Nehemiah 10:36

36 The first son born to each of us we will take to the priests in the Temple and there, as required by the Law, dedicate him to God. We will also dedicate the first calf born to each of our cows, and the first lamb or kid born to each of our sheep or goats. ¹

Nehemiah 10:36 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 10:36

Also the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle
Such as were unclean, as Aben Ezra notes, as the ass and are distinguished from clean ones mentioned in the following clause; now both these, their sons, and this sort of cattle, were to be redeemed by a price paid to the priests: as it is written in the law, ( Exodus 13:2 Exodus 13:13 ) ( Numbers 18:15 Numbers 18:16 ) ,

and the firstlings of our herds, and of our flocks;
clean cattle, which were to be offered, ( Numbers 18:17 Numbers 18:18 ) ,

to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the
house of our God;
a price for the one sort, and the other for sacrifice.

Nehemiah 10:36 In-Context

34 We, the people, priests, and Levites, will draw lots each year to determine which clans are to provide wood to burn the sacrifices offered to the Lord our God, according to the requirements of the Law.

35 We will take to the Temple each year an offering of the first grain we harvest and of the first fruit that ripens on our trees.

36 The first son born to each of us we will take to the priests in the Temple and there, as required by the Law, dedicate him to God. We will also dedicate the first calf born to each of our cows, and the first lamb or kid born to each of our sheep or goats.

37 We will take to the priests in the Temple the dough made from the first grain harvested each year and our other offerings of wine, olive oil, and all kinds of fruit. We will take to the Levites, who collect tithes in our farming villages, the tithes from the crops that grow on our land.

38 Priests who are descended from Aaron are to be with the Levites when tithes are collected, and for use in the Temple the Levites are to take to the Temple storerooms one-tenth of all the tithes they collect.

Cross References

• 1. 10.36Exodus 13.2.