Redemption of the First Born

Redemption of the First Born

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. 

The Levites belong to me, for all the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the Lord.’” Numbers 3:11-13 “And of all the Israelites, I have assigned the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They will serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites and make sacrifices to purify the people so no plague will strike them when they approach the sanctuary.” Numbers 8:9 

Not only were the Levites to serve as a substitutes in place of the rest of the children of Israel, they also protected them from the plagues of God just as the lamb served as a way to protect against the wrath of God during the death of the first born in Egypt. So the priesthood was a type of lamb in a symbolic way. They stood between the wrath of God and the people by taking their place and so they would not die. They served as covering from punishment and allowed for one to live at peace with God. This tradition reminds me of the Jewish Priest that we have in the Messiah. 

“So Messiah has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Messiah will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. 

For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Messiah offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Messiah died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.” Hebrews 9:11-15 Just as the high priest of the earthly sanctuary took the place of the people, the Messiah takes our place. 

Related Articles

More From Traditions

Yiddish Part Two

Prior to the Holocaust, Yiddish, a language more resembling Middle High German than anything…
Yiddish Part Two

Minyan

In many Jewish synagogues a minyan is required for public prayer times. A minyan is a group of…
Minyan
A bride and groom under a chupah, a large covering often used at weddings.

Jewish Wedding

A chupah is a large covering that is often used at weddings to cover the bride and groom.
Jewish Wedding
True Blue

True Blue

It is very common to associate the color blue with the Jewish people. It is on the flag of…
True Blue

Magen David

The Magen David is the six pointed star also known as the Star of David. Magen David literally…
Magen David
Mezuzah on the Doorpost

Mezuzah on the Doorpost

If you visit a Jewish home one thing that you may see is a mezuzah. A mezuzah is a small…
Mezuzah on the Doorpost
The Shochet-Jewish Tradition

The Shochet-Jewish Tradition

Have you ever wondered what a shochet is? It is known that Torah observant believers keep a…
The Shochet-Jewish Tradition

Tfillin

T'fillin, or phylacteries, are square black boxes traditionally worn on the head and arm.
Tfillin

Alms (Tzedakah) Box

The Hebrew word "tzedakah" derives from the biblical word "tzedek" meaning righteousness or…
Alms (Tzedakah) Box
Sha'Atnez

Sha'Atnez

Sha'atnez is the term used for clothing made with a mixture of wool and linen fibres. This…
Sha'Atnez

What is a Get?

A get is a divorce under halacha, or Jewish law. The word can also refer to the document that…
What is a Get?

Haftarah

הפטרה (Haftarah), the name given to the reading from the Prophetic books which follows the…
Haftarah

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation