Êxodo 13
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
Êxodo 13
MacArthur - The imagery of the proverbial mode of speech signified that their conduct was to be that of someone who could verbally recall what God’s law demanded of them. Yahweh who had rescued them had also provided the standards of life for them! (ED: THOUGHT - IS THIS PRINCIPLE NOT TRUE TODAY FOR SINNERS DELIVERED BY JESUS' PAYMENT OF THE RANSOM PRICE OF HIS BLOOD FOR WE ARE NOT ONLY DELIVERED BUT HAVE BEEN GIVEN EVERYTHING NECESSARY FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS! See 2 Pe 1:3-4+). (MSB) Ryrie - On the basis of this verse, coupled with Dt 6:8 and Deut 11:18, some Jews still wear phylacteries (little leather pouches containing short sections of the law, bound on the forehead and on the left arm above the elbow). For a detailed description of this practice and its abuse, see Mt. 23:5 = "they broaden their phylacteries" Phylacteries were square leather boxes containing four strips of parchment on which were written Dt 11:13-21 and Dt 6:4-9, and Ex. 13:11-16, Ex 13:1-10. During prayer one was worn on the forehead between the eyebrows and another on the left arm close to the elbow. They were held in place by leather bands, which the Pharisees made broad to attract more attention to themselves. The custom was based on Ex. 13:9, 16; Dt 6:8; 11:18, though phylacteries had only begun to be used by the ultrapious in Christ's day. Christ criticizes not the custom itself but the wrong spirit that corrupted it.) NET has an interesting note - This passage has, of course, been taken literally by many devout Jews, and portions of the text have been encased in phylacteries and bound on the arm and forehead. B. Jacob (Exodus, 368), weighing the pros and cons of the literal or the figurative meaning, says that those who took it literally should not be looked down on for their symbolic work. In many cases, he continues, it is the spirit that kills and the letter makes alive—because people who argue against a literal usage do so to excuse lack of action. This is a rather interesting twist in the discussion. The point of the teaching was obviously meant to keep the Law of Yahweh in the minds of the people, to remind them of their duties. The purpose of using this ceremony as a sign and a memorial is that the Law might be in their mouth. George Bush - The Jewish commentators are generally of opinion that the words of the precept concerning the sanctification of the first-born were to be written on shreds of linen or parchment, and worn on their wrists and foreheads. These where the ‘Phylacteries,’ or scrolls of parchment, with portions of the law written upon them, of which our Savior speaks, Mat. 23:5, as distinguishing, when made uncommonly broad, the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees. It is not improbable, however, that the precept here is only figurative, implying that the remembrance of God’s goodness should be continually cherished, that it should no more be lost sight of than is an object appended to the hand or hanging between the eyes. Thus Prov. 3:3, ‘Bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart;’ i. e. have them in perpetual remembrance. That the law of the LORD may be in your mouth - The point is these ordinances should be so familiar to them that they frequently speak of these things not only to instruct others but to affect their own heart. One is reminded of Moses later charge to Joshua “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (Joshua 1:8+) This statement would support the thought that the signs on hand and forehead might be metaphors (forehead - thinking about it) and hand (doing it). The best place to store the Law of the LORD is not in a box but in one's heart! (Ps 119:11), for then one could practice the words of Jesus that out of the mouth comes that which fills the heart (Mt 12:34+). NET has a good note - Mouth is a metonymy of cause; the point is that they should be ever talking about the Law as their guide as they go about their duties (see Deut 6:7; Dt 11:19; Josh 1:8). For - This is a term of explanation. What is it explaining? It explains why a sign is important, because ultimately it points to the power of Yahweh to deliver. NET - This causal clause gives the reason for what has just been instructed. Because Yahweh delivered them from bondage, he has the strongest claims on their life. With a powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt - This is exactly what Jehovah had predicted (see passages below) - it would take His strong hand! Pharaoh's heart was hardened but Jehovah's hand was more powerful (Heb = chazaq) than Pharaoh's resistance and ultimately broke his heart with the loss of his firstborn son. Ex 3:19+ But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion. (chazaq yad = literally a strong hand) Ex 6:1+ Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for under compulsion (chazaq yad = literally a strong hand) he shall let them go, and