13 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, (A)Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the firstborn of every womb among the sons of Israel, among people and animals alike; it belongs to Me.”

And Moses said to the people, “(B)Remember this day in which you departed from Egypt, from the house of [a]slavery; for (C)by [b]a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this place. (D)And nothing with yeast shall be eaten. On this day in the (E)month of Abib, you are about to go out from here. And it shall be when the Lord (F)brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which (G)He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, (H)that you shall [c]perform this rite in this month. For (I)seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and (J)nothing with yeast shall [d]be seen among you, nor shall any dough with yeast [e]be seen among you in all your borders. And (K)you shall tell your son on that day, saying, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ And (L)it shall [f]serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder [g]on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with (M)a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt. 10 Therefore, you shall (N)keep this ordinance at its appointed time from [h]year to year.

11 “Now when (O)the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as (P)He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, 12 (Q)you shall [i]devote to the Lord every firstborn of a womb, and every firstborn offspring of an animal that you own; the males belong to the Lord. 13 But (R)every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and (S)every [j]firstborn among your sons you shall redeem. 14 (T)And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘(U)With [k]a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of [l]slavery. 15 And it came about, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the (V)Lord put to death every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborns to animal firstborns. Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord the males, every firstborn of a womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ 16 So (W)it shall [m]serve as a sign on your hand and as [n]phylacteries [o]on your forehead, for with [p]a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”

God Leads the People

17 Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “(X)The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” 18 Therefore God led the people around by way of the wilderness to the [q]Red Sea; and the sons of Israel went up (Y)in battle formation from the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took (Z)the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will certainly [r]take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you.” 20 Then they set out from (AA)Succoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21 And (AB)the Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they might [s]travel by day and by night. 22 [t]He (AC)did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from the presence of the people.

Pharaoh in Pursuit

14 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to turn back and camp in front of (AD)Pi-hahiroth, between (AE)Migdol and the sea; you shall camp in front of Baal-zephon, opposite it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, ‘They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ And (AF)I will [u]harden Pharaoh’s heart, and (AG)he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and (AH)the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, [v]Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart toward the people, and they said, “What is this that we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” So he had horses harnessed to his chariot and took his people with him; and he took six hundred select chariots, and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. So (AI)the Lord [w]hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he chased after the sons of Israel as the sons of Israel were going out [x](AJ)boldly. Then (AK)the Egyptians chased after them with all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, and they overtook them camping by the sea, (AL)beside Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

10 As Pharaoh approached, the sons of Israel [y]looked, and behold, the Egyptians were coming after them, and they became very frightened; (AM)so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 Then (AN)they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, [z]bringing us out of Egypt? 12 (AO)Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘[aa]Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!”

The Sea Is Divided

13 But Moses said to the people, “(AP)Do not fear! [ab]Stand by and see (AQ)the salvation of the Lord, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. 14 (AR)The Lord will fight for you, while (AS)you keep silent.”

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. 16 As for you, lift up (AT)your staff and reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall [ac]go through the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 And as for Me, behold, (AU)I will [ad]harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 (AV)Then the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord, when I am honored through Pharaoh, through his chariots, and through his horsemen.”

19 Then (AW)the angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud [ae]along with the darkness, yet it gave light at night. Therefore the one did not approach the other all night.

21 (AX)Then Moses reached out with his hand over the sea; and the Lord [af]swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into (AY)dry land, and (AZ)the waters were divided. 22 So (BA)the sons of Israel [ag]went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and (BB)the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left. 23 Then (BC)the Egyptians took up the pursuit, and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen went in after them into the midst of the sea. 24 But at the morning watch, (BD)the Lord looked down on the [ah]army of the Egyptians [ai]through the pillar of fire and cloud, and brought the [aj]army of the Egyptians into confusion. 25 He [ak]caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians each said, “Let me flee from Israel, (BE)for the Lord is fighting for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(BF)Reach out with your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and their horsemen.” 27 So Moses reached out with his hand over the sea, and (BG)the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing [al]right into it; then the Lord [am](BH)overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, Pharaoh’s entire army that had gone into the sea after them; (BI)not even one of them remained. 29 But the sons of Israel walked on (BJ)dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right and on their left.

30 (BK)So the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel (BL)saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 When Israel saw the great [an]power which the Lord had [ao]used against the Egyptians, the people [ap]feared the Lord, and (BM)they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moses.

