Luca 2:23

23 come egli è scritto nella legge del Signore: Ogni maschio che apre la matrice sarà chiamato Santo al Signore;

Luca 2:23 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 2:23

As it is written in the law of the Lord
In ( Exodus 13:2 ) ( Numbers 3:13 )

every male that openeth the womb, shall be called holy to the Lord;
that is, devoted and consecrated to him, and so to be redeemed. The reason of this law was this, when God smote all the firstborn of Egypt, he saved the firstborn of Israel; and therefore claimed a right to them, and obliged their parents, excepting the Levites, to redeem them at the price of five shekels, which were about twelve shillings and six pence of our money, and which was given to the Levites: see ( Exodus 13:12-15 ) ( Numbers 3:12 Numbers 3:13 Numbers 3:46 Numbers 3:47 ) ( Numbers 18:15 Numbers 18:16 ) And this law our Lord came under as Mary s firstborn, and as one holy to the Lord; and such a sum of money was now paid for his redemption, who was the great Redeemer of his people: he being made under the law, and in all things subject to it, that he might redeem them from the bondage, curse, and condemnation of it. Now as the tribe of Levi was excepted from this law, it is a clear case, that Mary, though allied to Elisabeth, was not of the tribe of Levi, otherwise her firstborn would not have been subject to it {y}.

``An Israelite that comes from a priestess, or from a she Levite, is free, (i.e. from the redemption of the firstborn;) for the thing does not depend on the father, but on the mother, as it is said, that openeth the womb in Israel.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Maimon. Hilch. Biccurim c. 11. sect. 10.

Luca 2:23 In-Context

21 E QUANDO gli otto giorni, in capo de’ quali egli dovea esser circonciso, furon compiuti, gli fu posto nome GESÙ, secondo ch’era stato nominato dall’angelo, innanzi che fosse conceputo nel seno.

22 E quando i giorni della loro purificazione furon compiuti secondo la legge di Mosè, portarono il fanciullo in Gerusalemme, per presentarlo al Signore

23 come egli è scritto nella legge del Signore: Ogni maschio che apre la matrice sarà chiamato Santo al Signore;

24 e per offerire il sacrificio, secondo ciò ch’è detto nella legge del Signore, d’un paio di tortole, o di due pippioni.

25 OR ecco, vi era in Gerusalemme un uomo il cui nome era Simeone; e quell’uomo era giusto, e religioso, ed aspettava la consolazione d’Israele; e lo Spirito Santo era sopra lui.