Deuteronomy 15:19

“All the firstling males that come of thy herd, or of thy flock, thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God, etc.] According to the law in (<021302>Exodus 13:2,12,13). thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock: as to plough or tread out the corn with it, which were done with other heifers: nor shear the firstling of thy sheep; nor was the wool shorn of it to be made use of; one of the Jewish canons runs thus, “if any man weave an hand’s breadth of the wool of a firstling into cloth, the cloth is to be burnt f171.””

“All the firstling males of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God--[See on Exo 13:2]; see Exo 22:30). thou shalt do not work with the firstling of thy bullock--that is, the second firstlings (see Deu 12:17-18; Deu 14:23). Next: Deuteronomy Chapter 16”

“Compare Exodus 13:11 ff. The directions of the preceding legislation (see Numbers 18:15 ff) are here assumed, with the injunction added, that the animals thus set apart to God Deuteronomy 15:19 were not to be used by their owners for their earthly purposes. It is further allowed that firstborn animals which had a blemish should be regarded as exceptions, and instead of being given to God might be used as food Deuteronomy 15:21-22. The application of the firstborn of cattle is here directed as in Deuteronomy 12:6, Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 14:23 : they are to be consumed in the sacred Feasts at the sanctuary. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public…”

“All the firstling males thou shalt sanctify - Giving them to God on the eighth day. And thou shalt do no work with the female firstlings of the cow, nor shear those of the sheep. Even these must be offered to God as peace - offerings, or used in a religious feast. Deuteronomy 15:20”

“15:19 The firstborn males of livestock represented the firstborn sons of Israel who had been spared from death in the tenth plague (Exod 12:12, 29; 13:2, 12; 22:29).”

“the firstling: Exo 13:2, Exo 13:12, Exo 34:19; Lev 27:26; Num 3:13, Num 18:17; Rom 8:29; Heb 12:23 thou shalt do: Deu 12:5-7, Deu 12:17, Deu 14:23, Deu 16:11, Deu 16:14; Num 18:15 Deuteronomy 15:20”

“Application of the first-born of Cattle. - From the laws respecting the poor and slaves, to which the instructions concerning the tithes ( Deu 14:22-29) had given occasion, Moses returns to appropriation of the first-born of the herd and flock to sacrificial meals, which he had already touched upon in Deu 12:6, Deu 12:17, and Deu 14:23, and concludes by an explanation upon this point. The command, which the Lord had given when first they came out of Egypt ( Exo 13:2, Exo 13:12), that all the first-born of the herd and flock should be sanctified to Him, is repeated here by Moses, with the express injunction that they were not to work with the first-born of cattle (by yoking them to the plough…”