Study Desk

Consecration of the Firstborn

The Lord said to Moses,

"Consecrate to me every firstborn male.^(a) The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal."

Then Moses said to the people, "Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt,^(b) out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand.^(c) Eat nothing containing yeast.^(d)

Today, in the month of Aviv,^(e) you are leaving.

When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites,^(f) Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites^(g)—the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey^(h)—you are to observe this ceremony⁽ⁱ⁾ in this month:

For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival^(j) to the Lord .

Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders.

On that day tell your son,^(k) ‘I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.'

This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand^(l) and a reminder on your forehead^(m) that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand.⁽ⁿ⁾

You must keep this ordinance^(o) at the appointed time^(p) year after year.

"After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites^(q) and gives it to you, as he promised on oath^(r) to you and your ancestors,^(s)

you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord .^(t)

Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey,^(u) but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.^(v) Redeem^(w) every firstborn among your sons.^(x)

"In days to come, when your son^(y) asks you, ‘What does this mean?' say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.^(z)

When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.'^(aa)

And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead^(ab) that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."^(ac)

So God led^(ad) the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.^[a] The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.^(ae)

Moses took the bones of Joseph^(af) with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place."^[b](ag)

After leaving Sukkoth^(ah) they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.^(ai)

By day the Lord went ahead^(aj) of them in a pillar of cloud^(ak) to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.

Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left^(al) its place in front of the people.

Then the Lord said to Moses,

"Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol^(a) and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.^(b)

Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.'

And I will harden Pharaoh's heart,^(c) and he will pursue them.^(d) But I will gain glory^(e) for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord ."^(f) So the Israelites did this.

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled,^(g) Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds^(h) about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!"

So he had his chariot made ready and took his army with him.

He took six hundred of the best chariots,⁽ⁱ⁾ along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them.

The Lord hardened the heart^(j) of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.^(k)

The Egyptians—all Pharaoh's horses^(l) and chariots, horsemen^[a] and troops^(m)—pursued the Israelites and overtook⁽ⁿ⁾ them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.^(o)

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried^(p) out to the Lord .

They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?^(q) What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

Didn't we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"^(r)

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid.^(s) Stand firm and you will see^(t) the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see^(u) again.

The Lord will fight^(v) for you; you need only to be still."^(w)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me?^(x) Tell the Israelites to move on.

Raise your staff^(y) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water^(z) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

I will harden the hearts^(aa) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.^(ab) And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen.

The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord ^(ac) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."

Then the angel of God,^(ad) who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud^(ae) also moved from in front and stood behind^(af) them,

coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness^(ag) to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

Then Moses stretched out his hand^(ah) over the sea,^(ai) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind^(aj) and turned it into dry land.^(ak) The waters were divided,^(al)

and the Israelites went through the sea^(am) on dry ground,^(an) with a wall^(ao) of water on their right and on their left.

The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen^(ap) followed them into the sea.

During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud^(aq) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.^(ar)

He jammed^[b] the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting^(as) for them against Egypt."^(at)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen."

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.^(au) The Egyptians were fleeing toward^[c] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.^(av)

The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.^(aw) Not one of them survived.^(ax)

But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,^(ay) with a wall^(az) of water on their right and on their left.

That day the Lord saved^(ba) Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.

And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand^(bb) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared^(bc) the Lord and put their trust^(bd) in him and in Moses his servant.

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song^(a) to the Lord : "I will sing^(b) to the Lord , for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver^(c) he has hurled into the sea.^(d)

"The Lord is my strength^(e) and my defense^[a]; he has become my salvation.^(f) He is my God,^(g) and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt^(h) him.

The Lord is a warrior;⁽ⁱ⁾ the Lord is his name.^(j)

Pharaoh's chariots and his army^(k) he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea.^[b]

The deep waters^(l) have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone.^(m)

Your right hand,⁽ⁿ⁾ Lord , was majestic in power. Your right hand,^(o) Lord , shattered^(p) the enemy.

