Redemption Of The Firstborn Male

Exodus 13:1-16

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.” (Exodus 13:1-2)

When the death angel passed through the land he was to kill the first born male offspring of every domestic animal and family that was not protected by the blood of the Passover. All those protected by the blood were saved from death, but from that time forward God claimed the firstborn male as his own. They would all have died except for God’s special provision. Later he gave specific instructions about the firstborn.

“And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. This day came ye out in the month Abib. And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.” (Exodus 13:3-5)

God had given Moses specific directions as to how and why Israel was to commemorate the Passover. After explaining what they were to do to prepare for their deliverance, Moses then instructed the people about commemorating it in the future. When they obtained their own land it was to be observed on the same date, to remind them both of God’s deliverance from Egypt and his fulfillment of the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, more than four hundred thirty years before.

“Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD. Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. 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.” (Exodus 13:6-8)

For seven days after the Passover, Israel was to eat unleavened bread, to drive home what God had done for them. The use of unleavened bread was important to the children’s future understanding of what had been done. For the first few days, they had no opportunity to stop and fix food the way they had done it in Egypt. Seven days of eating the unleavened bread would help drive home an understanding of what had taken place. Almost everyone would prefer leavened bread, and the fact of eating it for several days would call attention to the fact that they had no choice.

“And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.” (Exodus 13:9-10)


A thing repeated too frequently loses it’s significance. For example, taking one’s family to McDonald’s, is special for people like my brother’s family when they lived in Wyoming. The closest McDonald’s was eighty miles away and they couldn’t go very often. On the other hand, for people who eat out regularly, even a dinner at Red Lobster may mean very little, simply because they do it so often.

“And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.” (Exodus 13:9-10)

God specified that the Passover was to be celebrated once a year, on a specific date, by individual families, just as they would have eaten during the original event when they left Egypt. Each command was to make Israel’s deliverance more real to future generations. It was to be done in memory of what God had done. The next seven days would further reinforce their understanding. Modifying any aspect of the celebration would lessen the effectiveness as a memorial.

“And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.” (Exodus 13:11-13)

When the death angel passed through Egypt he was to kill the oldest male offspring of every human and domestic animal. By painting the blood on their doorposts and door lintels, showing that the lamb had been slain for them, the Jews were able to keep their males from being taken. In recognition of the fact that God had the right to every one of them, Israel was to give him all the first born males. Animals approved for sacrifice could be sacrificed to the Lord. Donkeys were not approved for sacrifice so they had the choice of giving a lamb in his place or killing the colt. Every first born male baby had to be redeemed with a lamb.

“And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.” (Exodus 13:14-15)

This custom was to be practiced when the Israelites took the land of Canaan, at every birth. Sooner or later the children would ask why they always did this, and they were then to explain the basis for it.

“And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.” (Exodus 13:16)

Just as Hindu women may have a jewel on their forehead or wear a particular identifying ring or bracelet, the Jews were to make these customs a part of their everyday life that constantly reminded themselves and others of their Jewish heritage.

As Jesus pointed out, these things are not for a show to others but for a reminder to us.