Discovery BoxExodus 7:9 
Context7:9 “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Do 1 a miracle,’ and you say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down 2 before Pharaoh,’ it will become 3 a snake.”
Exodus 12:23
Context12:23 For the Lord will pass through to strike Egypt, and when he sees 4 the blood on the top of the doorframe and the two side posts, then the Lord will pass over the door, and he will not permit the destroyer 5 to enter your houses to strike you. 6
Exodus 13:3
Context13:3 Moses said to the people, “Remember 7 this day on which you came out from Egypt, from the place where you were enslaved, 8 for the Lord brought you out of there 9 with a mighty hand – and no bread made with yeast may be eaten. 10
1 tn The verb is תְּנוּ (tÿnu), literally “give.” The imperative is followed by an ethical dative that strengthens the subject of the imperative: “you give a miracle.”
2 tn Heb “and throw it.” The direct object, “it,” is implied.
3 tn The form is the jussive יְהִי ( yÿhi). Gesenius notes that frequently in a conditional clause, a sentence with a protasis and apodosis, the jussive will be used. Here it is in the apodosis (GKC 323 §109.h).
4 tn The first of the two clauses begun with perfects and vav consecutives may be subordinated to form a temporal clause: “and he will see…and he will pass over,” becomes “when he sees…he will pass over.”
5 tn Here the form is the Hiphil participle with the definite article. Gesenius says this is now to be explained as “the destroyer” although some take it to mean “destruction” (GKC 406 §126.m, n. 1).
6 tn “you” has been supplied.
7 tn The form is the infinitive absolute of זָכַר (zakhar, “remember”). The use of this form in place of the imperative (also found in the Decalogue with the Sabbath instruction) stresses the basic meaning of the root word, everything involved with remembering (emphatic imperative, according to GKC 346 §113.bb). The verb usually implies that there will be proper action based on what was remembered.
sn There is a pattern in the arrangement of vv. 3-10 and 11-16. Both sections contain commands based on the mighty deliverance as reminders of the deliverance. “With a mighty hand” occurs in vv. 3, 9, 14, 16. An explanation to the son is found in vv. 8 and 14. The emphases “sign on your hand” and “between your eyes” are part of the conclusions to both halves (vv. 9, 16).
8 tn Heb “from a house of slaves.” “House” is obviously not meant to be literal; it indicates a location characterized by slavery, a land of slaves, as if they were in a slave house. Egypt is also called an “iron-smelting furnace” (Deut 4:20).
9 tn Heb “from this” [place].
10 tn The verb is a Niphal imperfect; it could be rendered “must not be eaten” in the nuance of the instruction or injunction category, but permission fits this sermonic presentation very well – nothing with yeast may be eaten.
