The LORD claims the firstborn and calls Israel to remember the exodus

13:1 The Lord spoke to Moses: 13:2 “Set apart to me every firstborn male – the first offspring of every womb among the Israelites, whether human or animal; it is mine.” 13:3 Moses said to the people, “Remember this day on which you came out from Egypt, from the place where you were enslaved, for the Lord brought you out of there with a mighty hand – and no bread made with yeast may be eaten. 13:4 On this day, in the month of Abib, you are going out. 13:5 When the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, then you will keep this ceremony in this month. 13:6 For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the Lord. 13:7 Bread made without yeast must be eaten for seven days; no bread made with yeast shall be seen among you, and you must have no yeast among you within any of your borders. 13:8 you are to tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 13:9 it will be a sign for you on your hand and a memorial on your forehead, so that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth, for with a mighty hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt. 13:10 So you must keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year. 13:11 When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, 13:12 then you must give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. Every firstling of a beast that you have – the males will be the Lord’s. 13:13 Every firstling of a donkey you must redeem with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, then you must break its neck. Every firstborn of your sons you must redeem. 13:14 In the future, when your son asks you ‘What is this?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the land of slavery. 13:15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to release us, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of people to the firstborn of animals. That is why I am sacrificing to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb, but all my firstborn sons I redeem.’ 13:16 it will be for a sign on your hand and for frontlets on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Because the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand, the people must remember that rescue, teach it to their children, keep the feast of unleavened bread, and give the firstborn to the LORD through redemption. Salvation leads to worship, obedience, and lifelong memory.

The LORD speaks to Moses and claims every firstborn male in Israel as his own. This claim is based on what he did in the exodus. He spared Israel when he struck Egypt, so the first and best belong to him.

Moses tells the people to remember the day they came out of slavery. They must keep the feast of unleavened bread every year. For seven days they must eat bread without yeast, and on the seventh day they must hold a festival to the LORD. This feast keeps the exodus before their eyes. It is not a one-time event. It is an ongoing memorial when the LORD brings them into the land he promised.

The people are also to teach the meaning of the feast to their children. They must explain that it is because of what the LORD did when he brought them out of Egypt. The text says the law is to be like a sign on the hand and a memorial on the forehead. This shows complete and constant remembrance. The LORD’s deliverance should shape what they do, think, and say.

The passage then returns to the firstborn. When Israel enters the land, every first offspring of every womb must be given over to the LORD. The firstborn of clean animals belong to him. The donkey, which is not fit for sacrifice, must be redeemed with a lamb. If it is not redeemed, it must be killed. The firstborn sons must also be redeemed. Human sacrifice is not commanded here. Rather, the passage shows that the LORD has a claim on life, and that life must be bought back through redemption.

Moses explains this to future children as well. He says the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt when Pharaoh refused to let them go, and when the LORD killed the firstborn of Egypt. That is why Israel sacrifices the first male offspring and redeems the firstborn sons. The whole unit turns deliverance into obedience, memory, and testimony.

• The LORD claims the firstborn because he redeemed Israel.
• The exodus must be remembered year by year.
• The feast of unleavened bread is a memorial of God’s rescue.
• Parents must teach children the meaning of the exodus.
• The firstborn of sons must be redeemed, not sacrificed.
• The LORD judged Egypt and spared Israel by his mighty hand.

• Set apart every firstborn male to the LORD.
• Remember the day of deliverance from Egypt.
• Eat unleavened bread for seven days.
• Keep the feast every year at its appointed time.
• Tell your son what the LORD did for you.
• Redeem the firstborn of sons.
• Do not let unleavened bread be seen among you during the feast.
• If a donkey is not redeemed, break its neck.

This passage shows that the LORD saves a people for himself. He judges Egypt, rescues Israel, and then shapes Israel’s life around remembrance and consecration. In the larger Bible, this helps prepare for the pattern of redemption, substitution, and belonging to God.

God’s saving works should be remembered, spoken about, and passed on to children. Worship should not be separated from history. Those whom God saves belong to him and should give him their first and best. Modern readers should also respect the fact that these are Israel’s covenant laws, not direct commands for the church.

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