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"For every firstborn of the Children of Israel became mine, of man and livestock; on the day I struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. I took the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Children of Israel."1 "...but you shall surely redeem the firstborn of man...Those that are to be redeemed - from one month shall you redeem according to the valuation, five silver shekels by the sacred shekel; it is twenty gera."2
"For every firstborn of the Children of Israel became mine, of man and livestock; on the day I struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. I took the Levites in place of every firstborn among the Children of Israel."1
"...but you shall surely redeem the firstborn of man...Those that are to be redeemed - from one month shall you redeem according to the valuation, five silver shekels by the sacred shekel; it is twenty gera."2
G-d originally designated the firstborn as those who would carry out the priestly duty in the Tabernacle. Shortly after receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the Jewish people collectively committed idolatry by serving the Golden Calf. The firstborns lost their sacred privilege and became unworthy of performing the priestly functions.
Shortly after receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the Jewish people collectively committed idolatry by serving the Golden Calf. The firstborns lost their sacred privilege and became unworthy of performing the priestly functions
Those Israelite firstborn men for whom a Levite could not be found to "exchange" with, had to redeem themselves by giving 5 silver coins to a Kohen (also from the Levite family). Today, all Israelite male firstborns are redeemed in such a manner.
Reprinted with permission from Mikvah.org.
See also "What are the conditions that require a Pidyon Haben?" and "When is the Pidyon Haben ceremony done?"
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Life Cycle » Pidyon Haben
