Exodus 13:11-21

New International Version

¹¹ “After the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites^(A) and gives it to you, as he promised on oath^(B) to you and your ancestors,^{(C) 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.^{(D) 13} Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey,^(E) but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.^(F) Redeem^(G) every firstborn among your sons.^(H)

¹⁴ “In days to come, when your son^(I) 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.^{(J) 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.’^{(K) 16} And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead^(L) 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.”^{(M) 18} So God led^(N) the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.^[a] The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.^(O)

¹⁹ Moses took the bones of Joseph^(P) 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](Q)

²⁰ After leaving Sukkoth^(R) they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert.^{(S) 21} By day the Lord went ahead^(T) of them in a pillar of cloud^(U) 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.