"In the greatness of your majesty^(q) you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger;^(r) it consumed^(s) them like stubble.

By the blast of your nostrils^(t) the waters piled up.^(u) The surging waters stood up like a wall;^(v) the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.^(w)

The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue,^(x) I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils;^(y) I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.'

But you blew with your breath,^(z) and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.^(aa)

Who among the gods is like you,^(ab) Lord ? Who is like you— majestic in holiness,^(ac) awesome in glory,^(ad) working wonders?^(ae)

"You stretch out^(af) your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies.^(ag)

In your unfailing love you will lead^(ah) the people you have redeemed.^(ai) In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.^(aj)

The nations will hear and tremble;^(ak) anguish^(al) will grip the people of Philistia.^(am)

The chiefs^(an) of Edom^(ao) will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,^(ap) the people^[c] of Canaan will melt^(aq) away;

terror^(ar) and dread will fall on them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone^(as)— until your people pass by, Lord , until the people you bought^[d](at) pass by.^(au)

You will bring^(av) them in and plant^(aw) them on the mountain^(ax) of your inheritance— the place, Lord , you made for your dwelling,^(ay) the sanctuary,^(az) Lord, your hands established.

"The Lord reigns for ever and ever."^(ba)

When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen^[e] went into the sea,^(bb) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.^(bc)

Then Miriam^(bd) the prophet,^(be) Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels^(bf) and dancing.^(bg)

Miriam sang^(bh) to them: "Sing to the Lord , for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver^(bi) he has hurled into the sea."^(bj)

Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert^(bk) of Shur.^(bl) For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.^(bm)

When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.^[f](bn))

So the people grumbled^(bo) against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"^(bp)

Then Moses cried out^(bq) to the Lord , and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw^(br) it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.^(bs)

He said, "If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep^(bt) all his decrees,^(bu) I will not bring on you any of the diseases^(bv) I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord , who heals^(bw) you."

Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped^(bx) there near the water.

Manna and Quail

The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin,^(a) which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.^(b)

In the desert the whole community grumbled^(c) against Moses and Aaron.

The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the Lord 's hand in Egypt!^(d) There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food^(e) we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."^(f)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven^(g) for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test^(h) them and see whether they will follow my instructions.

On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice⁽ⁱ⁾ as much as they gather on the other days."

So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt,^(j)

and in the morning you will see the glory^(k) of the Lord , because he has heard your grumbling^(l) against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?"^(m)

Moses also said, "You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling⁽ⁿ⁾ against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord ."^(o)

Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord , for he has heard your grumbling.'"

While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory^(p) of the Lord appearing in the cloud.^(q)

The Lord said to Moses,

"I have heard the grumbling^(r) of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.'"^(s)

That evening quail^(t) came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew^(u) around the camp.

When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost^(v) on the ground appeared on the desert floor.

When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know^(w) what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread^(x) the Lord has given you to eat.

This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer^[a](y) for each person you have in your tent.'"

The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little.

And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.^(z) Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."^(aa)

However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell.^(ab) So Moses was angry^(ac) with them.

Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

On the sixth day, they gathered twice^(ad) as much—two omers^[b] for each person—and the leaders of the community^(ae) came and reported this to Moses.

He said to them, "This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath^(af) to the Lord . So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'"

So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it.

"Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a sabbath to the Lord . You will not find any of it on the ground today.

Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath,^(ag) there will not be any."

Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "How long will you^[c] refuse to keep my commands^(ah) and my instructions?

Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out."

So the people rested on the seventh day.

The people of Israel called the bread manna.^[d](ai) It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.

Moses said, "This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.'"

So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna^(aj) in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come."

As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law,^(ak) so that it might be preserved.

The Israelites ate manna^(al) forty years,^(am) until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.^(an)

(An omer^(ao) is one-tenth of an ephah.)^(ap)