The Song of Moses and Israel

15 (BN)Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, [aq]saying:

[ar](BO)I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted;
(BP)The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.
[as](BQ)The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
(BR)This is my God, and I will praise Him;
(BS)My father’s God, and I will (BT)exalt Him.
(BU)The Lord is a warrior;
[at](BV)The Lord is His name.
(BW)Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea;
And the choicest of his officers are [au]drowned in the [av]Red Sea.
The waters cover them;
(BX)They went down into the depths like a stone.
(BY)Your right hand, Lord, is majestic in power;
(BZ)Your right hand, Lord, destroys the enemy.
And in the greatness of Your [aw]excellence You (CA)overthrow those who rise up against You;
(CB)You send out Your burning anger, and it (CC)consumes them like chaff.
(CD)At the blast of Your nostrils the waters were piled up,
(CE)The flowing waters stood up like a heap;
The depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
(CF)The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will (CG)divide the spoils;
[ax]I shall [ay]be satisfied against them;
I will draw my sword, my hand will [az]destroy them.’
10 (CH)You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them;
(CI)They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 (CJ)Who is like You among the gods, Lord?
Who is like You, (CK)majestic in holiness,
(CL)Awesome in praises, (CM)working wonders?
12 (CN)You reached out with Your right hand,
The earth swallowed them.
13 In Your [ba]faithfulness You have (CO)led the people whom You have (CP)redeemed;
In Your strength You have guided them (CQ)to Your holy habitation.
14 (CR)The peoples have heard, they tremble;
Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the (CS)chiefs of Edom were terrified;
(CT)The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them;
(CU)All the inhabitants of Canaan have despaired.
16 (CV)Terror and dread fall upon them;
(CW)By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone,
Until Your people pass over, Lord,
Until the people pass over whom You (CX)have purchased.
17 (CY)You will bring them and (CZ)plant them in (DA)the mountain of Your inheritance,
(DB)The place, Lord, which You have made as Your dwelling,
(DC)The sanctuary, Lord, which Your hands have established.
18 (DD)The Lord shall reign forever and ever.”

19 (DE)For the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the sons of Israel walked on (DF)dry land through the midst of the sea.

20 (DG)Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the (DH)tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with [bb](DI)dancing. 21 And Miriam answered them,

(DJ)Sing to the Lord, for He [bc]is highly exalted;
The horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 13:3 Lit slaves
  2. Exodus 13:3 Lit strength of hand
  3. Exodus 13:5 Lit serve this service
  4. Exodus 13:7 Lit appear to you
  5. Exodus 13:7 Lit appear to you
  6. Exodus 13:9 Lit be for
  7. Exodus 13:9 Lit between your eyes
  8. Exodus 13:10 Lit days to days
  9. Exodus 13:12 Lit cause to pass over
  10. Exodus 13:13 Lit firstborn of a human
  11. Exodus 13:14 Lit strength of hand
  12. Exodus 13:14 Lit slaves
  13. Exodus 13:16 Lit be for
  14. Exodus 13:16 Or frontlet-bands
  15. Exodus 13:16 Lit between your eyes
  16. Exodus 13:16 Lit strength of hand
  17. Exodus 13:18 Lit Sea of Reeds
  18. Exodus 13:19 Lit visit
  19. Exodus 13:21 Lit go
  20. Exodus 13:22 Or The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart
  21. Exodus 14:4 Lit make strong
  22. Exodus 14:5 Lit the heart of Pharaoh...was changed
  23. Exodus 14:8 Lit made strong
  24. Exodus 14:8 Lit with a high hand
  25. Exodus 14:10 Lit lifted up their eyes
  26. Exodus 14:11 Lit so as to bring
  27. Exodus 14:12 Lit Cease from us
  28. Exodus 14:13 Or Take your stand
  29. Exodus 14:16 Lit enter the
  30. Exodus 14:17 Lit make strong
  31. Exodus 14:20 Lit and the darkness
  32. Exodus 14:21 Lit caused to go
  33. Exodus 14:22 Lit entered the
  34. Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
  35. Exodus 14:24 Or in
  36. Exodus 14:24 Lit camp
  37. Exodus 14:25 Or removed
  38. Exodus 14:27 Lit to meet it
  39. Exodus 14:27 Lit shook off
  40. Exodus 14:31 Lit hand
  41. Exodus 14:31 Lit done
  42. Exodus 14:31 Or revered
  43. Exodus 15:1 Lit and said, saying
  44. Exodus 15:1 Or Let me sing
  45. Exodus 15:2 Heb Yah
  46. Exodus 15:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
  47. Exodus 15:4 Lit sunk
  48. Exodus 15:4 Lit Sea of Reeds
  49. Exodus 15:7 Or exaltation
  50. Exodus 15:9 Lit My soul
  51. Exodus 15:9 Lit be filled with them
  52. Exodus 15:9 Or dispossess; or drive them out
  53. Exodus 15:13 Or mercy
  54. Exodus 15:20 Lit dances
  55. Exodus 15:21 Or has triumphed gloriously

Consecration of the Firstborn

13 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) 10 You must keep this ordinance(O) at the appointed time(P) year after year.