under compulsion (strong hand) he shall drive them out of his land." Related Resource: Study of the Hand of the LORD Question: "What are phylacteries?" Answer: Phylacteries, sometimes called tefillin, are small, square leather boxes containing portions of Scripture worn by Conservative and Orthodox Jews during prayer services. Phylacteries are worn in pairs—one phylactery is strapped on the left arm, and one is strapped to the forehead of Jewish men during weekday morning prayers. The word phylactery comes from a Greek word meaning “safeguard, protection, or amulet.” The phylactery strapped to the arm is called the shel yad and has only one compartment; the one on the forehead, containing four compartments, is called the shel rosh. The letter shin (ש) is printed on either side of the head phylactery. Various rules govern the length and width of the connecting straps, the tying of the knots to secure the phylacteries, and the color of the boxes (black). Inside each phylactery are four passages from the Old Testament: Ex 13:1–10, 11–16; Dt 6:4–9; Dt 11:13–21. The verses must be written in black ink on parchment specially prepared for this purpose, using the skin of a clean animal. Other rules specify the type of writing instrument to be used, the number of printed lines devoted to each verse, the arrangement of the pieces of parchment within each compartment, etc. The wearing of phylacteries is based on some commands in Deuteronomy. Israel was told to love God and keep His commandments. In fact, they were to “tie [the commandments] as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads” (Deuteronomy 6:8). Later, God tells them, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads” (Deuteronomy 11:18). We take the wording of these commands to be figurative: whatever we do (with the hand) and whatever we think (with the head) is to be guided by the authority of God’s Word. But, at some point—possibly as early as the fourth century BC—the Jewish rabbis began applying this verse literally, and the practice of tying phylacteries onto their arms and heads commenced. Phylacteries are mentioned in the New Testament. Jesus, warning His disciples about the hypocrisy of the teachers and Pharisees, said, “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long” (Matthew 23:5). The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had strayed from God’s intention in the Law. Phylacteries were being made larger for the sole purpose of drawing attention to the wearer—the larger the phylactery, the more piety it supposedly showed. Ironically, the very command to honor the Word of God was being used to dishonor the Word. Jesus taught that God is not as concerned with the external trappings of religion as He is with the true nature of the heart. He pointed out that it was possible to wear large phylacteries containing God’s Word yet disobey God’s Word at the same time. Likewise, in the church today, it’s possible to wear a cross, pay a tithe, raise a hand, and quote a creed—all without truly acknowledging the Lord in our hearts. God knows the truth of our spiritual condition. “LORD Almighty, you . . . examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind” (Jeremiah 20:12). May we be able to say with the psalmist, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). (Source: Gotquestions.org) Exodus 13:10 "Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year. Ex 12:14,24 23:15 Lev 23:6 De 16:3,4 Exodus 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries KEEP THE FEAST EVERY YEAR Therefore - Term of conclusion. Based on the precious and powerful truth just proclaimed in Ex 13:9b. You shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year - Year to year = literally “from days to days” and is an example of the frequent use of “days” for the concept “years”. The verb shall keep is the Hebrew verb shamar which means to keep, to watch, to preserve, to stay awake, to protect and in the Septuagint is phulasso which means to guard or protect like a sentinel watchfully guards his post. The point is that it will take some mental effort to remember to carry out the festival of Passover/Unleavened bread year after year. Exodus 13:11 "Now when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, as He swore - Ex 13:5 Exodus 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CONFIRMATION OF THE LAND GRANT BASED ON THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT Exodus 13:11-16 gives an explanation of the command in Ex 13:2 that the firstborn (man and beast) was to be sanctified to Jehovah. Now when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you - Not IF the LORD brings you in but when. It would come to pass! Jehovah would keep the promise made to Abrahamic, Isaac and Jacob. And here he says God also swore to you, to the Israelites who came out of Egypt. It would be Jehovah would would bring them to the land, a clear manifestation of God's grace, not Israel's goodness. The phrase land of the