The Dedication of the Firstborn

(Deuteronomy 15:19–23)

Then the LORD said to Moses 2 “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male.[fn] The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, [both] of man and beast.”

3 

So Moses told the people,“Remember this day, [the day] you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; for the LORD brought you out of it by the strength of His hand. And nothing leavened shall be eaten.

4 

Today, in the month of Abib,[fn] you are leaving. 5 And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites — [the land] He swore to your fathers that He would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey — you shall keep this service in this month.

6 

For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten during those seven days. Nothing leavened may be found among you, nor shall leaven be found anywhere within your borders.

8 

And on that day you are to explain to your son,‘This is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ 9 It shall be a sign for you on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the Law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. 10 Therefore you shall keep this statute at the appointed time year after year.

11 

And after the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as He swore to you and your fathers, 12 you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock [belong to] the LORD. 13 You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.

14 

In the future, when your son asks you,‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him,‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 15 And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’ 16 So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

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