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FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
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Chapter 13

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Hashem spoke further to Moshe, saying,

va-y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH lay-MOR

אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

2“Consecrate to Me every first-born; man and beast, the first issue of every womb among the Israelites is Mine.”

ka-DAYSH-lee kol b'-KOR PE-ter kol RE-khem bi-v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL ba-a-DAM u-va-b'-HE-ma lee HU

בקַדֶּשׁ־לִ֨י כׇל־בְּכ֜וֹר פֶּ֤טֶר כׇּל־רֶ֙חֶם֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה לִ֖י הֽוּא׃

3And Moshe said to the people, “Remember this day, on which you went free from Egypt, the house of bondage, how Hashem freed you from it with a mighty hand: no leavened bread shall be eaten.

vai-YO-mer mo-SHE el ha-AHM za-KHOR et ha-YOM ha-ZEH a-SHER y'-tza-TEM mi-mitz-RA-yim mi-BAYT a-va-DEEM, KEE b'-kho-ZEK YAD ho-TZEE a-do-NAI et-KHEM mi-ZEH, v'-LO yay-A-khel kha-METZ

גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶל־הָעָ֗ם זָכ֞וֹר אֶת־הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצָאתֶ֤ם מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ מִבֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֔ים כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד הוֹצִ֧יא יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִזֶּ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יֵאָכֵ֖ל חָמֵֽץ׃

4You go free on this day, in the month of Abib.

ha-YOM a-TEM yo-tz'-EEM b'-KHO-desh ha-a-VEEV

דהַיּ֖וֹם אַתֶּ֣ם יֹצְאִ֑ים בְּחֹ֖דֶשׁ הָאָבִֽיב׃

 13:4 In the month of Abib

Spring flowers in the Negev

‘Abib’ in Hebrew is Aviv (אביב), meaning ‘springtime.’ The Torah has already stated that the redemption from Egypt took place in the first month, the month of Nissan, which is in the springtime. Why is it necessary to state explicitly that in happened in the month of Aviv? Emphasizing that the redemption took place in the spring highlights Hashem’s love and compassion for His children. He made sure to free the Israelites and set them on their journey through the desert when the weather was most pleasant; not too hot, too cold or too rainy. Furthermore, as springtime symbolizes the rebirth of the land, there was no better time to experience the rebirth of the nation than the spring.

5So, when Hashem has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall observe in this month the following practice:

v'-ha-YA ki y'-vee-ah-KHA el eh-RETZ ha-k'-na-a'-nee v'-ha-khi-TEE v'-ha-eh-mo-REE v'-ha-khee-VEE v'-ha-y'-vu-SEE a-SHER nish-BA la-a-vo-te-KHA la-TAYT lakh eh-RETZ za-VAT kha-LAV u-d'-VASH v'-a-va-d'-TA et ha-a-vo-DA ha-ZOHT ba-kho-DESH ha-ZE

הוְהָיָ֣ה כִֽי־יְבִיאֲךָ֣ יְהֹוָ֡ה אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַֽ֠כְּנַעֲנִ֠י וְהַחִתִּ֨י וְהָאֱמֹרִ֜י וְהַחִוִּ֣י וְהַיְבוּסִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֤ע לַאֲבֹתֶ֙יךָ֙ לָ֣תֶת לָ֔ךְ אֶ֛רֶץ זָבַ֥ת חָלָ֖ב וּדְבָ֑שׁ וְעָבַדְתָּ֛ אֶת־הָעֲבֹדָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַזֶּֽה׃

 13:5 A land flowing with milk and honey

Eretz Yisrael is described many times throughout the Bible as a land flowing with milk and honey. Rashi explains this expression quite literally: Milk flows from the goats, and honey comes from the dates and figs that Israel is known for. Ramban adds that the word “flowing” is used, which indicates exceptional fertility and abundance. On a metaphorical level, the Midrash explains that milk is a nutritional necessity whereas honey is a savory delicacy. Hashem promises that the Land of Israel will provide not only the essential things needed to survive, but also sweet luxuries.

Ripe dates in northern Israel

Sheep and goats in the Negev

6“Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival of Hashem.

SHI-vat ya-MEEM TO-khakh MAT-zot u-va-YOM ha-sh'-VI-i KHAG la-a-do-NAI

ושִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים תֹּאכַ֣ל מַצֹּ֑ת וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י חַ֖ג לַיהֹוָֽה׃

7Throughout the seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten; no leavened bread shall be found with you, and no leaven shall be found in all your territory.

ma-TZOT ye-a-KHEL et shiv-AT ha-ya-MIM, v'-lo ye-ra-EH le-KHA cha-METZ, v'-lo ye-ra-EH le-KHA se-OR b'-kol-ge-vu-LE-kha

זמַצּוֹת֙ יֵֽאָכֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת שִׁבְעַ֣ת הַיָּמִ֑ים וְלֹֽא־יֵרָאֶ֨ה לְךָ֜ חָמֵ֗ץ וְלֹֽא־יֵרָאֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ שְׂאֹ֖ר בְּכׇל־גְּבֻלֶֽךָ׃

