1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Set apart to me every firstborn. The first to open the womb among the children of Israel, whether human or animal, belongs to me."
3 Moses said to the people, "Remember this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of here with a strong hand. Nothing leavened is to be eaten.
4 You are leaving today, in the month of Abib.
5 When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites, the land he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you are to observe this rite in this month.
6 For seven days eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day hold a feast to the LORD.
7 Unleavened bread is to be eaten throughout the seven days. Nothing leavened may be seen among you, nor any leaven anywhere within your borders.
8 On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'
9 It will serve you as a sign on your hand and a reminder between your eyes, so that the law of the LORD will be on your lips; for with a strong hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.
10 So keep this ordinance at its set time every year.
11 When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he swore to you and your fathers,
12 you are to hand over to the LORD everything that first opens the womb. Every firstborn male of your animals belongs to the LORD.
13 Redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb; if you do not redeem it, break its neck. And redeem every firstborn among your sons.
14 In days to come, when your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' tell him, 'With a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, firstborn of people and of animals alike. That is why I sacrifice to the LORD every male that first opens the womb, but redeem every firstborn of my sons.'
16 It will be a sign on your hand and a band between your eyes, because with a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt."
17 When Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was the shorter way. For God said, "If the people face war, they may change their minds and go back to Egypt."
18 Instead God led the people around by the wilderness road toward the Red Sea. The children of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt ready for battle.
19 Moses took Joseph's bones with him, because Joseph had made the children of Israel take a solemn oath: "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from here with you."
20 Setting out from Succoth, they camped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness.
21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel day or night.
22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night ever left its place in front of the people.