奉献头胎

13 耶和华对摩西说: “以色列人中的长子和头生的牲畜都属于我,因此要把他们分别出来,使他们圣洁,归给我。”

摩西对百姓说:“你们要记住离开埃及的这一天,因为耶和华用大能的手把你们从受奴役的地方解救出来。不可吃带酵的食物。 你们是在亚笔月[a]的这一天从埃及出来的, 将来耶和华带领你们进入迦南以后,你们每逢此月都要为祂守节期。那里现在住着迦南人、赫人、亚摩利人、希未人和耶布斯人。耶和华已经向你们祖先起誓,应许赐给你们那奶蜜之乡。 在节期的七天之内,你们只可以吃无酵饼,到了第七天,你们要为耶和华守节期。 七天之内要吃无酵饼,你们境内不得有酵或是带酵的东西。 那时,要告诉你们的子孙,‘这节期是纪念我们离开埃及时耶和华为我们所做的一切。’ 这节期就好像在你们手上或额上作的记号,叫你们记得耶和华的律法,祂曾经用大能的手把你们带出埃及。 10 因此,每一年你们都要按时守这节期。

11 “将来耶和华成就祂起誓给你们祖先的应许,领你们进入迦南人的土地,把那里赐给你们以后, 12 你们要把所有长子和头生的公畜归给祂。 13 所有头生的公驴必须用羊羔赎回,不然就要打断它的脖子。要赎回你们所有的长子。 14 将来你们的子孙问起这件事的意义,你们就回答,‘耶和华曾经用大能的手把我们从受奴役之地——埃及领出来。 15 当时法老硬着心不肯放我们走,所以耶和华就把埃及人的长子和头生的牲畜全都杀了。因此,我们把所有头生的公畜当作祭牲献给耶和华,只把长子赎回来。’ 16 这事就像在你们手上作记号,额上作标记,以牢记耶和华曾用大能的手领我们离开埃及。”

云柱和火柱

17 法老让以色列人离开埃及后,上帝没有带领他们穿越非利士地区,虽然那是条捷径。因为上帝说:“如果他们遇上战争,就会改变主意,返回埃及。” 18 所以,上帝领他们绕道而行,走旷野的路,前往红海[b]。以色列人离开埃及时都带着兵器。 19 摩西把约瑟的骸骨一起带走,因为约瑟曾叫以色列人郑重发誓,对他们说:“上帝必眷顾你们,把你们带出埃及,那时你们要把我的骸骨也一起带走。” 20 以色列人从疏割启程,来到旷野边缘的以倘安营。 21 耶和华走在他们前面,白天用云柱为他们指示道路,晚上用火柱照亮他们,这样他们可以日夜赶路。 22 白天的云柱和晚上的火柱从不离开他们。

Footnotes

  1. 13:4 亚笔月是犹太历的第一个月,约在阳历三月中旬到四月中旬,相当于中国的春分时节。
  2. 13:18 红海”或译“芦苇湖”,确切地点约在今红海北端苏伊士运河附近。

头生归耶和华为圣

13 耶和华告诉摩西说: “在以色列人中,你要把所有头生的都分别为圣归我;无论是人或是牲畜,凡是头生的都是我的。”

摩西对人民说:“你们要记念这一天,就是从埃及为奴之家出来的这一天,因为耶和华用大能的手把你们从这里领出来;所以有酵之物都不可以吃。 你们是在亚笔月这一日出来的。 日后耶和华领你进到迦南人、赫人、亚摩利人、希未人、耶布斯人之地,就是他向你的列祖起誓要赐给你的那流奶与蜜之地,那时你要在这月守这敬拜之礼。 你要吃无酵饼七日,第七日要向耶和华守节。 七日之中你要吃无酵饼;在你四境之内,不可见有发过酵之物在你面前,也不可见有酵在你那里。 在那日,你要告诉你的儿子说:‘这是因为耶和华在我从埃及出来的时候为我所行的事。’ 这要在你的手上作记号,在你额上作记念,好使耶和华的律法常在你的口中,因为耶和华曾用大能的手把你从埃及领出来。 10 所以,你要年年按着定期遵守这定例。

11 “日后,耶和华照着他向你和你的列祖所起的誓,把你领进迦南人之地,把这地赐给你之后, 12 你要把所有头生的奉献给耶和华,也要把你一切牲畜中所有头生的小牲口奉献给耶和华;公的都属耶和华。 13 凡是头生的驴,你要用羊羔代赎;如果你不代赎,就要打断牠的颈项;凡是你儿子中头生的人,你都要代赎。 14 日后你的儿子若是问你们:‘这是甚么意思?’你就要回答他:‘耶和华曾经用大能的手把我们从埃及为奴之家领出来。 15 那时法老心里刚硬,不让我们离开,耶和华就把埃及地所有头生的,无论是人或是牲畜都杀了;所以,我把所有头生的公牲口都献给耶和华为祭;但我所有头生的儿子,却都要代赎回来。 16 这要在你的手上作记号,在你的额上作头带;因为耶和华曾用大能的手把我们从埃及领出来。’”

出埃及的行程

17 法老让人民离开的时候,虽然非利士的路很近, 神却不领他们从那里走,因为 神说:“恐怕百姓看见战争而后悔,就回埃及去。” 18 所以 神领人民绕道而行,走旷野的路到红海去;以色列人从埃及地上来的时候,都带着兵器。 19 摩西带了约瑟的骸骨同去,因为约瑟曾经叫以色列人严肃地起誓,说:“ 神必定眷顾你们;你们要把我的骸骨从这里也一同带去。” 20 他们从疏割起程,在旷野边界的以倘安营。 21 耶和华在他们前面行,日间用云柱领他们的路,夜间用火柱光照他们,使他们日夜都可以行走。 22 日间云柱,夜间火柱,都不离开众民的面前。

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.