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Numbers 18:16 - Firstborn redemption: five shekels?

Numbers 18:16 - במדבר 18:16

Hebrew Text

וּפְדוּיָו מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ תִּפְדֶּה בְּעֶרְכְּךָ כֶּסֶף חֲמֵשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים בְּשֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה הוּא׃

English Translation

And those that are to be redeemed shall be redeemable from a month old according to the usual estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gera.

Transliteration

Ufduyav mi-ben chodesh tifde be'erkcha kesef chamishet shekalim beshekel hakodesh esrim gerah hu.

Hebrew Leining Text

וּפְדוּיָו֙ מִבֶּן־חֹ֣דֶשׁ תִּפְדֶּ֔ה בְּעֶ֨רְכְּךָ֔ כֶּ֛סֶף חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה הֽוּא׃
וּפְדוּיָו֙ מִבֶּן־חֹ֣דֶשׁ תִּפְדֶּ֔ה בְּעֶ֨רְכְּךָ֔ כֶּ֛סֶף חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה הֽוּא׃

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Parasha Commentary

Context in the Torah

This verse (Bamidbar 18:16) appears in the context of the laws concerning the redemption of firstborn sons (Pidyon HaBen) and the sanctity of firstborn animals. The Torah establishes that firstborn sons must be redeemed from a Kohen for five silver shekels after they reach one month of age.

Explanation of the Verse

The verse specifies that the redemption of a firstborn son must take place "from a month old" (מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ). Rashi explains that this means the mitzvah applies only after the child has completed thirty days of life, as before this time, the infant's viability is not fully assured (based on Niddah 44b). The amount of redemption is "five shekels" (חֲמֵשֶׁת שְׁקָלִים), which must be paid in the sacred shekel weight of the Sanctuary (שֶׁקֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ). The verse further clarifies that this shekel consists of "twenty gera" (עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה), establishing the standard measurement.

Halachic Details from Rambam

Rambam (Hilchot Bikkurim 11:1-5) elaborates on the laws of Pidyon HaBen:

  • The redemption must be performed with five silver shekels of pure silver, equivalent to 96 grams in contemporary measurements.
  • The mitzvah applies only to a firstborn son who is the first issue of his mother's womb (excluding cases where the mother previously had a miscarriage after forty days).
  • If the father is a Kohen or Levi, the child is exempt from Pidyon HaBen.

Symbolic Meaning from Midrash

The Midrash (Bamidbar Rabbah 12:4) connects the five shekels to the five times the word "nefesh" (soul) appears in the context of firstborn redemption (Bamidbar 3:44-48), emphasizing the spiritual significance of redeeming a Jewish soul. The Chatam Sofer adds that the five shekels correspond to the five books of the Torah, underscoring the child's future obligation to study and uphold Torah.

Practical Observance

In practice, the Pidyon HaBen ceremony involves:

  • The father presenting the child to a Kohen and declaring the child as a firstborn.
  • The Kohen asking whether the father prefers to keep the child or redeem him for five shekels.
  • The father reciting blessings and giving the Kohen five silver coins (or their equivalent value).

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Bekhorot 49a
The verse is discussed in the context of the redemption of firstborn sons and the valuation of five shekels.
📖 Arakhin 3b
The verse is referenced in discussions about the valuation of persons dedicated to the Temple.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Numbers 18:16 mean?
A: Numbers 18:16 discusses the redemption of firstborn sons in Jewish tradition. According to the Torah, every firstborn male must be redeemed (pidyon haben) by giving five silver shekels to a Kohen (priest) after the child is one month old. This mitzvah commemorates the sparing of Jewish firstborns during the plague of the firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 13:13–15). The verse specifies the exact amount and the age at which the redemption takes place.
Q: Why is the redemption price set at five shekels?
A: The Torah sets the redemption price at five silver shekels (based on the sacred shekel weight) as a fixed amount for all firstborn sons, regardless of economic status. Rashi explains that this standardization ensures equality—every family fulfills the mitzvah in the same way. The number five may also symbolize the five books of the Torah, emphasizing the importance of Torah study in Jewish life.
Q: At what age is a firstborn son redeemed?
A: The verse states that the pidyon haben (redemption of the firstborn) takes place 'from a month old.' In practice, the ceremony is performed after the baby completes 30 days of life (Talmud, Kiddushin 29a). If the 30th day falls on Shabbat or a holiday, the ceremony is delayed to the next weekday (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 305:10).
Q: Does this mitzvah still apply today?
A: Yes, Orthodox Jews still perform pidyon haben today for firstborn sons who meet the criteria (e.g., the child is the firstborn to the mother, born naturally, and neither parent is a Kohen or Levi). The ceremony involves giving five silver coins (or their equivalent value) to a Kohen while reciting blessings. This mitzvah serves as a reminder of our gratitude to Hashem for sparing the Jewish firstborns in Egypt.
Q: What is the significance of the 'shekel of the sanctuary' mentioned in the verse?
A: The 'shekel of the sanctuary' refers to a standardized weight used for holy purposes in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and later the Temple. Rashi explains that this shekel was worth 20 gerah (a smaller unit). Using this sacred measurement ensured fairness and holiness in fulfilling commandments. Today, we calculate the equivalent value in current currency based on the weight of pure silver (approximately 96 grams).