Exodus 13

Verse 2. Sanctify unto me every first-born. Sanctification in this place means, that the first-born males of the Hebrews should be deputed to the ministry in the divine worship: and the first-born of beasts to be given for a sacrifice. Challoner.—Sanctify, set apart. Menochius.—Openeth, the first male fruit of the womb. If a female was born the first, none of the children were to be redeemed. Lu. 2:23. Jesus Christ submitted to this law; though many of the fathers have asserted that, on account of his miraculous conception and birth, he was not subjected to it; while others maintain the contrary.

Verse 4. Corn. Hebrew Abib; which was styled Nisan after the Babylonian captivity. At this time, peculiar names were not yet given to the months, by the Hebrews or Egyptians. Calmet.—They were distinguished by their respective order, productions, or appearances. Bible.

Verse 5. When. These regulations did not therefore take place in the desert. Menochius.

Verse 9. And it, and so forth The festivals appointed by God and his Church, naturally remind us of the favours which we have received, and help us to meditate on the law. Bible.—The Jews, understanding the precept literally, write verses taken from this chapter, and Deuteronomy 6 and 11 upon parchment, and bind these tephilins, or phylacteries, on their forehead. But if these scrolls were requisite, why do they not also put them in their mouth and in their heart? Jesus Christ condemns the vanity of the Pharisees, who wore these bandages extremely large. Matthew 23:5. The Mahometans teach their scholars, by writing the Coran upon a tablet, and exposing it to their view: ( Calmet.) a plan lately introduced in England with great success by Mr. Lancaster.

Verse 13. Price. No other option is given, as the Levites were selected for the ministry. Bible.—The first offspring of impure animals, were to be redeemed or killed; those of the pure were to be offered in sacrifice. Numbers 18:15. Philo. Dogs, cats, poultry, and so forth were to be slain. Deuteronomy 23:18. Calmet.

Verse 14. To-morrow. At any future period. Matthew 6:2. Menochius.

Verse 15. Hardened. Hebrew “by himself,” or by his own malice. Worthington.

Verse 16. It. This ordinance shall cause thee never to forget the goodness of God. Bible.

Verse 17. Lest. God maketh use of precautions, to shew the free-will of man. Worthington.—The Philistines had before made a great slaughter of the Ephraimites, 1 Chronicles 7:21. The Chanaanites would also be ready to oppose the Hebrews, if they had attempted to enter by the road of Pelusium, and perhaps the Idumeans and Amalecites also would have met them in front, while the Egyptians attacked their rear. Calmet.—This journey, Philo says, would not have taken up above three days. The battle with Amalec took place only 40 days afterwards, and God protected his people. Menochius.

Verse 18. Armed, in order of battle. Hebrew chamushim, “by fives,” or in five battalions. Joshua 1:14. Judith 8:11. Calmet.—Calvin asks where the Hebrews could procure arms, as if to cavil with this translation. But surely they might get them in the same manner as the vessels of gold; and they undoubtedly were not destitute of arms when they encountered the Amalecites, verse 17. Bible.

Verse 19. Joseph’s. This attention to the dead is commended. Hebrews 11. Worthington.—S. Stephen assures us, that the bones of the other patriarchs were deposited at Sichen; and we may conclude, that they were transported on this occasion by their respective families. Acts 7:16.

Verse 20. Etham. A city on the banks of the Red Sea, giving its name to one of the gulphs, which the Greeks called after the city of Heropolis. Plin. vi. 29. The Septuagint translate, “They encamped at Othon, which is near the desert;” and (Numbers 32:6,) the Hebrews marched three days in the desert of Buthan, before they arrived at Mara.

Verse 22. Never. From the station of Etham; or, if we follow S. Jerom, from that of Socoth, or even from Ramesses, according to Bonfrere, till the passage of the Jordan, when the ark supplied its want. Joshua 3:11. This cloud assumed different appearances, as the exigencies of the Hebrews required. It was a figure of baptism; (1 Corinthians 10:1) the fire designated Jesus Christ, and the cloud the Holy Ghost. Saint Ambrose de sac. 6. Calmet.