Ex. 13 God commands all the first-born to be consecrated, Ex. 13:1–2. The day of their going forth out of Egypt to be had in remembrance, Ex. 13:3. The feast of unleavened bread to be kept in the land of Canaan, Ex. 13:5–10. The firstlings of beasts to be set apart for the Lord, Ex. 13:12.

Sanctify unto me, to my use and service, in manner as I shall hereafter explain. And sanctify, i.e. command all the people to sanctify, as Moses did, Ex. 13:12. All the first-born, viz. if they be males, as it is limited, Ex. 13:12.

See Ex. 12:2, in the spring-time, the most proper season for a long journey.

This service; which is spoken of before, and in the following verses. From this place it is evident the Israelites were not obliged to this service in the wilderness without a particular command from God. See Deut. 12:1, Deut. 12:9.

The celebration of this feast shall be to thee instead of a mark which a man makes, or a ring, or any thing else which he puts upon his hand or arm, to bring any thing to his remembrance; for such things his eye is most frequently fixed upon. Compare Song 8:6, Isa. 49:16, Jer. 22:24, Hag. 2:23.

Heb. From days to days. But days in the Hebrew tongue are oft put for a complete year. Of which see Gen. 4:3, Lev. 25:29, Amos 4:4.

The land of the Canaanites, under which general name all the other nations are contained, as being all the children of Canaan.

Thou shalt set apart, i. e. separate it from the rest, resign thy right in it to God. Heb. Cause it to pass, not through the fire, as that verb is used, Deut. 18:10, 2 Kings 16:3; but under the rod, as it is used, and more fully expressed, Lev.

The ass was an unclean creature, and therefore this rule was to be observed in all other unclean creatures, as appears, 1. Because the reason of this law is common to all such. 2. By comparing this place with Num. 18:15. 3.

Which is added to teach parents in all succeeding ages, that it is their duty to instruct their children in the word and works of God, and in the nature and reasons of every particular kind or part of God’s worship and service. See Deut. 15:5, Ps. 66:4, Hos. 2:14.

For frontlets; instead of frontlets. The sense is, This practice shall make your deliverance from Egypt as fresh and evident to you, and to your children, as any thing which you see hanged or written upon one another’s foreheads. See Ezek. 9:4.

The Philistines, a fierce and warlike people, whereof they had sad and late experience, 1 Chron. 7:21. That was near; there being this way but a few days’ journey between Egypt and Canaan. Peradventure: God speaks after the manner of men, for nothing was unknown nor uncertain to him.

Or, armed, or girt with swords and belts about the fifth rib, as the Hebrew word may imply. But it doth not appear how or whence they should get their arms, nor how the Egyptians would permit so numerous a people to have and to keep arms, especially when they had a long time oppressed and…

The bones of Joseph, and the other patriarchs, as appears from Acts 7:16. The oath was taken only by the parents, but because the matter of it was not personal, and of particular concernment to them, but common to them and their children, therefore it obliged both the parents and their children, as…

The Lord, the Son of God, whose presence and conduct the Israelites had in the wilderness, as appears from 1 Cor. 10:4, 1 Cor. 10:9, Heb. 11:26; who is sometimes called the Angel of the Lord, Ex.

Whilst they continued in the wilderness, and had need of such direction.