EXODUS CHAPTER THIRTEEN ----------------------- Verse 1, Gill says, "When they were at Succoth." Verse 2, This is what the LORD spoke to Moses at Succoth. "whatsoever openeth the womb" - That is the firstborn, but only the males according to Gill. "among the children of Israel" - which shows that this law only applied to them and not to the Gentiles. Israel was under great obligation to devote the firstborn to the LORD since it was the firstborn that was spared in Egypt, while the firstborn of the Egyptians were destroyed. Verse 3, Remember this day - Gill says the 15th of Nisan (Abib). Josephus also says that they left on the 15th. Here Egypt is called the "house of bondage" - they had been servants to the Egyptians. It was not by their own strength that they had been brought out. They had raised no rebellion and had not fought against the Egyptian army, but the LORD had brought them out by a mighty hand. So too, our salvation is of the LORD and not by our own strength. Over and over again we see salvation by grace! They had nothing else but unleavened bread to eat when they came out. So they were not to eat leavened bread on this day and the 6 days following down through the ages until the coming of Messiah (says Gill). Verse 4, the 15th of Abib or Nisan, which was to be the first month to them. This was the first month of the religious year. The first month of the civil year was different. The month is the same as part of our March and April. The spring time when things begin to grow. Abib = 'abiyb {aw-beeb'} from an unused root (meaning to be tender); TWOT - 1b; n m AV - Abib 6, in the ear 1, green ears of corn 1; 8 1) fresh, young barley ears, barley 2) month of ear-forming, of greening of crop, of growing green Abib, month of exodus and passover (March or April) Verse 5, They were to keep this service (the service that is described in the following verses, feast of unleavened bread) in this same month, the month of Abib, even after they came into the promised land. Verses 6-8, For 7 days they were to eat unleavened bread. Gill says that the Jews had a notion that the were only obligated to eat unleavened bread and nothing else but one night of the seven days, and of the other 6 days, if they abstained from leavened bread yet ate other foods it was good enough. But this would take away from the purpose of why they ate it. It was called the bread of affliction in Deut 16:3. This was all that they had to eat when they came out of Egypt. See Ex 12:39. During these 7 days no leavened was to be found in their quarters. Gill says that they either had a different set of utensils for eating the passover or else they scoured their old ones making them new. Verse 8 shows the reason why they did this. It was to remind them of how they came out of Egypt. They came out a redeemed people, free from the penalty and guilt of sin. Verse 9, Gill says that this is the words of the parent to the son and is a continuation of the previous verse. Figurative language; Compare: Pr 1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they [shall be] an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. Pr 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: Pr 6:20 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, [and] tie them about thy neck. Ps 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! [yea, sweeter] than honey to my mouth! Gill says that the Jews take this literally, that is the part about the hand and forehead, but not the part about the mouth, which shows that it was not to be taken literally. Hence they used phylacteries which they bound upon their left hand and placed upon their foreheads. SEE the following verse. Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, phylacteries: a preservative or safeguard , an amulet. The Jews used this word to describe small strips of parchment on which were written the following passages of the law of Moses, Ex. 13:1-10, 11-16; Dt. 6:4-9, 11:13-21, and which, enclosed in small cases, they were accustomed when engaged in prayer to wear fastened by a leather strap to the forehead and to the left arm over against the heart, in order that they might thus be solemnly reminded of the duty of keeping the commands of God in the head and in the heart, according to the directions given in Ex. 13:16, Dt. 6:8, 11:18; These scrolls were thought to have the power, like amulets, to avert various evils and to drive away demons. The Pharisees were accustomed to widen, make broad, their phylacteries, that they might render them more conspicuous and show themselves to be more eager than the majority to be reminded of the law of God. Jesus said that the Pharisees did this to be seen of men and he pronounced WOE unto them and said that they were children of hell. But the remainder of the verse reads, "that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth" This is hard to take literally. The hand would speak of their works. De 2:7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God [hath been] with thee; thou hast lacked nothing. between thy eyes would speak of the mind, having God's law before their eyes continually so that it was in their mind and would guide them no matter what situation or place they might be. Why do we carry a Bible? For help in time of need? or A show and demonstration to others of our religiosity? Verse 10, Not the ordinance of phylacteries, but the ordinance of unleavened bread. Gill says even to the coming of Messiah. Verses 11-13, The first born. Gill says that verse 12 speaks of the clean animals, while verse 13 speaks of the unclean animals, which had to be redeemed. Also the firstborn of man of the children of Israel had to be redeemed, which shows that man is as an unclean animal. Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. The redemption of an ass Why is an ass mentioned? Notice that if it was not redeemed, its neck was to be broken, that is it was destroyed, just as the firstborn of Egypt were destroyed. But the ass could be redeemed by a lamb. WHY AN ASS? This is a picture of the sinner. This is a picture of US! 1) The ass is unclean! 2) The ass is stubborn Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (This because of his stubborn nature) 3) The ass is not a free animal, but a beast of burden The ass in scripture: Gen 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. The ass did not accompany Abraham when he went up with Isaac to worship (Gen 22:5). Gen 49:14 Issachar [is] a strong ass couching down between two burdens: So too, the sinner is heavy laden with the burden of sin. Jer 22:19 He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem. The ass was buried OUTSIDE of Jerusalem. So too, the sinner without Christ will not enter the holy city but will be cast into a lake of fire. Gen 16:12 And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren. wild = wild ass (translated such 9 times, wild once) Speaking of Ishmael, who stands for the natural man as Isaac stands for the believer and child of promise. BUT: Zec 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. The sinner who is under the control of Christ and belongs to Him will enter the city with His redeemer. Verses 14-16, When thy son asks why the redeeming of the firstborn, you shall explain the redeeming of the firstborn in Egypt. Verses 17-18, The promised land was not far, but God had planed to educate them in the wilderness first. Some have said that the wilderness had no place in the purpose of God for Israel, but this is certainly erroneous. Verse 18 says that God LED them about through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. This was God's