John Gill's Exposition on Numbers 18:15

A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.

Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.

Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, etc.] The firstborn of every creature: which they bring unto the Lord; as they were obliged, he claiming it as his own, (<021302>Exodus 13:2); [whether it be] of men or beasts, shall be thine; every firstborn of either, being the Lord’s, became the priest’s by his gift: nevertheless, the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem; that is, take the redemption price for it, which was five shekels, as in (<041816>Numbers 18:16); for the original proprietor was, strictly speaking, the redeemer, and paid the money, and the priest was the receiver, to whom it was paid; (see <021313> Exodus 13:13); and the firstlings of unclean beasts shall thou redeem; with lambs, as an ass, which is put for unclean beasts, is ordered to be redeemed with a lamb, or its neck to be broken, (<021313>Exodus 13:13); the Africans, the shepherds among them, as Herodotus relates f245, of their firstlings they cut off the ear of the beast and throw it over a house, and then turn its neck back, for they worship only the sun and moon; which seems to be an imitation of this law.

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