explained it, that they were furnished with five kinds of arms, but this is too absurd. The Hebrews, because they could conjecture nothing better or more probable, almost with one consent would understand it, that they were armed under the fifth rib. But whence were there so many military corselets ready for the Israelites? But I reject so forced and improbable a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:19

Verse 19 19.And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him. Hence it appears, that even in their adversity the memory of their promised deliverance had never departed from the people, for had not the adjuration of Joseph been currently spoken of in common conversation, Moses would never have been able to imagine it; but he expressly states that he acted in obedience to the holy patriarch in carrying away his bones. It is, therefore, probable that they were so deposited, that the hope of the people... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:21

Verse 21 21.And the Lord went before them. Moses here proclaims another of God’s mercies, that, having redeemed His people, He was their constant leader and guide; as the Prophet also in the Psalms distinctly makes reference to both. (Psalms 77:15; and Psalms 78:14.) It was indeed a marvelous act of loving-kindness that, accommodating Himself to their ignorance, he familiarly presented Himself before their eyes. He might, indeed, have protected them in some other way from the heat of the sun,... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 13:21

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