Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Harold R. Holmyard III" <hholmyard AT ont.com>]

Dear Kevin,

> Thanks Harold. The last sentence in the verse just seems to be 
> self-contradictory. It says the firstborn males of every womb was to 
> be "sacrificed" with the firstborn animals (suggesting sacrificed in 
> the same manner) and then in the same breath it says the firstborn 
> were "redeemed."
>
> It is hard to figure out if child sacrifice was actually condoned or 
> commanded, originally. I know it was later stated (unambiguously) 
> that the Levites were to take the place of firstborn sacrifices.
>
> >  >Ex 13:15 "It came about, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting 
> > us go, that
> > > the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of
> > > man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to the LORD the
> > > males, the first offspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I
> > > redeem."

HH: The "but" in the last sentence is the clue that it's a contrast. 
So you have to determine what is contrasted.

                                        Yours,
                                        Harold Holmyard