奉獻頭胎

13 耶和華對摩西說: 「以色列人中的長子和頭生的牲畜都屬於我,因此要把他們分別出來,使他們聖潔,歸給我。」

摩西對百姓說:「你們要記住離開埃及的這一天,因為耶和華用大能的手把你們從受奴役的地方解救出來。不可吃帶酵的食物。 你們是在亞筆月[a]的這一天從埃及出來的, 將來耶和華帶領你們進入迦南以後,你們每逢此月都要為祂守節期。那裡現在住著迦南人、赫人、亞摩利人、希未人和耶布斯人。耶和華已經向你們祖先起誓,應許賜給你們那奶蜜之鄉。 在節期的七天之內,你們只可以吃無酵餅,到了第七天,你們要為耶和華守節期。 七天之內要吃無酵餅,你們境內不得有酵或是帶酵的東西。 那時,要告訴你們的子孫,『這節期是紀念我們離開埃及時耶和華為我們所做的一切。』 這節期就好像在你們手上或額上作的記號,叫你們記得耶和華的律法,祂曾經用大能的手把你們帶出埃及。 10 因此,每一年你們都要按時守這節期。

11 「將來耶和華成就祂起誓給你們祖先的應許,領你們進入迦南人的土地,把那裡賜給你們以後, 12 你們要把所有長子和頭生的公畜歸給祂。 13 所有頭生的公驢必須用羊羔贖回,不然就要打斷牠的脖子。要贖回你們所有的長子。 14 將來你們的子孫問起這件事的意義,你們就回答,『耶和華曾經用大能的手把我們從受奴役之地——埃及領出來。 15 當時法老硬著心不肯放我們走,所以耶和華就把埃及人的長子和頭生的牲畜全都殺了。因此,我們把所有頭生的公畜當作祭牲獻給耶和華,只把長子贖回來。』 16 這事就像在你們手上作記號,額上作標記,以牢記耶和華曾用大能的手領我們離開埃及。」

雲柱和火柱

17 法老讓以色列人離開埃及後,上帝沒有帶領他們穿越非利士地區,雖然那是條捷徑。因為上帝說:「如果他們遇上戰爭,就會改變主意,返回埃及。」 18 所以,上帝領他們繞道而行,走曠野的路,前往紅海[b]。以色列人離開埃及時都帶著兵器。 19 摩西把約瑟的骸骨一起帶走,因為約瑟曾叫以色列人鄭重發誓,對他們說:「上帝必眷顧你們,把你們帶出埃及,那時你們要把我的骸骨也一起帶走。」 20 以色列人從疏割啟程,來到曠野邊緣的以倘安營。 21 耶和華走在他們前面,白天用雲柱為他們指示道路,晚上用火柱照亮他們,這樣他們可以日夜趕路。 22 白天的雲柱和晚上的火柱從不離開他們。

Footnotes

  1. 13·4 亞筆月是猶太曆的第一個月,約在陽曆三月中旬到四月中旬,相當於中國的春分時節。
  2. 13·18 紅海」或譯「蘆葦湖」,確切地點約在今紅海北端蘇伊士運河附近。

13 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Consecrate every firstborn male(A) to Me, the firstborn from every womb among the Israelites, both man and domestic animal; it is Mine.”

Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day when you came out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, for the Lord brought you out of here by the strength of His hand. Nothing leavened may be eaten.(B) Today, in the month of Abib,[a](C) you are leaving. When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites,[b] which He swore to your fathers that He would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey,(D) you must carry out this ritual in this month.(E) For seven days you must eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the Lord. Unleavened bread is to be eaten for those seven days. Nothing leavened may be found among you, and no yeast may be found among you in all your territory. On that day explain to your son, ‘This is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’(F) Let it serve as a sign for you on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead,[c](G) so that the Lord’s instruction may be in your mouth; for the Lord brought you out of Egypt with a strong hand. 10 Keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

11 “When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and your fathers, and gives it to you, 12 you are to present to the Lord every firstborn male of the womb. All firstborn offspring of the livestock you own that are males will be the Lord’s. 13 You must redeem every firstborn of a donkey with a flock animal, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn among your sons.(H)

14 “In the future, when your son(I) asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘By the strength of His hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man to the firstborn of livestock. That is why I sacrifice to the Lord all the firstborn of the womb that are males, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’ 16 So let it be a sign on your hand and a symbol[d] on your forehead, for the Lord brought us out of Egypt by the strength of His hand.”(J)

The Route of the Exodus

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road to the land of the Philistines, even though it was nearby; for God said, “The people will change their minds and return to Egypt if they face war.”(K) 18 So He led the people around toward the Red Sea along the road of the wilderness. And the Israelites left the land of Egypt in battle formation.(L)

19 Moses took the bones of Joseph(M) with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites swear a solemn oath, saying, “God will certainly come to your aid; then you must take my bones with you from this place.”

20 They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud(N) to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 13:4 March–April; called Nisan in the post-exilic period; Neh 2:1; Est 3:7
  2. Exodus 13:5 DSS, Sam, LXX, Syr add Girgashites and Perizzites; Jos 3:10
  3. Exodus 13:9 Lit reminder between your eyes
  4. Exodus 13:16 Or phylactery

13 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

This day came ye out in the month Abib.

And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.

Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.

10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.

11 And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

12 That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord's.

13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.

17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.