8And you shall explain to your son on that day, ‘It is because of what Hashem did for me when I went free from Egypt.'

v'-hi-GAD-ta l'-vin-KHA ba-YOM ha-HU lay-MOR ba-a-VUR ZEH a-SA a-do-NAI LEE b'-tze-i-TEE mi-mitz-RA-yim

חוְהִגַּדְתָּ֣ לְבִנְךָ֔ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּעֲב֣וּר זֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִ֔י בְּצֵאתִ֖י מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

9“And this shall serve you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead—in order that the Teaching of Hashem may be in your mouth—that with a mighty hand Hashem freed you from Egypt.

v'-ha-YA l'-KHA l'-OT al-yad-KHA u-l'-zi-KA-ron BAYN e-YE-nay-KHA l'-ma-AN ti-HE-yeh to-RAT a-do-NAI b'-fi-KHA, KEE b'-YAD cha-ZA-kah ho-tzi-a-KHA a-do-NAI mi-mitz-RA-yim.

טוְהָיָה֩ לְךָ֨ לְא֜וֹת עַל־יָדְךָ֗ וּלְזִכָּרוֹן֙ בֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֔יךָ לְמַ֗עַן תִּהְיֶ֛ה תּוֹרַ֥ת יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּפִ֑יךָ כִּ֚י בְּיָ֣ד חֲזָקָ֔ה הוֹצִֽאֲךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

10You shall keep this institution at its set time from year to year.

v'-sha-MAR-ta et ha-khu-KAH ha-ZOT l'-mo-a-DAH mi-YA-mim ya-MI-mah.

יוְשָׁמַרְתָּ֛ אֶת־הַחֻקָּ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לְמוֹעֲדָ֑הּ מִיָּמִ֖ים יָמִֽימָה׃

11“And when Hashem has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and has given it to you,

v'-ha-YA ki-y'-vi-a-KHA a-do-NAI el E-rets ha-k'-na-a-NEE ka-a-SHER nish-BA l'-KHA v'-la-a-vo-TAY-kha u-n'-ta-NAH l'-KHA

יאוְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־יְבִאֲךָ֤ יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר נִשְׁבַּ֥ע לְךָ֖ וְלַֽאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ וּנְתָנָ֖הּ לָֽךְ׃

12you shall set apart for Hashem every first issue of the womb: every male firstling that your cattle drop shall be Hashem's.

v'-ha-a-va-RA-ta kol pe-TER RE-khem la-do-NAI, v'-kol pe-TER she-GER b'-he-MAH a-SHER yi-h'-YEH l'-KHA ha-z'-kha-REEM la-do-NAI

יבוְהַעֲבַרְתָּ֥ כׇל־פֶּֽטֶר־רֶ֖חֶם לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְכׇל־פֶּ֣טֶר ׀ שֶׁ֣גֶר בְּהֵמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ הַזְּכָרִ֖ים לַיהֹוָֽה׃

13But every firstling ass you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. And you must redeem every first-born male among your children.

v'-kol PE-ter cha-MOR tif-DEH v'-im lo tif-DEH va-a-RAF-to v'-kol b'-KHOHR a-DAM b'-va-NE-kha tif-DEH

יגוְכׇל־פֶּ֤טֶר חֲמֹר֙ תִּפְדֶּ֣ה בְשֶׂ֔ה וְאִם־לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה וַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ וְכֹ֨ל בְּכ֥וֹר אָדָ֛ם בְּבָנֶ֖יךָ תִּפְדֶּֽה׃

14And when, in time to come, your son asks you, saying, ‘What does this mean?' you shall say to him, ‘It was with a mighty hand that Hashem brought us out from Egypt, the house of bondage.

v'-ha-YA ki-yish-a-LE-kha vin-KHA ma-KHAR lay-MOR: mah ZOT, va-a-mar-TA e-LAV b'-KHO-zek YAD ho-tzi-A-nu a-do-NAI mi-mitz-RA-yim mi-BAYT a-va-DEEM

ידוְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־יִשְׁאָלְךָ֥ בִנְךָ֛ מָחָ֖ר לֵאמֹ֣ר מַה־זֹּ֑את וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵלָ֔יו בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֗ד הוֹצִיאָ֧נוּ יְהֹוָ֛ה מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם מִבֵּ֥ית עֲבָדִֽים׃

15When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Hashem slew every first-born in the land of Egypt, the first-born of both man and beast. Therefore I sacrifice to Hashem every first male issue of the womb, but redeem every first-born among my sons.'

vai-HI, ki hi-K'-sha pa-ROH l'-sha-l'-KHAY-nu, va-ya-ha-ROG a-do-NAI kol b'-KOR b'-E-retz mitz-RA-yim, mi-b'-KOR a-DAM v'-ad b'-KOR b'-he-MAH, al-KEN a-NEE zo-VAY-akh la-a-do-NAI kol pe-TER re-KHEM ha-z'-ka-REEM v'-kol b'-KOR ba-NAI ef-DEH

