Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 13:12
That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males [shall be] the LORD’s.
12. thou shalt cause to pass over unto Jehovah ] The word is not the ordinary Heb. for ‘set apart’; and its use here is remarkable. In Num 27:7 f. (P), cf. 2Sa 3:10, it is indeed used in the simple sense of transferring or making over (an inheritance): but it is also the word regularly used of causing to pass over children in fire to Molech (2Ki 16:3, Eze 20:31 al.), and with ‘to Molech’ alone, Lev 18:21 (H), Jer 32:35, cf. Eze 16:21; Eze 23:37 (‘to them,’ i.e. to the idols), an esp. Exo 20:25-26 (the same expression as here) ‘in that they caused to pass over (viz. in the fire) all that first openeth the womb.’ It may be (cf., p. 409) that this heathen practice determined the use of the same verb here: Jehovah claimed the firstborn; and the Israelite was to cause his firstborn to pass over to Him: the child was not, however, retained by Him, or offered to Him as a sacrifice, but was to be ‘redeemed’ by its father ( v. 13).
and every firstling, &c.] lit. and all that first openeth [the womb], (even) the casting ( ) of beasts, that thou shalt have: shger (the root is preserved in the Aram. sh e gar, to ‘cast’), denotes a newly born animal, Deu 7:13; Deu 28:4; Deu 28:18; Deu 28:51 . The ‘beasts’ meant (as the parallel, Exo 34:19, states explicitly) are ox and sheep.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thou shalt set apart, i. e. separate it from the rest, resign thy right in it to God. Heb.
Cause it to pass, not through the fire, as that verb is used, Deu 18:10; 2Ki 16:3; but under the rod, as it is used, and more fully expressed, Lev 27:32, which was the rite when any thing was separated and consecrated to God.
The males shall be the Lords, devoted to him, either to be sacrificed, if it was clean, or to be otherwise destroyed, if it was unclean, as it here follows.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
12, 13. every firstling, &c.theinjunction respecting the consecration of the first-born, as hererepeated, with some additional circumstances. The firstlings of cleanbeasts, such as lambs, kids, and calves, if males, were to be devotedto God and employed in sacrifice. Those unclean beasts, as the ass’scolt, being unfit for sacrifice, were to be redeemed (Nu18:15).
Ex13:17-21. JOURNEY FROMEGYPT.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix,…. Or “the womb”, as in Ex 13:2, and this phrase, “set apart”, explains the word “sanctify” there, and shows that it signifies the separating of such to the use and service of God, causing it to “pass”, as the word d here used signifies, from a man’s own power and use, to be the Lord’s only:
and every firstling that cometh from a beast which thou hast; or “even every firstling” e, explaining what is meant by what opens the matrix or womb, even every firstborn of a beast; though Jarchi interprets it of an abortion, what comes before its time, that this also should be set apart to the Lord; this must be understood of the firstlings of clean creatures, fit for food and sacrifice, such as the firstlings of cows, sheep, and goats, Nu 18:17 as distinguished from unclean ones in the following verse:
the males [shall be] the Lord’s; which explains what sort of firstborn of man and beast were to be set apart for his use, not females, though the first that opened the womb; but males.
d “et transire facies”, Pagninus, Montanus, Fagius, Vatablus, Drusius, Cartwright; so Ainsworth. e “etiam quicunque vel quicquid aperuerit”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Ainsworth.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(12) Thou shalt set aparti.e., separate off from the rest of the flock or herd, that it might not be mixed up with those which were not sanctified.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Exo 13:12. Thou shalt set apart unto the Lord Shalt cause to pass over. Margin of our Bibles. Shalt transfer the right from thyself to the Lord. See Num 3:12-48. Every firstling that cometh of a beast, i.e. a clean beast, was to be offered in sacrifice. For the rest, see Num 18:17.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Exo 13:12 That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males [shall be] the LORD’S.
Ver. 12. The males shall be the Lord’s.] This God did, that with the firstborn son, commonly best beloved, he might draw all the love to himself.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thou shalt: Exo 13:2, Exo 22:29, Exo 34:19, Lev 27:26, Num 8:17, Num 18:15, Deu 15:19, Eze 44:30
set apart: Heb. cause to pass over
openeth: Exo 34:19, Num 3:12, Num 18:15
Reciprocal: Gen 4:4 – the firstlings Exo 13:15 – therefore I Lev 22:2 – hallow Num 3:13 – Because Neh 10:36 – the firstborn Eze 16:20 – thy sons Eze 20:26 – all that Luk 2:23 – Every
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Exo 13:12. Every firstling of a beast shall be the Lords That is, every firstling male of a clean beast, as of the cow, sheep, or goat kind, was to be offered in sacrifice; and the blood being sprinkled, and the fat burned on the altar, the flesh of them was to be given to the priests, Num 18:17-18.