Canaanite stands for all groups often mentioned (see Ex 13:5). Notice also the emphasis on the land which would be God's gift to Israel. Herschel Hobbs - Deliverance from slavery means being freed from something and also freedom for something. They were freed for a new relationship with God (Ex 19:3-6), a new way of living (Ex 20:1-2), a new opportunity to help other helpless people (Deut. 24:17-21), and a new land of promise. Christians have been freed from slavery to sin and death, but we have been freed for a new relationship with God, a new way of living, and new a home in heaven. This shows that freedom is not freedom from responsibility to live by God’s standards and to minister in His name. Non-Christians often think that the moral demands and the social obligations of Christians mean a loss of freedom, but the opposite is true. Only as we are rightly related with God, do His will (ONLY POSSIBLE AS WE ARE DAILY ENERGIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT!), and serve others in His name (AND FOR HIS GLORY) are we truly fulfilled and free to become the persons God created each of us to be. You would think that a prisoner set free would never return to his prison. From time to time the Israelites told Moses that they wanted to go back to Egypt. Some convicts have been in prison so long that they miss the only life they know; therefore, they find some way to return to prison. Some professing Christians return to their former slavery. All of us struggle with temptations toward the lure of sin. Sometimes we stumble, but we do not return to the kind of hopeless bondage that once enslaved us. We need to remember the slavery from which we have been set free and not return to it (Rom. 6:17-22). Exodus 13:12 you shall devote to the LORD the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to the LORD. NET Exodus 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. LXE Exodus 13:12 that thou shalt set apart every offspring opening the womb, the males to the Lord, every one that opens the womb out of the herds or among thy cattle, as many as thou shalt have: thou shalt sanctify the males to the Lord. NLT Exodus 13:12 you must present all firstborn sons and firstborn male animals to the LORD, for they belong to him. KJV Exodus 13:12 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. ESV Exodus 13:12 you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD's. NIV Exodus 13:12 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. ASV Exodus 13:12 that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah's. CSB Exodus 13:12 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. NKJ Exodus 13:12 "that you shall set apart to the LORD all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the LORD'S. NRS Exodus 13:12 you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your livestock that are males shall be the LORD's. YLT Exodus 13:12 that thou hast caused every one opening a womb to pass over to Jehovah, and every firstling -- the increase of beasts which thou hast: the males are Jehovah's. NAB Exodus 13:12 you shall dedicate to the LORD every son that opens the womb; and all the male firstlings of your animals shall belong to the LORD. NJB Exodus 13:12 to Yahweh you must make over whatever first issues from the womb, and every first-born cast by animals belonging to you: these males belong to Yahweh. GWN Exodus 13:12 sacrifice every firstborn male offspring to the LORD. The firstborn male offspring of each of your animals belongs to the LORD. BHT Exodus 13:12 wüha`ábarTä kol-Pe|†er-reºHem lyhwh(la|´dönäy) wükol-Peº†er šeºger Bühëmâ ´ášer yihyè lükä hazzükärîm lyhwh(la´dönäy) BBE Exodus 13:12 You are to put on one side for the Lord every mother's first male child, the first-fruit of her body, and the first young one of every beast; every male is holy to the Lord. NAS Exodus 13:12 that you shall devote to the LORD the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to the LORD. you shall - Ex 13:2 Ex 22:29 Ex 34:19 Lev 27:26 Nu 8:17 18:15 De 15:19 Eze 44:30 first offspring - Ex 34:19 Nu 3:12 18:15 Exodus 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FIRSTBORN DEVOTED TO YAHWEH You shall devote to the LORD the first offspring of every womb and the first offspring of every beast that you own - Shall devote (ESV and KJV = set apart, NIV = give over) literally reads "“you will cause to pass over (וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ, véha’avarta) to Yahweh.” This is clearly a play on words, because this same verb (abar) translated "devote" here is used in Ex 12:12 ("I will go through") and Ex 12:23 ("the LORD will pass through") to describe the LORD passing over or through the land of Egypt, to smite the firstborn. As Currid puts it "here we have a verbal word-play: as Yahweh passed over the Hebrews during the tenth plague, the Hebrews are now to pass over their first-born to Him. The verb ‘to pass over’ is also a commentary on pagan child sacrifice. Pagans of the