Deuteronomy 15:19-23

(5) THE OFFERING OF THE FIRSTLINGS (Deuteronomy 15:19-23)

19 All the firstling males that are born of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto Jehovah thy God: thou shalt do not work with the firstling of thy herd, nor shear the firstling of thy flock. 20 Thou shalt eat it before Jehovah thy God year by year in the place which Jehovah shall choose, thou and thy household. 21 And if it have any blemish, as if it be lame or blind, any ill blemish whatsoever, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto Jehovah thy God. 22 Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and the clean shall eat it alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart. 23 Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it out upon the ground as water.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 15:19-23

274.

What significance was there in setting aside the first-born as belonging to Jehovah?

275.

Some first-born were not to be sacrificed unto the Lordwhy? What was to be done with them?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 15:19-23

19 All the firstling males that are born of your herd and flock you shall set apart for the Lord your God; you shall do no work with the firstling of your herd, nor shear the firstling of your flock.
20 You shall eat it before the Lord your God annually in the place [for worship] which the Lord shall choose, you and your household.
21 But if it has any blemish, if it is lame, blind, or has any bad blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.
22 You shall eat it within your towns; the [ceremonially] unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as if it were a gazelle or a hart.
23 Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it on the ground like water.

COMMENT 15:19-23

Note also Deuteronomy 12:6, Deuteronomy 14:23. The firstlings were God's (Exodus 13:2) and were to be brought to the central sanctuary just as the tithes and offerings. These were to be without blemish, Deuteronomy 15:21 (Compare Leviticus 22:17-25). The giver could share in partaking of the sacrificial feast (Deuteronomy 15:20), just as we learned in Chapter s 12 and 14.

It is enjoined that, as all the firstborn were to be sanctified to the Lord (Exodus 13:2-13), they were not to work with the firstborn of their cattle, either by yoking the bullock to the plough or wagon or by shearing the sheep; these belonged to God, and were not to be put to any vulgar uses of men; year by year they were to be brought to the sanctuary, offered as sacrifices and eaten before the Lord (Pulpit).

These animals were sanctified (Deuteronomy 15:19). The word qadesh means to be pure, clean, holy, sacred, from a more literal meaning of to separate, set apart. The firstling males were to be so separated for God (Exodus 13:12), though an ass could be redeemed with a lamb (Exodus 13:13; Exodus 34:19-20). An unclean beast could also be redeemed, Leviticus 27:26-27.