The Skeptics Annotated Bible (71 page)

12 That
thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s.

(13.12)
“Thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s.”

13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it,
then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

(13.13)
“Then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.”

14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that
the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males
; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

(13.15)
“The LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males.”
The Lord killed so you should too.

16 And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.

17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of
the land of the Philistines
, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

(13.17)
“The land of the Philistines”
God led the Israelites through the land of the Philistines, hundreds of years before the Philistines were established in Canaan.

18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

21 And
the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire
, to give them light; to go by day and night:

(13.21)
“The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire.”

22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

14
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.

3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

(14.4-31) After hardening Pharaoh’s heart a few more times, God drowns Pharaoh’s army in the sea [after he takes off their chariot wheels (14.24-25)]. By so doing he claims to have gotten himself honor.

4 And
I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them
; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host;
that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.
And they did so.

(14.4)
“I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them … that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD.”
95 Who hardened the Pharaoh’s heart?

5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:

7 And
he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

(14.7)
“He took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.”

8
And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh
king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.

(14.8)
“And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh.”
95 Who hardened the Pharaoh’s heart?

9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.

10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.

11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

14
The LORD shall fight for you
, and ye shall hold your peace.

(14.14)
“The LORD shall fight for you.”

15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

17 And I, behold,
I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour
upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

(14.17)
“I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour.”

18
And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour
upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

(14.18)
“And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour.”

(14.19-20) God’s special cloud was a cloud of darkness to the Egyptians, but a cloud of light to the Hebrews.

19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them;
and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

(14.19)
“And the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them.”

20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and
it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these
: so that the one came not near the other all the night.