ancient Near East would take a child and pass him over/through the fire as a form of devotion and sacrifice (Dt. 18:10 = "makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire"; 2 Ki 16:3 = "made his son pass through the fire"). Yahweh does not require such barbarism. He wants the first-born set apart and devoted to His service. Thus the Israelites are not to pass over their first-born in the fire, but pass them over to the Lord." Walter C. Kaiser adds “As Israel ‘passed over’ (‘abar) the Red Sea and the destroyer ‘passed over’ their firstborn, so now they were ‘to cause to pass over’ or ‘give over’ (‘abar) to the LORD all their firstborn.” This passage clearly parallels Ex 13:2 for in both passages Jehovah claims the firstborn as belonging to Him. As the NET explains "The remarkable thing about this is that Yahweh did not keep the firstborn that was dedicated to him, but allowed the child to be redeemed by his father (ED: FOR A PRICE - SEE Nu 18:15, 16). It was an acknowledgment that the life of the child belonged to God as the one redeemed from death, and that the child represented the family. Thus, the observance referred to the dedication of all the redeemed to God." The word offspring is more literally "every opener of a womb." (see word study below). Offspring (06363)(peter) means that which separates or first opens. Peter is derived from pātar meaning to free, to release. The semantic relationship is transparent, as it is the firstborn who opens or frees the womb. Peter, which simply means "something which opens," is coupled with the noun rechem, "womb," in more than half of its occurrences, giving the understanding of "firstborn. Peter is used exclusively in ritual contexts. The bulk of the occurrences are found in regard to the institution of the Passover. Here the noun is used as a generic for human and domestic livestock firstborn" (Gilbrant) Peter - 10x in 8v - first issue(2), first offspring(8). Ex 13:2; Ex 13:12; Ex 13:13; Ex 13:15; Ex 34:19; Ex 34:20; Nu 3:12; Nu 18:15 The males belong to the LORD - He says that you own, but the truth is they belong to the LORD. Presumably the males beasts were sacrificed, unless they were an unclean animal like a donkey, which was either to be killed (indicating it no longer belonged to the person who brought it) or redeemed by the payment of the price of the blood of a lamb. Can you see how all of these laws served an overarching purpose -- to remind the Israelites that Jehovah had redeemed them from slavery by accepting as the "ransom price" the blood of a one year old lamb, which protected their firstborn from death. So now every time an Israelite would bring (devote, sanctify) a firstborn child or beast to God, he would be reminded of the deliverance of Israel in Egypt. Thompson - Now this firstborn data is critical to Israel because it will be addressed at least five more times in the O.T. Law: Ex. 22:29-30; Ex. 34:19-20; Lev. 27:26-27; Num. 18:14-18; Deut. 15:19-23. Each reference is important and gives its own slant to things. So this is the first of six addresses on this subject. According to verse 12, the firstborn of every human was to be given to the Lord and the firstborn male of the animals were to be given to the Lord. Now the words “devote to the LORD” mean to bring to the tabernacle and give it over to the LORD. God did not want to keep the children and separate them from their families; but He did demand that they be brought to the tabernacle and dedicated to Him and an animal sacrifice was to be made, which was a sacrifice of the firstborn male animal. This is a very important point to realize; when a firstborn animal was given to God, it was sacrificed and it did die . So in all reality the redemptive price was paid by the firstborn sacrifice. The idea of a substitutionary sacrifice as being the only means of having a relationship with the Holy God is seen right here. NET Note - It was once assumed by some scholars that child sacrifice lay behind this text in the earlier days (ED: THIS GENRE OF LUDICROUS LOGIC IS WHY IT ALWAYS BEST TO FIRST DO YOUR OWN INDUCTIVE STUDY BEFORE CHECKING THE COMMENTARY. YOU WILL OFTEN BE AMAZED AT HOW MUCH LIGHT THE SCRIPTURE SHEDS ON THE COMMENTARY!), but that the priests and prophets removed those themes. Apart from the fact that there is absolutely no evidence for anything like that, the Law forbade child sacrifice, and always used child sacrifice as the sample of what not to do in conformity with the pagans (e.g., Deut 12:31). Besides, how absurd would it be for Yahweh to redeem the firstborn from death and then ask Israel to kill them. Exodus 13:13 "But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. Currid - ‘Redeem every first-born donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem [it], then you shall break its neck. Redeem every first-born male among your sons.’ NET Exodus 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. donkey - Ex 34:20 Nu 18:15-17 lamb - Ex 12:3,21 you shall break - Nu 3:46-51 Nu 18:15,16 Rev 14:4 Exodus 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FIRSTBORN OF ANIMALS MEN TO BE REDEEMED But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck - Note that firstborn females were exempted. The text probably makes mention of a donkey because they were the main means of transport for the Hebrews, and because of their value God mercifully allowed them to be redeemed with a lamb. What's going on with the poor donkey? This was alluded to above. When the firstborn of a beast was given to (devoted, sanctified) the LORD, it was sacrificed. The problem with the firstborn of a donkey is that this animal was considered unclean and could not be used as a sacrifice. However since donkeys were valuable animals used for many chores, the law allowed one to redeem his donkey with a lamb (again we see in essence the blood of a lamb paying the price to set the donkey free, all of these blood sacrifices of course -- and this one clearly a substitutionary sacrifice -- pointed to God's future Lamb for only His blood offered as a substitute could effect redemption of men from slavery to Sin and Satan.) If the donkey was not redeemed it had to be killed. Currid adds that "Since man is depriving God of his due, then man is denied use of the animal (DONKEY). Breaking the donkey’s neck instead of killing it with a knife or by some other means is probably in order to divorce it from any sacrificial act or intent." And every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem - "Redeem every first-born male among your sons." You shall redeem means they were to buy them back at a prices, which we later see was fixed at five shekels per male (see Nu 18:16, cf Nu 3:46-47). Can you see the dual effect of this law? While the firstborn of Israelites in deliverance from Egypt was redeemed with the blood of a lamb, the firstborn thereafter were to be redeemed and this would serve as a reminder pointing back to Yahweh's deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt but also a "shadow" pointing forward to Yahweh's future deliverance by the blood of the Lamb, God's only begotten Son! THOUGHT - They needed this reminder. But look in the mirror dear believer, for the person you see also needs reminders. WE ALL TEND TO FORGET THE GREAT ACTS OF GOD IN OUR LIFE! Indeed, this is part of the power of celebrating the Lord's Supper, for it serves as a reminder of the blood of the ultimate Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29+). The next time you celebrate communion, think about your mercy filled deliverance out of this fallen, passing (1 Jn 2:17) world ("Egypt") which you have experienced by exertion the strong arm of Jehovah (actually two strong arms, each nailed to an old rugged cross!) And then strive (by the power of the Spirit) to live the succeeding days without the corrupting effects of the leaven of sin in your life (motivated by love for the Lamb and the great deliverance God wrought for you on Calvary)! Hobbs adds that "These rites were meant to be more than symbols, more than memorials. They were to be vivid visual aids by which the older generation could instruct the younger in the ways of God. Man’s memory is all too short, at best. Man needs reminders, especially in following faithfully a God unseen. Therefore the monuments left along God’s mighty road of deliverance were to be teaching instruments perpetuating the life of God in the continuing life of Israel for all time to come. In this sense these rites were to be flames of remembrance, keeping God alive in the hearts of his people." Paul makes the statement "do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? (WHY?) For (term of explanation) you have been bought with a price: (AKA "REDEEMED") therefore glorify God in your body." (1 Cor 6:19-20+, Titus 2:14+ = His own possession, 1 Peter 2:9+ = A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION,). And now we as firstborn (all believers are in a sense "firstborn" - see Heb 12:23) and should daily present our bodies (heart, soul, mind, strength - Mk 12:30) our bodies as living and holy sacrifices, acceptable (pleasing) to God (AND DON'T CRAWL OFF THE ALTAR DURING THE DAY!) (Ro 12:1+) Redeem (06299) see note below on padah. This same verb is used again in a description of Israel's deliverance from Egypt in Dt 7:8 "because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed (padah; Lxx = lutroo) you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." And again in Deut 13:5 Moses has a similar description = "the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed (padah; Lxx = lutroo) you from the house of slavery." Thompson - God makes provision concerning donkeys. Every firstborn donkey is to be redeemed by a lamb. If you do not redeem the donkey the neck is to be broken. No firstborn animal could be kept for personal use. It either needed to be redeemed or it needed to die. Why? Because all of this pointed to Jesus Christ, who would have to die in