1Yahweh said to Moses,
2"Dedicate to me every firstborn male. Every firstborn human and animal that is born belongs to me."
3Moses told the people, "Remember this day when you left Egypt, the place where you were slaves. Yahweh used his mighty power to bring you out of this place. No bread made with yeast should be eaten.
4You are leaving today, in the month of Abib.
5When Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites—the land he promised your ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey—you must observe this ceremony in this month.
6For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast, and on the seventh day there will be a feast to Yahweh.
7Only unleavened bread is to be eaten for seven days. No bread made with yeast or yeast itself should be found anywhere within your borders.
8On that day, you are to tell your son, 'This is because of what Yahweh did for me when I left Egypt.'
9This observance will be like a mark on your hand and a reminder between your eyes, so that Yahweh's law may always be on your lips. For Yahweh brought you out of Egypt with a strong hand.
10Therefore, you must celebrate this observance at its appointed time each year."
11"When Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he promised you and your ancestors, and gives it to you,
12you must set apart for Yahweh every firstborn. Every firstborn male animal you own belongs to Yahweh.
13You must buy back every firstborn donkey with a lamb; if you don't buy it back, you must break its neck. You must also buy back every firstborn son among your children.
14When your son asks you in the future, 'What does this mean?' you are to tell him, 'Yahweh used his mighty power to bring us out of Egypt, the place of slavery.
15When Pharaoh refused to let us go, Yahweh killed all the firstborn in Egypt, both human and animal. That is why I sacrifice every firstborn male animal to Yahweh, but I buy back all my firstborn sons.'
16This will serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead to remind you that Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand."
17When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the Philistine country, even though it was the most direct route. God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt."
18So God led the people around by way of the desert toward the Red Sea. The people of Israel marched out of Egypt prepared for battle.
19Moses carried Joseph’s bones with him, because Joseph had made the Israelites promise, "God will certainly come to help you, and when he does, you must carry my bones away from here with you."
20They left Succoth and set up camp in Etham, on the edge of the desert.
21Yahweh went ahead of them. By day, he led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night, he gave them light with a pillar of fire, so they could travel day and night.
22The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people.