Exodus 13 Study Questions

Exodus Study Section 13: Exodus 13

Initial observation

1. Read Exodus 13 out loud in the group..

2. Underline or highlight frequently used words (or refer to your homework).

3. What words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you?

In-depth Observation

4. Read and discuss the questions that the group wrote for homework.

5.  What is the significance of unleavened bread?

6.  How does the consecration of the firstborn relate to the Israelites leaving Egypt?

7.  The text repeatedly says that God led the Israelites out of Egypt “by strength of hand” or “with a strong hand” (verse 3, 9, 14, 16).  Why does the text emphasize this?

8.  Why did God not lead the Israelites directly to the ‘land flowing with milk and honey’?

9. Write down the theme or topic of this section.

Bonus Questions.  Chapters 11 through 13 include instructions on how to commemorate the Exodus in future years. 

How many years should the Israelites commemorate this event? 

(see verses 12:14, 12:24, 12:42)

Who should be included in the commemoration? 

(see verses 12:24, 12:26, 12:44, 12:47)

Interpretation and Application:

A. What do you learn about the nature of God from this passage?

B.  What do you learn about the other characters from this passage?

C.  What can we learn from this passage that applies to our own lives?

Vocabulary and notes

Verses 13:6 & 7 “Unleavened bread”: minimally cooked, biscuit-like bread used generally in ritual offerings.  Leavening further removes the flour from its natural, created state.

Verse 13:9 “a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead”: the hand and forehead were places where people would string identifying seals or ornaments; a metaphor for a reminder.

Verse 13:13 “donkey… if you do not redeem it you must break its neck.”:   The donkey is ritually unclean (see Lev. 11:3); the sheep is pure.  “You must break its neck” because no economic advantage may accrue from the animal if it was not redeemed.

Verse 13:17 Philistines:  apparently anachronistic; the Philistines would only have begun to settle the coast of Canaan at the time of the exodus, yet a Philistine presence there is taken for granted.

Verse 13:18 “led…roundabout”  The Hebrew for “the roundabout way” is “wayyasev” – a word play on “Sea of Reeds” (Yam suf).

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Homework:

Read Exodus chapters 14-15.  Underline or highlight frequently used words. Look up the meaning of any words you don’t know. Note which words, phrases, or ideas make an impression on you. 

Write down one ‘newspaper reporter’ type question or one in-depth question to discuss with the group next time.