[1] The LORD said to Moses, [2] "Consecrate to me all the first-born;
whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of
man and of beast, is mine." [3] And Moses said to the people, "Remember
this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage,
for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place; no
leavened bread shall be eaten. [4] This day you are to go forth, in the
month of Abib. [5] And when the LORD brings you into the land of the
Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jeb'usites,
which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and
honey, you shall keep this service in this month. [6] Seven days you shall
eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the
LORD. [7] Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread
shall be seen with you, and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your
territory. [8] And you shall tell your son on that day, `It is because of
what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' [9] And it shall be to
you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the
law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has
brought you out of Egypt. [10] You shall therefore keep this ordinance at
its appointed time from year to year. [11] "And when the LORD brings you
into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and
shall give it to you, [12] you shall set apart to the LORD all that first
opens the womb. All the firstlings of your cattle that are males shall be
the LORD's. [13] Every firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb, or
if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every first-born of man
among your sons you shall redeem. [14] And when in time to come your son
asks you, `What does this mean?' you shall say to him, `By strength of hand
the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage. [15] For when
Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD slew all the first-born
in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man and the first-born of
cattle. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the
womb; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.' [16] It shall be as a
mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes; for by a strong hand the
LORD brought us out of Egypt." [17] When Pharaoh let the people go, God did
not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was
near; for God said, "Lest the people repent when they see war, and return
to Egypt." [18] But God led the people round by the way of the wilderness
toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of
Egypt equipped for battle. [19] And Moses took the bones of Joseph with
him; for Joseph had solemnly sworn the people of Israel, saying, "God will
visit you; then you must carry my bones with you from here." [20] And they
moved on from Succoth, and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the
wilderness. [21] And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud
to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them
light, that they might travel by day and by night; [22] the pillar of cloud
by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the
people.
