First Born Redemption Of (Easton)

DIC dictionary-entry · status:draft · license:PD

From the beginning the office of the priesthood in each family belonged to the eldest son. But when the extensive plan of sacrificial worship was introduced, requiring a company of men to be exclusively devoted to this ministry, the primitive office of the first-born was superseded by that of the Levites ( Numbers 3:11-13 ), and it was ordained that the first-born of man and of unclean animals should henceforth be redeemed (18:15). The laws concerning this redemption of the first-born of man are recorded in Exodus 13:12-15 ; 22:29 ; 34:20 ; Numbers 3:45 ; 8:17 ; 18:16 ; Leviticus 12:2,4 . The first-born male of every clean animal was to be given up to the priest for sacrifice ( Deuteronomy 12:6 ; Exodus 13:12 ; 34:20 ; Numbers 18:15-17 ). But the first-born of unclean animals was either to be redeemed or sold and the price given to the priest ( Leviticus 27:11-13,27 ). The first-born of an ass, if not redeemed, was to be put to death ( Exodus 13:13 ; 34:20 ).

Source

• part_of source-manifest/easton — Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)