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