Exodus-13-Vv-1-16
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please
do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of the
following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org”
(MEC),
and 3. “Sefaria.org”
(SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is
my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books -
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or
Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations
or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO
THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER
SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep
the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
YYYYYYY
Verses 1 to 16..
With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
In the verses
from Exodus
13:1-16, we transition from the haste of the departure for
Egypt, to the Eternal laws that ensure the Exodus remains a living memory for
all generations!
Introduction:
As the
Israelites stand on the precipice of freedom, the Almighty does not merely
offer them liberty, but a covenantal structure to sustain it.
This section focuses on the sanctity of the firstborn and the commandment of Tefillin. It serves
as a spiritual bridge: we move from the physical act of leaving Egypt to the
internalisation of that miracle. The theme is consecration, recognising
that because אֱלֹהִים- Elohim (God) spared our firstborn and took us out with a mighty hand, our
lives and our children’s lives are forever dedicated to His service.
YYYYYYY
Shemot - Exodus Chapter 13: Vv 1-16: (JPS-1917
version of the Torah).
1. And יְהוָה
- the LORD spoke unto Moses,
saying: 2. ‘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’. 3. And Moses
said unto the people: ‘Remember
this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by
strength of hand יְהוָה
- the LORD brought you out from this
place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten. 4. This day ye go forth in the month Abib. 5. And it shall be when יְהוָה
- the LORD shall bring thee into the
land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which
He swore unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey,
that thou shalt keep this service in this month. 6. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened
bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to יְהוָה
- the LORD. 7. Unleavened bread shall be eaten
throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee,
neither shall there be leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders. 8. And thou shalt tell thy son in that day,
saying: It is because of that which יְהוָה
- the LORD did for me when I came
forth out of Egypt. 9. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a
memorial between thine eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in thy mouth; for
with a strong hand hath יְהוָה
- the LORD brought thee out of
Egypt. 10. Thou shalt therefore keep this
ordinance in its season from year to year. 11. And it shall be when יְהוָה
- the LORD shall bring thee into the
land of the Canaanite, as He swore unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give
it thee, 12. that
thou shalt set apart unto יְהוָה
- the LORD all that openeth the womb; every firstling that is a male, which
thou hast coming of a
beast, shall be יְהוָה
- the LORD’s. 13. 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. 14. And it shall be when thy son asketh thee
in time to come, saying: What is this? that thou shalt
say unto him: By strength of hand יְהוָה
- the LORD brought us out from Egypt,
from the house of bondage; 15. and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go that יְהוָה
- the LORD slew all the firstborn in
the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast;
therefore I sacrifice to יְהוָה
- the LORD all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my
sons I redeem. 16. And it shall be for a sign
upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes;
for by strength of hand יְהוָה
- the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt’”.
YYYYYYY
Let us now look at the Commentary regarding Verses 1-16:
The Sanctity of the Firstborn (1-2, 11-13): The “Sanctification
of the Firstborn” (Pidyon
HaBen) establishes that the first of everything, human
and livestock belongs to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. Since the
Egyptian firstborn were struck while the Israelites were spared, the firstborn
of Israel became technically “acquired” by אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. This serves as
a perpetual reminder that we owe our very existence to Divine intervention.
The Festival of Matzot (3-10): Moses
reiterates the prohibition of Chametz (leaven). By
observing this in the month of Abib (Spring), we acknowledge the renewal of the nation. The Torah
emphasises “Remembering this day” (Zachor) not as a dry
history lesson, but as a visceral experience of eating the bread of affliction
to reach the bread of freedom!
The Educational Mandate (8, 14-15): The text
explicitly commands, “And thou shalt tell thy son”. This is the foundation of
Hebrew continuity. We do not just perform rituals; we explain them. When the child asks, “What is this?” we provide the context of the “strong
hand” (Bechozek Yad)
that liberated us.
The Sign on Hand and Head (9-16): These
verses are the source for Tefillin. The Exodus is
to be “a sign upon thy hand and a memorial between thine eyes”. By placing
these words on our bodies, we bind our actions (the hand)
and our intellect (the head) to
the sovereignty of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim and the memory
of our liberation.
YYYYYYY
My Closing Message:
The essence
of these sixteen verses is that memory requires action. It is not enough to
feel grateful in our hearts; we must manifest that gratitude through the
sanctification of our families and the binding of our physical selves to the
Torah. We learn that true freedom is not the absence of authority, but the
privilege of being “servants to the King” rather than “servants to Pharaoh”.
May we always carry the “strong hand” of the Almighty in our minds and in our
deeds!
YYYYYYY
Please
Note: “hebraicstudies”
links are located down the page!
This
site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and
wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or
three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us,
especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very
much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember
what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via
several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will
return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of
hosts”. Mal’a’chi -
Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
YYYYYYY
“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;
For our Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and
please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Enter ...
http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm
Enter ...
https://www.hebraicstudies.net
-hebraicstudies.net-
Email
the Rabbi
If the email link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.
Although the
author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced in
the mid 1980’,
but there have been occasions where there parts of his
studies have been taken and quoted out of context
under my name, and thus he has been misquoted by
those who have their own reasons for doing so.
Thus, it is
only for this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...
Copyright © 2025 - “Hebraic Studies” - All rights reserved.