We are not told what was involved in this separation unto God of the first-born of the sons. Some think, and not without reason, that they were separated unto the priesthood, but on this we have no distinct information. One thing is clear, that in some peculiar manner they were the Lord’s. In Exod. xxii. 29, ‘The first-born of thy sons thou shalt give unto me.’ So in Num. iii. 13, ‘Because all the first-born are mine.’ Was there not an allusion to this in Hannah’s words when she said, ‘I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life’? and was there not again a distinct reference to it in the presentation of our Blessed Saviour to the temple, as we read in Luke, ii. 23? In the case of Samuel and our Blessed Lord there was clearly a consecration to a special and exclusive service; so whatever was the precise form of separation, one thing is perfectly clear, that in a peculiar and especial manner the first-born were set apart unto God. There was a vast difference between God’s ordinance and man’s habit. It is a very common thing with man to devote the first-born to the world, and the second, third, or fourth son to the ministry; or, extending the principle, to consider that which is second in our own affections to be good enough for God. But He claims the first of all, that which is the first to bring joy to the mother’s heart, and which is first to claim the mother’s love; that which has for a time the concentrated interest of the only child. The Jewish parent was not to wait till he had many. It was when the mother had only one, that that one was to be given to God. But it is the redemption of the first-born which we are now to study. In this verse we are told, ‘All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem.’ According to the law there was a legal claim on every first-born, whether of man or animal, but still there was provision made in most cases for their redemption or release, and it is to this provision that I am anxious now to turn your thoughts. It differed in different classes. For sacrificial animals, such as the sheep, or the goat, there was no redemption. They were all offered in sacrifice, Num. xviii. 17, ‘But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.’