Albert Barnes Commentary Exodus 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
Exodus 13
Albert Barnes Commentary
Exodus 13
"Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine." — Exodus 13:2 (ASV)
Sanctify unto me - The command is addressed to Moses. It was to declare the will of God that all firstborn were to be consecrated to Him, set apart from all other creatures. The command is expressly based on the Passover.
The firstborn exempt from the destruction became in a new and special sense the exclusive property of the Lord: the firstborn of man as His ministers, the firstborn of cattle as victims. In place of the firstborn of men the Levites were devoted to the temple services.
"This day ye go forth in the month Abib." — Exodus 13:4 (ASV)
Abib - April. Compare Exodus 12:2. It is uncertain whether this name was ancient or given then for the first time. It is found only in the Pentateuch, six times as the name of the first month, twice in the sense of young wheat, hence its etymology, namely, the month when the wheat began to ripen. The name resembles the Egyptian Epiphi, and may possibly have been derived from it.
"And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, 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." — Exodus 13:5 (ASV)
The Canaanites - Five nations only are named in this passage, whereas six are named in (Exodus 3:8), and ten in the original promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:19–21). The first word “Canaanite” is generic, and includes all the Hamite races of Palestine.
"And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of Jehovah may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath Jehovah brought thee out of Egypt." — Exodus 13:9 (ASV)
Hebrew writers have generally regarded this as a formal injunction to write the precepts on slips of parchment and to fasten them on the wrists and forehead; but other commentators are generally agreed that it is to be understood metaphorically.
The words appear to be put into the mouths of the parents. They were to keep all the facts of the Passover constantly in mind and, in a manner that alluded to a custom prevalent ages before Moses in Egypt, to have them present as though they were inscribed on papyrus or parchment fastened on the wrists or on the face between the eyes.
If, as may be inferred from Deuteronomy 6:7-8, Moses adopted this custom, he would take care to warn the people against the Egyptian superstition of amulets. Modern Israelites generally allege this precept as a justification for the use of phylacteries.
"And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem." — Exodus 13:13 (ASV)
An ass - The ass could not be offered in sacrifice, being an unclean animal: possibly the only unclean animal domesticated among the Israelites at the time of the Exodus. This principle was extended to every unclean beast .
You shall redeem - The lamb, or sheep, was given to the priest for the service of the sanctuary.
Firstborn of man - The price of redemption was fixed at five shekels of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:47, where see the note).
Jump to: