Deuteronomy 15:19

19 Every firstling male born of your herd and flock you shall consecrate to the Lord your God; you shall not do work with your firstling ox nor shear the firstling of your flock.

Deuteronomy 15:19 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 15:19

All the firstling males that come of thy herd, or of thy
flock, thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God
According to the law in ( Exodus 13:2 Exodus 13:12 Exodus 13:13 ) . (See Gill on Exodus 13:2); (See Gill on Exodus 13:12); (See Gill on Exodus 13:13);

thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock:
as to plough or tread out the corn with it, which were done with other heifers:

nor shear the firstling of thy sheep;
nor was the wool shorn of it to be made use of; one of the Jewish canons runs thus,

``if any man weave an hand's breadth of the wool of a firstling into cloth, the cloth is to be burnt ^F12.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 Misn. Orlah, c. 3. sect. 3.

Deuteronomy 15:19 In-Context

17 then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his earlobe into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. You shall do the same with regard to your female slave.

18 Do not consider it a hardship when you send them out from you free persons, because for six years they have given you services worth the wages of hired laborers; and the Lord your God will bless you in all that you do.

19 Every firstling male born of your herd and flock you shall consecrate to the Lord your God; you shall not do work with your firstling ox nor shear the firstling of your flock.

20 You shall eat it, you together with your household, in the presence of the Lord your God year by year at the place that the Lord will choose.

21 But if it has any defect—any serious defect, such as lameness or blindness—you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God;