טווַיְהִ֗י כִּֽי־הִקְשָׁ֣ה פַרְעֹה֮ לְשַׁלְּחֵ֒נוּ֒ וַיַּהֲרֹ֨ג יְהֹוָ֤ה כׇּל־בְּכוֹר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם מִבְּכֹ֥ר אָדָ֖ם וְעַד־בְּכ֣וֹר בְּהֵמָ֑ה עַל־כֵּן֩ אֲנִ֨י זֹבֵ֜חַ לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה כׇּל־פֶּ֤טֶר רֶ֙חֶם֙ הַזְּכָרִ֔ים וְכׇל־בְּכ֥וֹר בָּנַ֖י אֶפְדֶּֽה׃

16“And so it shall be as a sign upon your hand and as a symbol on your forehead that with a mighty hand Hashem freed us from Egypt.”

v'-ha-YA l'-OT al ya-d'-KHA u-l'-to-ta-FOT bein e-YE-ne-KHA, KEE b'-cho-ZEK yad ho-tzi-A-nu a-do-NAI mi-mitz-RA-yim. (S)

טזוְהָיָ֤ה לְאוֹת֙ עַל־יָ֣דְכָ֔ה וּלְטוֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֑יךָ כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד הוֹצִיאָ֥נוּ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

17Now when Pharaoh let the people go, Hashem did not lead them by way of the land of the Phillistines, although it was nearer; for Hashem said, “The people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt.”

vai-HI b'-sha-LAKH par-OH et ha-AHM, v'-lo-na-KHAM e-lo-HEEM DE-rekh e-RETZ p'-lish-TIM, KEE ka-ROV HU, KEE a-MAR e-lo-HEEM pen-yi-NA-khem ha-AHM bir-o-TAM mil-kha-MAH, v'-sha-VU mitz-RA-y'-MAH

יזוַיְהִ֗י בְּשַׁלַּ֣ח פַּרְעֹה֮ אֶת־הָעָם֒ וְלֹא־נָחָ֣ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים דֶּ֚רֶךְ אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב ה֑וּא כִּ֣י ׀ אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים פֶּֽן־יִנָּחֵ֥ם הָעָ֛ם בִּרְאֹתָ֥ם מִלְחָמָ֖ה וְשָׁ֥בוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃

18So Hashem led the people roundabout, by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds. Now the Israelites went up armed out of the land of Egypt.

vai-ya-SAYV e-lo-HEEM et ha-AHM de-REKH ha-mid-BAR yam-SUF va-kha-MU-sheem a-LU v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL may-E-retz mitz-RA-yim

יחוַיַּסֵּ֨ב אֱלֹהִ֧ים ׀ אֶת־הָעָ֛ם דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר יַם־ס֑וּף וַחֲמֻשִׁ֛ים עָל֥וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

19And Moshe took with him the bones of Yosef, who had exacted an oath from the children of Yisrael, saying, “Hashem will be sure to take notice of you: then you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”

vai-YI-kakh MO-sheh et-ATZ-mot yo-SEF i-MO, KEE ha-SHE-a his-BEE-a et b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL lay-MOR: pa-KOD yif-KOD e-lo-HEEM et-KHEM v'-ha-a-lee-TEM et-ATZ-mo-TAI mi-ZE i-t'-KHEM.

יטוַיִּקַּ֥ח מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־עַצְמ֥וֹת יוֹסֵ֖ף עִמּ֑וֹ כִּי֩ הַשְׁבֵּ֨עַ הִשְׁבִּ֜יעַ אֶת־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר פָּקֹ֨ד יִפְקֹ֤ד אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְהַעֲלִיתֶ֧ם אֶת־עַצְמֹתַ֛י מִזֶּ֖ה אִתְּכֶֽם׃

20They set out from Succoth, and encamped at Etham, at the edge of the wilderness.

vai-YIS-u mi-SU-kot va-ya-KHA-nu v'-ay-TAM bi-k'-TZAY ha-mid-BAR

כוַיִּסְע֖וּ מִסֻּכֹּ֑ת וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ בְאֵתָ֔ם בִּקְצֵ֖ה הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃

21Hashem went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, that they might travel day and night.

va-a-do-NAI ho-LEKH li-f'-NE-hem yo-MAM b'-a-MUD a-NAN la-n'-KHO-tam ha-DE-rekh v'-la-Y'-LA b'-a-MUD AYSH l'-ha-EER la-HEM la-LE-khet yo-MAM va-la-Y'-LA

כאוַֽיהֹוָ֡ה הֹלֵךְ֩ לִפְנֵיהֶ֨ם יוֹמָ֜ם בְּעַמּ֤וּד עָנָן֙ לַנְחֹתָ֣ם הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְלַ֛יְלָה בְּעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ לְהָאִ֣יר לָהֶ֑ם לָלֶ֖כֶת יוֹמָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה׃

22The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

lo-ya-MISH a-MUD he-a-NAN yo-MAM v'-a-MUD ha-AYSH la-y'-LAH lif-NEI ha-AHM.

כבלֹֽא־יָמִ֞ישׁ עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וְעַמּ֥וּד הָאֵ֖שׁ לָ֑יְלָה לִפְנֵ֖י הָעָֽם׃