1Then the LORDspoketo Moses,saying,2"Sanctifyto Me everyfirstborn,the firstoffspringof everywombamong the sonsof Israel,both of manand beast;it belongs to Me."
3Mosessaidto the people,"Rememberthisdayin whichyou wentout from Egypt,from the houseof slavery;for by a powerfulhandthe LORDbroughtyou out from thisplace. And nothingleavenedshall be eaten.4"On this dayin the monthof Abib,you are about to goforth.5"It shall be whenthe LORDbringsyou to the landof the Canaanite,the Hittite,the Amorite,the Hiviteand the Jebusite,whichHe sworeto your fathersto giveyou, a landflowingwith milkand honey,that you shall observethisritein thismonth.6"For sevendaysyou shall eatunleavenedbread,and on the seventhdaythere shall be a feastto the LORD.7"Unleavenedbreadshall be eatenthroughout the sevendays;and nothingleavenedshall be seenamong you, norshall any leavenbe seenamong you in allyour borders.8"You shall tellyour sonon that day,saying,'It is becauseof whatthe LORDdidfor me when I cameout of Egypt.'9"And it shall serveas a signto you on your hand,and as a reminderon your forehead,that the lawof the LORDmay be in your mouth;for with a powerfulhandthe LORDbroughtyou out of Egypt.10"Therefore, you shall keepthisordinanceat its appointedtimefrom yearto year.
11"Now whenthe LORDbringsyou to the landof the Canaanite,as He sworeto you and to your fathers,and givesit to you,12you shall devoteto the LORDthe firstoffspringof everywomb,and the firstoffspringof everybeastthat you own;the malesbelong to the LORD.13"But everyfirstoffspringof a donkeyyou shall redeemwith a lamb,but ifyou do not redeem[it], then you shall breakits neck;and everyfirstbornof manamong your sonsyou shall redeem.14"And it shall be whenyour sonasksyou in timeto come,saying,'Whatis this?'then you shall sayto him, 'With a powerfulhandthe LORDbroughtus out of Egypt,from the houseof slavery.15It cameabout, whenPharaohwas stubbornabout lettingus go,that the LORDkilledeveryfirstbornin the landof Egypt,boththe firstbornof manand the firstbornof beast.Therefore,I sacrificeto the LORDthe males,the firstoffspringof everywomb,but everyfirstbornof my sonsI redeem.'16"So it shall serveas a signon your handand as phylacterieson your forehead,for with a powerfulhandthe LORDbroughtus out of Egypt."
17Now when Pharaohhad letthe peoplego,Goddid not leadthem by the wayof the landof the Philistines,eventhoughit was near;for Godsaid,"The peoplemightchangetheir mindswhen they seewar,and returnto Egypt."18Hence Godledthe peoplearoundby the wayof the wildernessto the RedSea;and the sonsof Israelwentup in martialarrayfrom the landof Egypt.19Mosestookthe bonesof Josephwith him, for he had made the sonsof Israelsolemnlyswear,saying,"Godwill surelytakecareof you, and you shall carrymy bonesfrom herewith you."20Then they setout from Succothand campedin Ethamon the edgeof the wilderness.21The LORDwas goingbeforethem in a pillarof cloudby dayto leadthem on the way,and in a pillarof fireby nightto givethem light,that they might travelby dayand by night.22He did not takeawaythe pillarof cloudby day,northe pillarof fireby night,from beforethe people.
