Jewish Lifecycles II: Pidyon HaBen - Redeeming the First Born
Second in a series

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"And Hashem spoke unto Moshe saying: Sanctify to Me every firstborn,,," (Shemot 13:1)
"And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, Take the Leviyim instead of the firstborn of Israel...and for their (the firstborn's) redemption...you shall take five shekels apiece." (Bamidbar 3:11-13)

The first of everything is set aside for God, as he is the Creator and Owner of all. The first born was set aside to serve as priests in the Temple, but with their involvement in the golden calf they lost that privilege, retaining the holiness of being 'first'. In the pidyon haben (redemption of the son) ceremony that holiness is transferred to the Kohen, the priest, through the five shekel coins, and the first born son is free to go on to do other things.

At thirty days, all natural, first born sons, not of the tribe of Levi are adorned with jewelry, dressed in finery and bought back from the Kohen by their fathers in the pidyon haben ceremony.

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See first in the series Jewish Lifecycles I: Entering the Covenant