Responsum: On Redemption of the Firstborn

You asked about the performance of the redemption of the firstborn son—how is it done? Redemption of the firstborn son depends on men and not women. Anyone who marries a woman who has never given birth, even if he has several children from another woman, if she gives birth to a male child, after thirty days he becomes obliged to redeem him from a priest at a price of five sela‘im. Our rabbis stated that if thirty days elapse and he has not redeemed him, he must add on an extra five, until he reaches the amount that is fit to give to the priest, that is, twenty Arabian dinars of fine silver. Our rabbis also stated that the father must recite two blessings when he gives [the money] to the priest: “. . . who has sanctified us with His precepts and has commanded us regarding the redemption of the firstborn son” and “. . . who has kept us alive.” Our rabbis, the heads of the academies, who observe the commandments related to priesthood and who are careful in their regard, whenever they redeem a firstborn son, the first of a womb, they bring a cup of wine and a myrtle twig and recite [the blessings:] “. . . who creates the fruit of the vine,” and “. . . who creates fragrant trees.” Then the priest recites:

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified a fetus in its mother’s womb, and who after forty days [from conception] apportioned 248 limbs, and subsequently breathed a soul into it, as it is written: And He breathed into his nostrils a living soul, and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7), who wrapped him in skin and flesh and enveloped him in bones and sinews, as it is written: You enwrapped me in skin and flesh and enveloped me in bones and sinews (Job 10:11), and who has provided him with food and drink through His wondrous miracles, honey and milk in which to delight, and designated His angels to guard him in his mother’s womb, as it is written: You have [given me] life, and done kindness unto me.”

And after that, [the father] declares:

“This is my firstborn son, and this is the first fruit of my strength, and it is fitting to give him a double portion, as it is written in the Torah of Moses: Give to him a double portion (Deuteronomy 21:7).”

His mother declares:

“This is my firstborn son, through whom the Holy One opened the doors of my womb. We are obligated to give five sela‘im to the priest in order to redeem [the child] from him, for such is the decree of the King, as it says: But you shall surely redeem (Numbers 18:15), and it says: And his redemption-money, from a month old shall you redeem them (Numbers 18:16), and it says: And you shall take five shekels apiece per individual (Numbers 3:47). May it be the will of our God that just as his father has initiated him into this redemption, so, too, may he initiate him into the study of the Torah, marriage, and good deeds. Blessed are You, Lord, who sanctifies Israel through their firstborn and their redemption.”

After this, the priest raises his hands, lays them on [the child’s] head, and says to his father, “Which is more beloved to you—your son or these five sela‘im?” and the father declares:

“My son is more beloved to me, and I hereby redeem him, and I redeem him twice over, because it is written: But you shall surely redeem, and it is written: And his redemption-money—from a month old. There are two redemptions, one from the Holy One, and one from the Angel of Death. It is for that reason that I redeem him for five sela‘im, in accordance with the command of the Omnipresent, as it says: And all of the firstborn of my sons I shall redeem (Exodus 13:15), and it says: And all of the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem (Exodus 13:13).”

The priest immediately takes the money, brings it near to the head of the son, and declares: “These five sela‘im constitute the redemption of the son of So-and-so; this redemption for that; this is in exchange for that; this to the priest, and the son should enter into life and the fear of heaven.” And he blesses him, saying: He will not allow your foot to slip (Psalms 121:3), and all of that psalm.