Lev 27:26 | TNotes | STEP | 27:26 You may not dedicate: Every firstborn male, be it man or animal, already belonged to God (Exod 13:2 ; 34:19-20 ). Therefore, dedicating a firstborn was a useless exercise. The priest clearly had a use for the firstborn of animals fit for food or sacrifice (clean animals). The firstborn of a ceremonially unclean animal such as a donkey could be redeemed for 20 percent more than its value. Human firstborns had to be redeemed (Exod 13:11-13 ).

bExod 13:2►

c34:19-20►

dExod 13:11-13►

‏ Leviticus 27:26

27:26 ^a You may not dedicate: Every firstborn male, be it man or animal, already belonged to God (Exod 13:2 ^b; 34:19-20 ^c). Therefore, dedicating a firstborn was a useless exercise. The priest clearly had a use for the firstborn of animals fit for food or sacrifice (clean animals). The firstborn of a ceremonially unclean animal such as a donkey could be redeemed for 20 percent more than its value. Human firstborns had to be redeemed (Exod 13:11-13 ^d).