Summary
In this chapter God commands Moses to sanctify all firstborns among Israel, both human and animal, and to keep the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread as a perpetual memorial of His deliverance from Egypt. The Israelites are instructed to observe the festival for seven days, eat only unleavened bread, and refrain from any leavened bread in all their houses. Signs are to be placed on the hand and eye of each person to remember that the Lord brought them out by a mighty hand. The text also recounts the redemption of the firstlings of beasts with a lamb, and the destruction of the Egyptian firstborns. The narrative concludes with a brief description of the Israelites’ journey from Succoth through the wilderness, guided by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, and the collection of Joseph’s bones.