Numbers 8:17

17 for all the first begotten things of the sons of Israel be mine, as well of men as of beasts (for all the first-born males of the Israelites be mine, of people as well as of beasts), (yea,) from the day in which I smote each first engendered (male) thing in the land of Egypt, I [have] hallowed them to me.

Numbers 8:17 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 8:17

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 ( Exodus 13:2 ) .

Numbers 8:17 In-Context

15 And afterward enter they into the tabernacle of [the] bond of peace, that they serve me; and so thou shalt cleanse and hallow them, into an offering of the Lord, (And afterward they shall enter into the Tabernacle of the Covenant to serve me; and so thou shalt cleanse, or shalt purify, and dedicate them, as an offering to the Lord,)

16 for by free gift they be given to me (out) of the sons of Israel. I have taken them for the first begotten things that open each womb in Israel; (for they be given to me as a special gift from all the Israelites. I have taken them in place of the first-born males that open every womb in Israel;)

17 for all the first begotten things of the sons of Israel be mine, as well of men as of beasts (for all the first-born males of the Israelites be mine, of people as well as of beasts), (yea,) from the day in which I smote each first engendered (male) thing in the land of Egypt, I [have] hallowed them to me.

18 And I took the Levites for all the first begotten (sons) of the sons of Israel; (And I took the Levites in place of all the first-born sons of the Israelites;)

19 and I gave them by free gift to Aaron and to his sons, from the midst of the people, that they serve me for Israel, in the tabernacle of the bond of peace, and that they pray for them, lest vengeance be in the people, if they be hardy to nigh to the saintuary. (and I gave them as a gift to Aaron and to his sons, out of the midst of the people, to serve me for all the Israelites, in the Tabernacle of the Covenant, and to make amends for them, lest vengeance come upon the people, if they be fool-hardy enough to come near to the sanctuary.)