First-born, Redemption of
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requiring a company of men to be exclusively devoted to this ministry, the primitive office of the first-born was superseded by that of the Levites (Num 3:11–13), and it was ordained that the first-born of man and of unclean animals should henceforth be redeemed (Num 18:15).
The laws concerning this redemption of the first-born of man are recorded in Ex 13:12–15; Ex 22:29; Ex 34:20; Num 3:45; Num 8:17; Num 18:16; Lev 12:2, Lev 12:4.
The first-born male of every clean animal was to be given up to the priest for sacrifice (Deut 12:6; Ex 13:12; Ex 34:20; Num 18:15–17).
But the first-born of unclean animals was either to be redeemed or sold and the price given to the priest (Lev 27:11–13, Lev 27:27). The first-born of an ass, if not redeemed, was to be put to death (Ex 13:13; Ex 34:20).
From Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897), by Matthew George Easton.
