The Consecration of the Firstborn

131 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 2 'Sanctify to Me every first-born, opening any womb among the sons of Israel, among man and among beast; it 'is' Mine.' 3 And Moses saith unto the people, 'Remember this day 'in' which ye have gone out from Egypt, from the house of servants, for by strength of hand hath Jehovah brought you out from this, and any thing fermented is not eaten; 4 To-day ye are going out, in the month of Abib. 5 'And it hath been, when Jehovah bringeth thee in unto the land of the Canaanite, and of the Hittite, and of the Amorite, and of the Hivite, and of the Jebusite, which He hath sworn to thy fathers to give to thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou hast done this service in this month. 6 'Seven days thou dost eat unleavened things, and in the seventh day 'is' a feast to Jehovah; 7 unleavened things are eaten the seven days, and any thing fermented is not seen with thee; yea, leaven is not seen with thee in all thy border. 8 'And thou hast declared to thy son in that day, saying, ''It is' because of what Jehovah did to me, in my going out from Egypt, 9 and it hath been to thee for a sign on thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, so that the law of Jehovah is in thy mouth, for by a strong hand hath Jehovah brought thee out from Egypt; 10 and thou hast kept this statute at its appointed season from days to days.

11 'And it hath been, when Jehovah bringeth thee in unto the land of the Canaanite, as He hath sworn to thee and to thy fathers, and hath given it to thee, 12 that thou hast caused every one opening a womb to pass over to Jehovah, and every firstling—the increase of beasts which thou hast: the males 'are' Jehovah's. 13 'And every firstling of an ass thou dost ransom with a lamb, and if thou dost not ransom 'it', then thou hast beheaded it: and every first-born of man among thy sons thou dost ransom. 14 'And it hath been, when thy son asketh thee hereafter, saying, What 'is' this? that thou hast said unto him, By strength of hand hath Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from a house of servants; 15 yea, it cometh to pass, when Pharaoh hath been pained to send us away, that Jehovah doth slay every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of man even unto the first-born of beast; therefore I am sacrificing to Jehovah all opening a womb who 'are' males, and every first-born of my sons I ransom; 16 and it hath been for a token on thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes, for by strength of hand hath Jehovah brought us out of Egypt.'

The Pillar of Cloud and the Pillar of Fire

17 And it cometh to pass in Pharaoh's sending the people away, that God hath not led them the way of the land of the Philistines, for it 'is' near; for God said, 'Lest the people repent in their seeing war, and have turned back towards Egypt;' 18 and God turneth round the people the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea, and by fifties have the sons of Israel gone up from the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses taketh the bones of Joseph with him, for he certainly caused the sons of Israel to swear, saying, 'God doth certainly inspect you, and ye have brought up my bones from this with you.' 20 And they journey from Succoth, and encamp in Etham at the extremity of the wilderness, 21 and Jehovah is going before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give light to them, to go by day and by night; 22 He removeth not the pillar of the cloud by day, and the pillar of the fire by night, 'from' before the people.

Crossing the Red Sea

141 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, 2 'Speak unto the sons of Israel, and they turn back and encamp before Pi-Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-Zephon; over-against it ye do encamp by the sea, 3 and Pharaoh hath said of the sons of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut upon them; 4 and I have strengthened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hath pursued after them, and I am honoured on Pharaoh, and on all his force, and the Egyptians have known that I 'am' Jehovah;' and they do so. 5 And it is declared to the king of Egypt that the people hath fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants is turned against the people, and they say, 'What 'is' this we have done? that we have sent Israel away from our service.' 6 And he harnesseth his chariot, and his people he hath taken with him, 7 and he taketh six hundred chosen chariots, even all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over them all; 8 and Jehovah strengtheneth the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursueth after the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel are going out with a high hand, 9 and the Egyptians pursue after them, and all the chariot horses of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his force, overtake them, encamping by the sea, by Pi-Hahiroth, before Baal-Zephon.

10 And Pharaoh hath drawn near, and the sons of Israel lift up their eyes, and lo, the Egyptians are journeying after them, and they fear exceedingly, and the sons of Israel cry unto Jehovah. 11 And they say unto Moses, 'Because there are no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in a wilderness? what is this thou hast done to us—to bring us out from Egypt? 12 Is not this the word which we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Cease from us, and we serve the Egyptians; for better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in a wilderness?' 13 And Moses saith unto the people, 'Fear not, station yourselves, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which He doth for you to-day; for, as ye have seen the Egyptians to-day, ye add no more to see them—to the age; 14 Jehovah doth fight for you, and ye keep silent.'

15 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'What? thou criest unto Me—speak unto the sons of Israel, and they journey; 16 and thou, lift up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand towards the sea, and cleave it, and the sons of Israel go into the midst of the sea on dry land. 17 'And I—lo, I am strengthening the heart of the Egyptians, and they go in after them, and I am honoured on Pharaoh, and on all his force, on his chariots, and on his horsemen; 18 and the Egyptians have known that I 'am' Jehovah, in My being honoured on Pharaoh, on his chariots, and on his horsemen.' 19 And the messenger of God, who is going before the camp of Israel, journeyeth and goeth at their rear; and the pillar of the cloud journeyeth from their front, and standeth at their rear, 20 and cometh in between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel, and the cloud and the darkness are, and he enlighteneth the night, and the one hath not drawn near unto the other all the night.

