Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 8:17
For all the firstborn of the children of Israel [are] mine, [both] man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
Verse 17. For all the first-born – are mine] See the manner of redeeming the first-born, Nu 18:6.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For all the firstborn of the children of Israel [are] mine,
[both] men and beasts,…. Not only in common with other of his creatures, but in a special respect on account of his signal deliverance of them; they were his, as Jarchi expresses it, by the line of judgment, or rule of justice and equity, because he protected them among the firstborn of the Egyptians, saved them when he slew theirs, as follows:
in the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt; both of men and beasts:
I sanctified them for myself; claimed them as his own, and set them apart for his own use, or ordered them to be set apart: see Ex 13:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
All the Firstborn Were Yahweh’s Because He Had Delivered Them at the Passover ( Num 8:17 ).
Num 8:17-18
“ For all the first-born among the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast.”
This leads up to the central fact, that the firstborn among the children of Israel were Yahweh’s, whether man or beast (Num 3:13; Num 8:17; Exo 13:2; Exo 13:12; Exo 22:29-30; Exo 34:19). This specific fact is emphasised and is central to the passage (see analysis above). It was therefore no light thing that they were being replaced by the Levites. Here in the Levites were the representatives of every Israelite family, replacing their sons as representatives. That was why the people owed such a debt to the Levites, and were never to forget them (Deu 12:19).
So the dedicated Levites represented their dedicated firstborn, as the Nazirites represented their dedication as a people. Each was to be seen as indicating their responsibility towards Yahweh.
The Levites Taken Instead of All the Firstborn ( Num 8:18 ).
Num 18:18
“ On the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself, and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel.”
The firstborn were Yahweh’s because He had spared them when He smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt (Exodus 11-13). As a result He had sanctified them for Himself for they had been under His special protection. Theirs was to be the privilege of serving His Sanctuary. But now these firstborn sons were released from their solemn privilege because Yahweh had chosen to take the Levites in their place. This was no doubt partly because of the recognition from experience of the untrustworthiness of the firstborn at times of crisis, in contrast with the trustworthiness of the Levites. But it was still a significant exchange.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
For. Compare Exo 13:2. Exo 3:13.
man. Hebrew. ‘adam. See App-14.
on the day. See App-18.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
all the: Num 3:13, Exo 13:2, Exo 13:12-15, Luk 2:23
on the day: Exo 12:29, Psa 78:51, Psa 105:36, Psa 135:8, Heb 11:28
I sanctified: Exo 13:14, Exo 13:15, Exo 29:44, Lev 27:14, Lev 27:15, Lev 27:26, Eze 20:12, Joh 10:36, Joh 17:19, Heb 10:29, Jam 1:18
Reciprocal: Num 8:14 – and the Levites