Number Ch. 3 (Edited) "Redeem every firstborn among your sons."

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PeteZaHut

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Can anyone explain for me the part where it talks about trading Israelite first-borns for Levites?
 
thistle said:
It would make life easier if you told us which verse to look at!
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I believe he/she is referring to

Ex 13:15 ("Redeem every firstborn among your sons."

and then

Num 3:12 ("I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, ")

As to its meaning - this originated as a commemoration of God’s bringing the Israelites out of Egypt with the last plague, slaying of the first born. God asked for the first born of all (animals and mankind) to be redeemed to him in memory of this amazing event - though redemption of the first born sons was with money/token, not life. Then, after the Mosaic Covenant, God took the Levites as His priesthood - as a form of redemption in lieu of redemptions of the first born sons.

I’ve heard some point to the sinning with the golden calf as the impetus for God taking away the honor bestowed on the first born sons (“priests” of the family) and giving it to the levites.

Blessings,

Brian
 
PeteZaHut said:
Can anyone explain for me the part where it talks about trading Israelite first-borns for Levites?
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Yahweh God decreed that every first born had to be offered (sacrificed) to Him… since He would not accept human sacrifice and He had to redeem Israel, Yahweh separated the tribe of Levi for Himself; in this manner the first born of Israel is sanctified in the selection of the Levi tribe: redemption without the actual shedding of human blood.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Robbinson said:
I’ve heard some point to the sinning with the golden calf as the impetus for God taking away the honor bestowed on the first born sons (“priests” of the family) and giving it to the levites.
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You might also consider Gen 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Either Jacob was so grateful of the gift that he gave back a tithe, or he was still scheming and thinking to add a “lock” on God’s promise.

Either way he obligated Israel to a tithe of Jacobs “seed” and “land”.
So the Levites might be considered God’s tithe of Jacob’s seed.
 
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