order to redeem Israel and us. Now donkeys were considered to be unclean animals (Lev. 11:2-4), but they could be redeemed by a Lamb (ED: AND AS BEST I CAN DISCERN FROM THE SCRIPTURES THERE IS NO PROHIBITION FROM USING THEM FOR WORK, AND YET THEY LIKE THE REDEEMED SONS STILL BELONGED TO THE LORD.). Bush has an interesting note - The redemption of a child took place when it was a month old. If it died sooner, the parents were not obliged to redeem it. It died as it were to God, to whom it previously belonged. (Exodus, 1861) Joseph Parker - Every firstling of a donkey thou shalt redeem with a lamb. -- Little things are made important in the Scriptures. This is an apparently out-of-the-way incident. Out of the way! What way? Out of our way, possibly; but what is our way? a little path leading nowhere: a road we have made with which to please ourselves to go up and down upon, and suppose to be the universe. Exodus 13:14 "And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' then you shall say to him, 'With a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. Currid - ‘And it will come to pass in days to come, when your son asks you, saying, “What is this?” that you shall say to him, “With a strong hand Yahweh brought us out from Egypt, from the house of slaves.” ’ son - Ex 12:26 De 6:20-24 Jos 4:6,21-24 Ps 145:4 in time to come -Ex 12:26 Ge 30:33 De 6:20 Jos 4:6 22:24 With a powerful hand - Ex 13:3 Exodus 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE EXODUS IS DIDACTIC! WHAT IS THIS? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Didactic means designed or intended to teach, to convey instruction, especially (in the context of Scripture) to teach moral lessons that produce moral behavior, not motivated by legalism but motivated by a love for God and what He has done for each of us whom He has rescued from certain eternal disaster! Parallel passage (relates to Passover feast) - “And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ (Ex 12:26+) Notice that the instruction of children is part of the law of the LORD! It is not optional, but is necessary to perpetuate the truth of Israel's powerful Delverer. And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' - Time to come is literally "tomorrow." The question is What is this? What does this mean? "Why do we do this? Why did you have to break the neck of the donkey? Or why did a lamb have to shed its blood for the life of the donkey? THOUGHT - Do we as parents conduct ourselves daily in such a way (led by, filled with the Spirit) that our words and actions prompt our children to ask "Why do you speak that way?" Or "Why do you do this or that?" If we live with an attitude of worship to Jehovah, not a religious ritual), it will be obvious to those nearest us and it will have an impact on their thinking and thus their acting. The highest calling of Christian parents is to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4+). Then you shall say to him, 'With a powerful hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery - Powerful hand is literally "strength of hand" and of course is anthropomorphic for the power of God. In short, this deliverance was 100% God's work and God's power, for as slaves they had no power against the most powerful nation in the world! (The same applies to every person born "dead" in Adam - Ro 5:12+ - which is ALL of us! We are ALL powerless against sin and Satan! We need a Powerful Hand!) The laws of the firstborn (and unleavened bread) are not to burden us, but to invigorate an attitude of worship and reverence for Jehovah. And especially an attitude of gratitude for His provision of so great a salvation, to the Jews a deliverance from bondage to Pharaoh, but to believers today a deliverance from bondage to sin and Satan and eternal death by His powerful hand. So fittingly the answer to the son's question begins with exaltation of the greatness of Jehovah and His mighty deliverance of their ancestors out of bondage in Egypt. Hobbs writes "Page H. Kelley wrote, “Passover was the ancient Hebrews’ Easter and the Fourth of July all wrapped up into one.” Their deliverance from slavery in Egypt foreshadowed the deliverance from sin and death made possible through Jesus Christ." This life/death picture shows that God is serious about the Hebrews remembering His great deliverance out of Egypt, out of slavery simply, but profoundly (and mysteriously and supernaturally) by the blood of a lamb. THOUGHT - Ultimately, these OT laws regarding firstborn and feast of unleavened bread were but a faint shadow (Col 2:16, 17+) pointing a divine index finger (so to speak) of the powerful hand of Jehovah to the Cross of Christ, the Lamb of God, Whose "blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me!" Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and king, The triumphs of His grace! My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread through all the earth abroad, The honors of Thy name. Jesus! the name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease— ’Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ’Tis life, and health, and peace. He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin, He sets the pris’ner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me. Walter Kaiser says house of slavery "is literally “from a house of slaveries” (also Ex 20:2; Dt 5:6; 6:12). Bush reminds us (Exodus, 1:155) of Egypt being called “the iron-smelting furnace” in Dt 4:20 ("But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, from Egypt, to be a people for His own possession, as today); 1 Ki 8:51 ("from Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace"); and Jer 11:4 ("I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace,"). (EBC-Ex) House of slavery - 11x in 11v always referring to Israel in Egyptian bondage - Exod. 13:3; Exod. 13:14; Exod. 20:2; Deut. 5:6; Deut. 6:12; Deut. 7:8; Deut. 8:14; Deut. 13:5; Deut. 13:10; Jdg. 6:8; Mic. 6:4 NET - The expression is "with strength of hand," making "hand" the genitive of specification. In translation "strength" becomes the modifier, because "hand" specifies where the strength was. But of course the whole expression is anthropomorphic for the power of God. Bush applies this truth - This feature of the Mosaic economy was calculated to have a powerful practical effect upon the eldest sons of every family (ED: FIRSTBORN MALES WHO HAD BEEN DEDICATED AS INFANTS!); for when they were taught that they themselves had been redeemed by their parents according to the divine appointment, they could scarcely fail to perceive that peculiar obligations rested upon them to walk worthy of that hallowed preeminence with which they were invested in God’s estimation. But if this was the impression produced by this statute on the minds of Jewish children, how should Christians be affected with the consideration, that they have been redeemed, not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, like the first-born of Israel, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot? (Amen? Amen!) Andrew Murray's discussion "Sanctify the First-Born" - Exodus 13:1, 13-15 F B
Êxodo 13
MacArthur - Some 360 years earlier he had foreseen the day when God would bring about the Exodus, and his instructions about his bones being carried to the Promised Land indicated just how certain he was of Israel’s departure for Canaan. Joseph's assurance in God's promises was recorded in the Hebrews "Hall of Faith"... By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones. (Hebrews 11:22+) Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear - Joseph had made his brothers take a solemn oath to carry his bones out of Egypt. Saying, "God will surely take care of you - "‘God will certainly visit you." CSB = "God will certainly come to your aid," describes Joseph's firm belief in divine deliverance. He did not realize it would be four centuries later, but he believed it would occur. Beloved, we too can believe that we will be transported to the true "Promised Land" of Heaven, either when we breathe our last breath or the Lord returns to Rapture us into His presence. The Rapture could be soon (it is 2020 and the Coronavirus has impacted the entire world) or it could be centuries later, but rest assured, it will come to pass for Jesus Himself promised in John 14:3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Joseph firmly believed God concerning the Promised Land and so he confidently spoke a prophecy regarding God's watchcare over His chosen people, even before they were actually an independent nation. Take care (visit) (06485)(pequddah/pāqadh/paqad) conveys the root idea of something that is attended to or set in order. The basic meaning to intervene, to inspect, to pay attention to, to care for. That is the idea in this passage (also used twice in Joseph's original declaration in Ge 50:24 and Ge 50:25). Here in Ex 13:19 and both uses in Genesis 50 the Septuagint translates with two related words, the noun episkope (a favorable visitation as the presence of divine power to benefit or save) and the verb episkeptomai meaning to look out for, to be concerned about and in Lk 1:68+ used to describe the truth that the God of Israel "has visited us (Israel) and accomplished redemption (through His Son, the Messiah) for His people." And you shall carry my bones from here with you - Joseph knew that Egypt was not to be Israel's home, but that God had Promised a Land for themand so with great faith declared that God would "bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob." (Ge 50:24) After 40 years of carrying his coffin in the wilderness, Joseph’s remains finally reached their resting place in Shechem as recorded in... Joshua 24:32 Now they buried the bones of Joseph, which the sons of Israel brought up from Egypt, at Shechem, in the piece of ground which Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for one hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of Joseph’s sons. J