very purpose when he called Moses to lead them out. It was not an after thought with God, or plan B, because the children of Israel were rebellious, though they were. Compare: Ex 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this [shall be] a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon THIS MOUNTAIN. The law would be given at this mountain. What mountain? See verse 1 of chapter 3. Horeb or Mt. Sinai. God would demonstrate His power in bringing the children of Israel safely through the Red Sea. Pharaoh and his army MUST be destroyed in the Red Sea. They must be organized into a common-wealth or nation before they could go into the promised land. They must be humbled, tried, and proven. Deut 8:2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, [and] to prove thee, to know what [was] in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. They went up harnessed out of the land: Marginal notes = {harnessed: or, by five in a rank} 1) in battle array, arrayed for battle by fives, armed Five is the number for GRACE. They went out of Egypt, the House of Bondage, by the GRACE of Almighty God. Verse 19, This was not any sort of ancestral worship, as with the pagans, but was done to fulfill the words of Joseph. Joseph had made this statement by faith (Heb 11:22). Verses 20-22, The pillar of the cloud and fire. Just as the Lamb without spot pointed to God the Son, so here the pillar of a cloud and of fire pointed to the Holy Spirit. pillar or column - which rose up toward heaven Pink says that it was probably a column that rose toward heaven at the top and the bottom spread out over the camp of Israel. Pink says that in Ex 14:24 the two descriptions are combined to show that it did not change forms from day to night as some have supposed. Ex 14:24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, Compare also: Nu 14:14 And they will tell [it] to the inhabitants of this land: [for] they have heard that thou LORD [art] among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and [that] thy cloud standeth over them, and [that] thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night. Ne 9:19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go. Ps 78:14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. a) The cloud was not given to Israel until they had been delivered from the bondage of Egypt. First was the slaying of the Pascal Lamb, then the giving of the cloud. This was the same order in the New Testament. First, Christ was crucified and then rose and ascended, and then came the public descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. So to with the sinner in the salvation experience. First the receiving of Christ by faith and then the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. not that the salvation experience is not wrought by the Holy Spirit in giving life that the sinner can believe, but the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is for the believer. Compare: Eph 1:13 In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, In Romans 2:4-10 we read of repentance. In Romans 3:22-28 we read of faith Then in Romans 5:5 we read of the love of God being shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. b) This cloud was a gracious gift of God to Israel. It was not asked for or sought after by them but given by God. Jesus' disciples were troubled and sorrowful, but there was no hint that they sought another comforter, yet Christ promised to send another comforter to them. (John 4:16) c) The cloud was given to Israel to guide them through the wilderness journey. Notice the LORD went BEFORE them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to LEAD them the way. So too, the Christian is to walk a narrow path and it is the Holy Spirit that must lead him down that path. He cannot find his way alone! Ro 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. d) The cloud gave Israel light in the night. Notice: "and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light" Neh 9:12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go. God's word is light and it is the Holy Spirit that will guide us into all truth. (Joh 16:13) In the world is darkness and it is the Holy Spirit that shines the light on God's word and reveals it to our hearts. e) The cloud was given for a covering to Israel. Ps 105:39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. (Context is their departure from Egypt) It protected them from the scorching heat of the desert sun. So too, the Christian is sealed with the Holy Spirit UNTO the day of redemption, which shows that we are preserved and protected by the Holy Spirit. f) God spoke from the cloud. Ps 99:7 He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance [that] he gave them. ( Notice verse 6 speaks of Moses and Aaron ) Ex 33:9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood [at] the door of the tabernacle, and [the LORD] talked with Moses. Num 12:5 And the LORD came down IN the pillar of the cloud, and stood [in] the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. Notice that the LORD was IN the cloud. Compare: In Rev 2 thru 3 this phrase appears 7 times. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Seven spirits of God - Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. So it is the Holy Spirit that speaks to us today through God's word. Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, He speaks of Christ: Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: g) It was a cloud of darkness to the Egyptians: Ex 14:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness [to them], but it gave light by night [to these]: so that the one came not near the other all the night. How fearfully solemn and sovereign is this statement! What provided light to Israel was the same thing that provided darkness to the Egyptians. So too we read of God: Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast HID these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it SEEMED GOOD in THY sight. Joh 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world CANNOT receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Ro 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded 8* (According as it is written, GOD HATH GIVEN them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. h) This cloud was upon the tabernacle as soon as it was erected. Ex 40: 33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work. 34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD [was] upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. As soon as Christ came upon the scene in his public ministry the Holy Spirit descended upon him. (Luk 3:22) So too, the Holy Spirit came upon the twelve and filled them to enable them to perform the work before them. (Acts 2:4) i) All through Israel's wanderings in the wilderness the cloud was never taken away from them. Ex 40:38 For the cloud of the LORD [was] upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. Neh 9:18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This [is] thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; 19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go. So too, the Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. (Eph 1:14) And we read that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. (Eph 4:30 and 1:13) Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; j) This same cloud will once more descend upon and dwell upon Israel. Isa 4:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. 5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory [shall be] a defence. 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.