1And the LORD said to Moses, 2“Sanctify (consecrate) unto Me all the firstborn males, whatever opens the womb among the Israelites, both man and beast: it is Mine.”

3And Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (slavery); for by a mighty hand the LORD brought you out of this place; therefore, no leavened bread shall be eaten. 4This day, in the month Abib, you are going out. 5And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give to you - a land flowing with milk and honey - you shall keep and observe this event in this month. 6You shall eat unleavened bread for seven days, and the seventh day shall be a feast unto the LORD. 7Unleavened bread shall be eaten for those seven days; there shall no leavened bread be seen with you, nor in all your land. 8And you shall tell your children in that day, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9This annual observance is done as a visible sign and reminder to you like a mark upon your hand, or on your forehead, so that the LORD's law may be on your lips; for with a strong, mighty hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. 10So you shall keep this ordinance at the appointed time every year. 11And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, 12You shall set aside for the LORD all that open the womb, and every firstborn that comes of a beast which you have; the males shall be the LORD's. 13And you shall redeem every firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break his neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your children. 14And when your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is this?’, you shall say to him, ‘By a mighty hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: 15And when Pharaoh refused to let us go, the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, the firstborn of both man, and beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all males that open the womb; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.’ 16And it shall be for a sign upon your hand, and for frontlets between your eyes; for by a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

17When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them through the land of the Philistines, although that was shorter; for God said, “They may change their minds when they face war, and return to Egypt.” 18And so God led the people in a roundabout way through the wilderness by the Red Sea: and the Israelites left Egypt armed for battle. 19And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; because he (Joseph) had made the Israelites solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you; and you shall carry my bones up from here with you.” 20And they left Succoth, and camped in Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. 21And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light; to travel both day and night: 22Nor did He take away either the pillar of cloud by day, or the pillar of fire by night, from in front of the people.