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15 The king[a] stubbornly refused to set us free, so the Lord killed the first-born male of every animal and the first-born son of every Egyptian family. This is why we sacrifice to the Lord every first-born male of every animal and save every first-born son.”

16 This ceremony will serve the same purpose as a sign on your hand or on your forehead to tell how the Lord's mighty power rescued us from Egypt.

The Lord Leads His People

17 After the king[b] had finally let the people go, the Lord did not lead them through Philistine territory,[c] though that was the shortest way. God had said, “If they are attacked, they may decide to return to Egypt.”

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Footnotes

  1. 13.15 The king: See the note at 1.11.
  2. 13.17 The king: See the note at 1.11.
  3. 13.17 Philistine territory: The shortest land route from the Nile Delta to Canaan; it was the southern section of the major road that led to Megiddo and then on to Mesopotamia by way of Asia Minor.

15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’(A) 16 And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead(B) that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”

Crossing the Sea

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”(C)

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