21 And Moses stretcheth out his hand towards the sea, and Jehovah causeth the sea to go on by a strong east wind all the night, and maketh the sea become dry ground, and the waters are cleaved, 22 and the sons of Israel go into the midst of the sea, on dry land, and the waters 'are' to them a wall, on their right and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursue, and go in after them (all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen) unto the midst of the sea, 24 and it cometh to pass, in the morning watch, that Jehovah looketh unto the camp of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubleth the camp of the Egyptians, 25 and turneth aside the wheels of their chariots, and they lead them with difficulty, and the Egyptians say, 'Let us flee from the face of Israel, for Jehovah is fighting for them against the Egyptians.' 26 And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Stretch out thy hand toward the sea, and the waters turn back on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.' 27 And Moses stretcheth out his hand towards the sea, and the sea turneth back, at the turning of the morning, to its perennial flow, and the Egyptians are fleeing at its coming, and Jehovah shaketh off the Egyptians in the midst of the sea, 28 and the waters turn back, and cover the chariots and the horsemen, even all the force of Pharaoh, who are coming in after them into the sea—there hath not been left of them even one. 29 And the sons of Israel have gone on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters 'are' to them a wall, on their right and on their left; 30 and Jehovah saveth Israel in that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel seeth the Egyptians dead on the sea-shore, 31 and Israel seeth the great hand with which Jehovah hath wrought against the Egyptians, and the people fear Jehovah, and remain stedfast in Jehovah, and in Moses His servant.

The Song of Moses

151 Then singeth Moses and the sons of Israel this song to Jehovah, and they speak, saying:—'I sing to Jehovah, For triumphing He hath triumphed; The horse and its rider He hath thrown into the sea. 2 My strength and song is JAH, And He is become my salvation: This 'is' my God, and I glorify Him; God of my father, and I exalt Him. 3 Jehovah 'is' a man of battle; Jehovah 'is' His name. 4 Chariots of Pharaoh and his force He hath cast into the sea; And the choice of his captains Have sunk in the Red Sea! 5 The depths do cover them; They went down into the depths as a stone. 6 Thy right hand, O Jehovah, Is become honourable in power; Thy right hand, O Jehovah, Doth crush an enemy. 7 And in the abundance of Thine excellency Thou throwest down Thy withstanders, Thou sendest forth Thy wrath—It consumeth them as stubble. 8 And by the spirit of Thine anger Have waters been heaped together; Stood as a heap have flowings; Congealed have been depths In the heart of a sea. 9 The enemy said, I pursue, I overtake; I apportion spoil; Filled is my soul with them; I draw out my sword; My hand destroyeth them:— 10 Thou hast blown with Thy wind The sea hath covered them; They sank as lead in mighty waters. 11 Who 'is' like Thee among the gods, O Jehovah? Who 'is' like Thee—honourable in holiness—Fearful in praises—doing wonders? 12 Thou hast stretched out Thy right hand—Earth swalloweth them! 13 Thou hast led forth in Thy kindness The people whom Thou hast redeemed. Thou hast led on in Thy strength Unto Thy holy habitation. 14 Peoples have heard, they are troubled; Pain hath seized inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Then have chiefs of Edom been troubled: Mighty ones of Moab—Trembling doth seize them! Melted have all inhabitants of Canaan! 16 Fall on them doth terror and dread; By the greatness of Thine arm They are still as a stone, Till Thy people pass over, O Jehovah; Till the people pass over Whom Thou hast purchased. 17 Thou dost bring them in, And dost plant them In a mountain of Thine inheritance, A fixed place for Thy dwelling Thou hast made, O Jehovah; A sanctuary, O Lord, Thy hands have established; 18 Jehovah reigneth—to the age, and for ever!' 19 For the horse of Pharaoh hath gone in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and Jehovah turneth back on them the waters of the sea, and the sons of Israel have gone on dry land in the midst of the sea. 20 And Miriam the inspired one, sister of Aaron, taketh the timbrel in her hand, and all the women go out after her, with timbrels and with choruses; 21 and Miriam answereth to them:—'Sing ye to Jehovah, For Triumphing He hath triumphed; The horse and its rider He hath thrown into the sea!'

The Bitter Water at Marah

22 And Moses causeth Israel to journey from the Red Sea, and they go out unto the wilderness of Shur, and they go three days in the wilderness, and have not found water, 23 and they come in to Marah, and have not been able to drink the waters of Marah, for they 'are' bitter; therefore hath 'one' called its name Marah. 24 And the people murmur against Moses, saying, 'What do we drink?' 25 and he crieth unto Jehovah, and Jehovah sheweth him a tree, and he casteth unto the waters, and the waters become sweet. There He hath made for them a statute, and an ordinance, and there He hath tried them, 26 and He saith, 'If thou dost really hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and dost that which is right in His eyes, and hast hearkened to His commands, and kept all His statutes: none of the sickness which I laid on the Egyptians do I lay on thee, for I, Jehovah, am healing thee. 27 And they come to Elim, and there 'are' twelve fountains of water, and seventy palm trees; and they encamp there by the waters.