Numbers 18:17

17 "But you must not make a payment for the firstborn ox or sheep or goat. Those animals are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire. The smell is pleasing to the Lord.

Numbers 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 18:17

But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or
the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem
That is, shalt not take the redemption price for them, but the creatures themselves; which they, the priests, were to take for their own use:

they [are] holy;
separated to the Lord, and therefore not to be used in common by men, but were sacred to the Lord, or became the property of his priests; see ( Deuteronomy 15:19 ) ; how they were to be made use of follows:

thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar;
for they were to be sacrificed, and their blood used as in other sacrifices:

and shalt burn their fat [for] an offering made by fire; for a sweet
savour unto the Lord;
as the fat of other sacrifices was, and particularly of the peace offerings, which were wholly eaten otherwise, ( Leviticus 7:31 ) .

Numbers 18:17 In-Context

15 The first one born to any family, whether people or animals, will be offered to the Lord. And that will be yours. But you must make a payment for every firstborn child and every firstborn animal that is unclean.

16 When they are one month old, you must make a payment for them of two ounces of silver, as set by the Holy Place measure.

17 "But you must not make a payment for the firstborn ox or sheep or goat. Those animals are holy. Sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire. The smell is pleasing to the Lord.

18 But the meat will be yours, just as the breast that is presented and the right thigh will be yours.

19 Anything the Israelites present as holy gifts I, the Lord, give to you, your sons and daughters as your continual portion. This is a last-ing agreement of saltn before the Lord for you and your children forever."