Exodus 22: 29b-30

[Daniel Yaeger]

What does this mean?

You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Do the same with your cattle and sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.

Obviously we aren’t sacrificing human babies to God. Just dedicate them to him/baptize them? Why compare it to animal sacrifice?

[Tom Tighe]

Here is my guess:
In Ex 13:1 the LORD tells Moses that all first born Israelites belong to Him since He spared them at the Passover (Plague of death of the firstborn).
In Ex 13:11-16 there is a little more detail. Animals are to be sacrificed, except donkeys can be redeemed or 'payed for' with a lamb. I'm not sure why donkeys got the good deal. Firstborn sons are to be redeemed, or a sacrifice is to be offered in their place.
I think the appropriate sacrifice for redeeming a son is spelled out somewhere, probably Leviticus.

I would also note that circumcision happens on the 8th day as a sign of being part of Abraham's covenant (Gen 17-11). I don't know if that's coincidental, or if God was trying to connect the two. Either way it probably made it easier to schedule

That also may be an answer to the earlier question about why Moses was in trouble until Zipporah circumcised their son. How could Moses be the spokesman for God and the model Jew if he hadn't kept up his part of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 4:24)

[Waylonf15]

Perhaps this might be in reference to the dedication of the firstborn to be the servant leader to the Lord to serve the temple and help?

Maybe like Samuel being dedicated to serve inside the temple all his days for Eli? It seems someone needed to do God's work inside the temple as Hophni and Phinehas seemed to lack the will to do the work.

Maybe also like Zacharias who also worked inside the temple to help with priestly Levite class do all the ceremonies and rituals?

Reading all that God told Moses to do, and the exact manner in how to do it was impressive to me. The exact manner in how to mix the oil, the exact manner in how to make the incense and keep it burning day and night. The two rams sacrifice and the different manner in how to kill/sacrifice them seemed like a lot to keep strait. Being the penalty for messing that up, often was death, the attention to detail was demanding.

I'm not sure about the answer to that question, it confused Heidi and I also. I just think that the temple took a lot of people to run correctly, 24/7 and keep that set up each and every day as they moved through the dessert for 40 years? Even lifting and carrying the very heavy parts of the tabernacle must take almost an army of men.

I'm not sure how they moved through the wilderness for 40 years, but it must have been a huge undertaking.

Great question.

[Tom Tighe]

I'm not sure about the idea of the firstborn being dedicated to serve in the tabernacle/temple. That was eventually reserved for the Levites. They were not a class, but a tribe (of Levi, Leah's 3rd son). That was Aaron and Moses' tribe and I think so far God has only really identified Aaron and his sons (vs all the relatives in his clan) to be priests

[Tom Tighe]

I am also fascinated with the detail God gave to Moses and impressed he could recall it clearly. The only thing he wrote down was the 10 commandments. Those are easy to remember compared the size of the each kind of curtain, etc for the tabernacle, the priestly garments, and the consecration rituals. but then again, If God was talking to you, you would probably be paying close attention. Do you think the exact measurements were a test of obedience or way to make sure the tabernacle turned out to look appealing, and be sturdy yet portable? or both?

[Tom Tighe]

In Exodus 32:27 we see the sons of Levi (Levites) join Moses and Aaron if fighting and killing 3000 of those in the "golden calf" crowd. I think the Levite loyalty in this mini-civil war is what will expand the priesthood from the sons of Aaron to the tribe of Levi. I wonder if the loyalty shown by the Levites is really only to God or somewhat to their fellow tribesmen, Aaron and Moses.

I also wonder where were these guys when Aaron decided on making the calf. What are they thinking? They all walked through the Red Sea only about a month ago.

The 3000 killed here is sometimes said to have been "gained back" by the 3000 Christian converts in Acts 2:41 on Peter's first day of preaching

[Tom Tighe]

In Exodus 34:20 God reiterates the command to Redeem (not sacrifice) all firstborn sons

[Robinsoncp]

It really amazes me how quickly the Israelites abandoned God. Moses was gone for a little while and all of a sudden they have Aaron make the idol. How quickly they forgot the plagues, the crossing of the Red Sea, water from the rock, Manna from heaven, and Quail.

[Waylonf15]

Thanks Tom,

I also am amazed that Arron lied to Moses about the golden calf.
He "threw the gold in and a calf came out"

I am grateful that God still has plans and use for sinful men like me. Arron staff is in the ark, not Moses, and Arron and his sons were designated as the first priests of Israel, even after Arron himself fashioned the golden calf.

God's mercies are amazing. Like when David murdered Uriah and took his wife, and was still called a man after God's heart.

It is amazing to have Jesus has the payment for me.

Blessings to all,

Reid

[Tom Tighe]

I think the answer to the original question is now presented in Numbers 8:18 where the Levites are given the job of service in the Tabernacle and are dedicated and sanctified to God in service instead of the firstborn of all Israel.

As part of this deal, the Levites are forbidden from doing normal work (only Tabernacle/ministering work). This is a big responsibility, but to some it will start to look like Moses has set up a "good deal" for his clan and, as people do, some will start to grumble about it.