Jo’s Place

The Rights of the Firstborn Son …and Dealing with a Rebellious Son Deuteronomy 21:15–21 (NLT) “Suppose a man has two wives, but he loves one and not the other, and both have given him sons.  And suppose the firstborn son is the son of the wife he does not love.  When the man divides his inheritance, he may not give the larger inheritance to his younger son, the son of the wife he loves, as if he were the firstborn son.  He must recognize the rights of his oldest son, the son of the wife he does not love, by giving him a double portion.  He is the first son of his father’s virility, and the rights of the firstborn belong to him.  Now, “Suppose a man has a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey his father or mother, even though they discipline him.  In such a case, the father and mother must take the son to the elders, as they hold court, at the town gate.  The parents must say to the elders, ‘This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious …and refu...

Release for Hebrew Slaves “If a fellow Hebrew sells himself or herself, to be your ( indentured)  servant (a slave)…and serves you for six years, in the seventh year you must set that servant free.  “When you release a male servant, do not send him away empty-handed.  Give him a generous farewell gift, from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress.  Share, with him, some of the bounty, with which the Lord, your God, has blessed you.  Remember that you were once slaves, in the land of Egypt …and the Lord, your God, redeemed you!  That is why I am giving you this command.  “But suppose your servant says,  ‘I will not leave you,’ because he loves you and your family, and he has done well with you.  In that case, take an awl …and push it through his earlobe, into the door.  After that, he will be your  (indentured)  servant (a slave) for life.  And do the same for your female servants.  “You must not consider ...

​ Redeeming the Firstborn Sons Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Now count all the firstborn sons, in Israel, who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names.  The Levites must be reserved for me, as substitutes, for the firstborn sons of Israel;  I am the Lord.  And the Levites’ livestock must be reserved for me, as substitutes for the firstborn livestock, of the whole nation of Israel.”  So, Moses counted the firstborn sons, of the people of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded.  The number of firstborn sons, who were one month old or older was 22,273.  Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Take the Levites, as substitutes for the firstborn sons, of the people of Israel.  And take the livestock, of the Levites, as substitutes for the firstborn livestock, of the people of Israel.  The Levites belong to me;  I am the Lord.  There are 273 more firstborn sons of Israel, than there are Levites.  To redeem these extra f...

Dedication of the Firstborn Then the Lord said to Moses,  “Dedicate to me every firstborn among the Israelites.  The first offspring to be born, of both humans and animals, belongs to me.”  So Moses said to the people,  “This is a day to remember forever—the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery.  Today the Lord has brought you out by the power of his mighty hand.  (Remember, eat no food containing yeast.)  On this day in early spring, in the month of Abib, you have been set free.  You must celebrate this event in this month each year after the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites.  (He swore to your ancestors that he would give you this land—a land flowing with milk and honey.)   For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast.  Then on the seventh day, celebrate a feast to the Lord.  Eat bread without yeast during those seven days. In fact, there must ...