Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 13:8
And thou shalt show thy son in that day, saying, [This is done] because of that [which] the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
8. The children to be instructed (cf. on Exo 12:26) on the meaning of the festival: it is to remind Israel in perpetuity of the duties which it owes to Jehovah, in gratitude for its deliverance out of Egypt.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Exo 13:8-10
Show thy son in that day.
Lessons
1. The instruction of children is a duty upon parents.
2. God commands continuance of ordinances for instruction of posterity.
3. The reason of Gods ordinances must be understood by parents and children (Exo 13:8).
4. Sacramental signs, and memorials of God, He is pleased to give His Church.
5. God would have these signal memorials at hand and before the eyes of His.
6. The Passover was a true sacramental sign and seal of Gods covenant.
7. By sacraments rightly used Gods covenant is confirmed on hearts and in profession.
8. Gods mighty gracious redemption is a just cause of such memorials (Exo 13:9).
9. Gods sacraments are His statutes and positive laws.
10. It is God s prerogative, to make anniversary memorials of His mercies (Exo 13:10). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Truth embodied
As the soul is clothed in flesh, and only thus is able to perform its functions in this earth, where it is sent to live; as the thought must find a word before it can pass from mind to mind; so every great truth seeks some body, some outward form, in which to exhibit its powers. It appears in the world, and men lay hold of it, and represent it to themselves, in histories, in forms of words, in sacramental symbols; and these things, which in their proper nature are but illustrations, stiffen into essential fact, and become part of the reality. (J. A. Froude.)
Importance of commemorative days and ordinances
The following sentence is attributed to Voltaire:–I despair of destroying Christianity in any country, so long as millions of human beings meet on Sunday to worship God. Many things have been fathered on Voltaire of which he never heard, but if he really said or wrote this he uttered an unusually sensible thing. It is curious that sceptical writers have regarded so little the testimony of Christian rites to the facts with which they are indissolubly connected. How did the Lords Supper and the Lords Day come to be established institutions? Rites and observances do not establish and perpetuate themselves. The origin of these two Christian institutions can only be explained by their connection with the events they commemorate. If the written records of the apostolic age could be blotted from the memory of man, the Lords Supper would still bear testimony to Christs death for mans salvation, as the Lords Day would eloquently witness to His resurrection from the dead.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
8. thou shalt show thy son in thatday, sayingThe establishment of this and the other sacredfestivals presented the best opportunities of instructing the youngin a knowledge of His gracious doings to their ancestors in Egypt.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And thou shall show thy son in that day,…. On the first of the days of the feast of unleavened bread, the reason of eating it; and this is to be shown not to a son or single child only, but by parents to all their children, sons and daughters, and even unasked, as Maimonides b interprets it; and so Jarchi’s note is, to a son that knows not how to ask or what to ask about, [See comments on Ex 12:26] [See comments on Ex 12:27]:
saying, this is done because of that which the Lord did unto me, when I came forth out of Egypt: that is, this unleavened bread is eaten because of the quick and speedy deliverance of Israel out of Egypt, so that they had not time to leaven their dough.
b Hilchot Chametz Umetzah, c. 7. sect. 2, 3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Verses 8-10:
Verse 8 is a repetition of Ex 12:26, 27. It stresses the importance of parental instruction to children. This principle was later incorporated into the Law, De 6:4-13, regarding not only the Passover, but all the Law.
This is a valid principle today. It is the responsibility of parents, particularly of fathers, to instruct their children in the Word and way of the Lord, see Eph 6:4. Too many attempt to shift this responsibility to the schools, the church, the government – and then are dismayed when their children do not learn moral values.
Compare v. 10 with Ex 12:14, 24.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. And thou shalt shew thy son in that day. He repeats what we have already remarked, viz., an injunction to parents to teach their children, that they may thus transmit the service of God to their descendants. In the preceding chapter it was said, “when your children shall say unto you,” etc.; and now he more briefly commands that God’s goodness should be proclaimed, although none should make inquiry respecting it; because parents ought to be voluntarily disposed to educate their children in the fear of God. He also repeats, as we have seen above, that the memory of their deliverance should be annually renewed lest it should ever fade away, since religion is easily neglected unless men are diligently exercised in its study, tie uses a comparison when he says, “it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes;” as though it had been said that their redemption should be set before their eyes in the passover, just as the ring which is on the finger, or the ornament which is bound upon the forehead are constantly seen. For which purpose also he had before desired that the precepts of the Law should be inscribed both on the head, and on the hands, and fringes of their garments. The sum is, that in the passover a monument of God’s grace should exist, so that it might never sink into oblivion; just as ornaments which appear on the forehead and on the fingers awaken the attention by their being constantly beheld. But, if any should rather be of opinion that Moses alludes to those who, conscious of their own faithlessness, contrive means to assist their memory, (323) I offer them no opposition; as if he had said that, since they were disposed to forgetfulness, they should use this remedy, to awaken themselves to gratitude. He will soon afterwards repeat the same injunction, in connection with the offering of the first-born. The following words, “that the Lord’s Law may be in thy mouth,” confirm the opinion that the passover has reference to the First Commandment. They intimate that it is not enough to perform the external rite, unless it be associated with its proper object, viz., that they should devote themselves to God and to His doctrine. He mentions the mouth, not because the main thing is, to speak or discourse of the Law, for if piety lay in the tongue, hypocrites would be the best worshippers of God; but he expressly requires that, when each one shall have privately applied himself to the study of the Law, they shall also mutually teach and exhort each other.
(323) “Et pourtant font des neuds a leurs ceintures, ou quelque marque a leur bonnet;” and therefore make knots in their girdles, or some mark in their cap. — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Who is there so earnest as is here enjoined concerning the instruction of his children? Reader! When you and I go to the altar of Jesus, and after celebrating that precious ordinance, when we return do we say to our children, This is done because of that which the Lord hath done for me? Oh! How very deficient are we in celebrating the praises of the Lord! And yet what subject upon earth so sweet, so important, so edifying. See a lovely picture of this kind Deu 6:6-9 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 13:8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, [This is done] because of that [which] the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
Ver. 8. And thou shalt show. ] See Trapp on “ Exo 12:26 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 13:14, Exo 12:26, Exo 12:27, Deu 4:9, Deu 4:10, Psa 44:1, Psa 78:3-8, Isa 38:19, Eph 6:4
Reciprocal: Exo 10:2 – And that Exo 12:17 – in this selfsame Deu 16:8 – Six days Est 9:28 – the memorial Psa 71:18 – until I Psa 81:5 – for a Psa 105:2 – talk ye Jer 21:13 – I am Luk 8:38 – saying
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 13:8. Thou shalt show thy son When you shall be come into the land of Canaan, you shall instruct your children in the meaning of your killing the lamb, and abstaining from leaven, that so you and they may be excited to gratitude to God for his goodness. This was evidently the design of the institution.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:8 And thou shalt shew thy son {e} in that day, saying, [This is done] because of that [which] the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
(e) When you celebrate the feast of unleavened bread.