Nehemiah 10:36

Neh 10:36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as [it is] written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:

Ver. 36. Also the firstborn of our sons] These God claimed as his due, Exo 12:2; Exo 22:29; Num 3:13, and called for, as best beloved of the parents; that, together with them, he might draw men’s best affections to himself. They were to be redeemed, as were also the firstlings of all beasts not fit for sacrifice, Exo 13:13, and the redemption money brought to the priests (who were God’s receivers), that they might be the better encouraged in the law of the Lord, as Hezekiah phraseth it, 2Ch 31:4.

To bring to the house of our God, unto the priests] No man might offer his own sacrifice, though it were never so good, but present it to the priest, Lev 17:5, who was to offer as well the poor man’s lamb as the rich man’s ox. It is by Christ alone that we must draw nigh to God, &c.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

By this rehearsal is meant that there was no part nor ceremony in the Law, whereunto they did not bind themselves by covenant.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 36. Also the first-born] See this law, and the reasons of it, Ex 13:1-13. As by this law the Lord had a right to all the firstborn, instead of these he was pleased to take the tribe of Levi for the whole; and thus the Levites served at the tabernacle and temple, instead of the first-born of all the tribes.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(36) The firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle.—Similarly collocated in Num_16:15-16; but there the cattle are defined as “unclean beasts,” thus distinguished from “the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks.” The latter were to be brought to “the priests that minister” for sacrifice; the former were, with the sons, to be redeemed by money, according to the priests’ valuation.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

36. the firstborn of our sons] The firstborn of the children of Israel ‘from a month old’ were redeemed ‘for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.’ Num_18:16; cf. Exo_13:13; Exo_34:20.

of our cattle, as it is written in the law] The firstlings of oxen, sheep and goats were not redeemed; they were holy; their fat was offered as a burnt offering; the flesh was the portion of the priests. See Num_18:17-19. But the firstborn of all unclean beasts were redeemed for a price. Cf. Exo_23:19; Num_18:15.

herds … flocks] i.e. the goats and sheep mentioned in Num_18:17.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And that we should bring the first fruits of our dough,.... According to the law in Num 15:20

and our offerings; their heave offerings, Num 18:8

and the fruit of all manner of trees; bore by them on the fourth year after their planting, Lev 19:23

of wine and oil; to which Aben Ezra restrains the fruit of the trees, see Num 18:12, all these they were to bring

unto the priests, to the chambers the house of our God; there to be laid up for the use of it; and oil and wine were frequently used in sacrifices:

and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our village; the tenth part of the produce of their agriculture everywhere throughout the land, see Num 18:21.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

36. The firstborn of our sons — To be redeemed, according to the law of Num_18:15-16.

As it is written in the law — Compare, for all these items, the marginal references.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The first-born of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the law. See Exo_22:29 Exo_34:19. The firstborn children were to be "redeemed."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

the first fruits of our soil The first of every fruit of a tree. They are required by rabbinical injunction.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.