The redemption price of the firstborn

 

Numbers 3:46-48

There are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons, collect five pieces of silver for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs). Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons.”

According to the instructions the Lord gave Moses at Sinai, the firstborn of the womb of both animals and humans were considered holy and belonging to the Lord. Firstborn lambs specifically were to be offered as sacrifices; and the firstborn sons of Israel were to belong to the Temple and assume priesthood. Remember this, it becomes important later.

The Lord then said to Moses that He would claim the Levites as a substitute for the firstborn males of Israel, in other words take them to minister to Him instead of the firstborn males. When the two groups were counted, they found that there were 273 more firstborn sons than there were Levites. These extra firstborn sons were assigned a value in money (five pieces of silver each) and this money (to redeem them) was paid to Aaron and his sons. They were then free of the obligation to become priests. The total amount of that first redemption of sons came to 1 365 shekels – a number I will refer to later.

This practice continued throughout the years, with fathers of all firstborn sons paying a redemption price of five silver coins to the priests of the temple, to free their sons from mandatory priesthood.  

Now fast forward to the time of Jesus, and the priests of the Temple plotting his death. They were going to use the silver coins from that very Temple treasury into which all the redemption silver coins were paid over all these years, and with these coins purchase a human life back – the life of the firstborn of Joseph and Mary, Jesus the Firstborn of God. Giving these coins to Judas means the redemption fee is returned, and this means that the Son now assumes the role of priest. But more than that, as the Lamb of God He now has to be sacrificed! (Acknowledging Jonathan Cahn)

That number I referred to earlier – the number of years from when the first redemption of firstborn males occurred until the birth of Messiah, was 1365 years! He was the fulfilment of the redemption!

Pearls to ponder:

Jesus is our Redeemer. He paid the full purchase price for you – freeing you from the power of sin and death, freeing you from all religious obligations. Live in gratitude as someone that is free indeed!

Forgiven