11 “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) 12 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) 13 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)

14 “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) 15 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) 16 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.”

Crossing the Sea

17 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) 18 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)

19 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)

20 After leaving Sukkoth(AH) they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.(AI) 21 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. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left(AL) its place in front of the people.

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol(AM) and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.(AN) Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart,(AO) and he will pursue them.(AP) But I will gain glory(AQ) for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”(AR) So the Israelites did this.

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled,(AS) Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds(AT) 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,(AU) along with all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers over all of them. The Lord hardened the heart(AV) of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.(AW) The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses(AX) and chariots, horsemen[c] and troops(AY)—pursued the Israelites and overtook(AZ) them as they camped by the sea near Pi Hahiroth, opposite Baal Zephon.(BA)

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried(BB) out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?(BC) What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 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!”(BD)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid.(BE) Stand firm and you will see(BF) the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see(BG) again. 14 The Lord will fight(BH) for you; you need only to be still.”(BI)

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?(BJ) Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff(BK) and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water(BL) so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts(BM) of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them.(BN) And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord(BO) when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

19 Then the angel of God,(BP) who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud(BQ) also moved from in front and stood behind(BR) them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness(BS) to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand(BT) over the sea,(BU) and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind(BV) and turned it into dry land.(BW) The waters were divided,(BX) 22 and the Israelites went through the sea(BY) on dry ground,(BZ) with a wall(CA) of water on their right and on their left.

23 The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen(CB) followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud(CC) at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion.(CD) 25 He jammed[d] 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(CE) for them against Egypt.”(CF)

26 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.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.(CG) The Egyptians were fleeing toward[e] it, and the Lord swept them into the sea.(CH) 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.(CI) Not one of them survived.(CJ)

29 But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground,(CK) with a wall(CL) of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the Lord saved(CM) Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand(CN) of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared(CO) the Lord and put their trust(CP) in him and in Moses his servant.

The Song of Moses and Miriam

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song(CQ) to the Lord:

“I will sing(CR) to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(CS)
    he has hurled into the sea.(CT)

“The Lord is my strength(CU) and my defense[f];
    he has become my salvation.(CV)
He is my God,(CW) and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt(CX) him.
The Lord is a warrior;(CY)
    the Lord is his name.(CZ)
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army(DA)
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.[g]
The deep waters(DB) have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.(DC)
Your right hand,(DD) Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand,(DE) Lord,
    shattered(DF) the enemy.

“In the greatness of your majesty(DG)
    you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;(DH)
    it consumed(DI) them like stubble.
By the blast of your nostrils(DJ)
    the waters piled up.(DK)
The surging waters stood up like a wall;(DL)
    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.(DM)
The enemy boasted,
    ‘I will pursue,(DN) I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;(DO)
    I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
    and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,(DP)
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.(DQ)
11 Who among the gods
    is like you,(DR) Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,(DS)
awesome in glory,(DT)
    working wonders?(DU)

12 “You stretch out(DV) your right hand,
    and the earth swallows your enemies.(DW)
13 In your unfailing love you will lead(DX)
    the people you have redeemed.(DY)
In your strength you will guide them
    to your holy dwelling.(DZ)
14 The nations will hear and tremble;(EA)
    anguish(EB) will grip the people of Philistia.(EC)
15 The chiefs(ED) of Edom(EE) will be terrified,
    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,(EF)
the people[h] of Canaan will melt(EG) away;
16     terror(EH) and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
    they will be as still as a stone(EI)
until your people pass by, Lord,
    until the people you bought[i](EJ) pass by.(EK)
17 You will bring(EL) them in and plant(EM) them
    on the mountain(EN) of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,(EO)
    the sanctuary,(EP) Lord, your hands established.

18 “The Lord reigns
    for ever and ever.”(EQ)

19 When Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen[j] went into the sea,(ER) the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.(ES) 20 Then Miriam(ET) the prophet,(EU) Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels(EV) and dancing.(EW) 21 Miriam sang(EX) to them:

“Sing to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver(EY)
    he has hurled into the sea.”(EZ)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 13:18 Or the Sea of Reeds
  2. Exodus 13:19 See Gen. 50:25.
  3. Exodus 14:9 Or charioteers; also in verses 17, 18, 23, 26 and 28
  4. Exodus 14:25 See Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; Masoretic Text removed
  5. Exodus 14:27 Or from
  6. Exodus 15:2 Or song
  7. Exodus 15:4 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 22
  8. Exodus 15:15 Or rulers
  9. Exodus 15:16 Or created
  10. Exodus 15:19 Or charioteers