Redeeming the Firstling Donkey and the Firstborn Son

"And the firstling of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb" (Exodus 34:20). "The firstling of a donkey" is stated twice, [teaching] that the one giving birth must be a donkey and the one born must be a donkey. "You shall redeem with a lamb" — a lamb in any case, whether male or female, whether unblemished or blemished, whether young or old. Another interpretation: "with a lamb" — not with a calf, not with a wild animal, not with a torn animal, not with a hybrid, not with a koy, and not with consecrated animals that became disqualified, for concerning them it is said, "as the gazelle and as the hart" (Deuteronomy 12:15): just as one does not redeem with a gazelle or a hart, so too one does not redeem with disqualified consecrated animals. Another interpretation: "you shall redeem with a lamb" — from where do we learn that if he has no lamb to redeem it with, he may redeem it with its value and give the money to the priest? The verse teaches "you shall redeem" in any case. The Torah did not say "a lamb" to be stringent upon him but to be lenient upon him, so that if he had a firstling donkey worth ten sela, he may redeem it with a lamb even worth a dinar. "You shall redeem with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck" (Exodus 34:20). The commandment of redemption precedes the commandment of breaking the neck. "You shall break its neck" — breaking the neck is stated here, and breaking the neck is stated elsewhere (Deuteronomy 21:4): just as there it is with a cleaver and from behind and forbidden in benefit, so too here it is with a cleaver and from behind and forbidden in benefit. "All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem" (Exodus 34:20). This tells that if a man had five sons from five wives and all were firstborn, he is obligated to redeem all of them. Another interpretation: "All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem" — if the father transgressed and did not redeem him, when he grows up he is obligated to redeem himself. "All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem, and none shall appear before Me empty" (Exodus 34:20). If a man had before him the redemption of his son and the burnt offering of appearance, and he does not have enough for this and enough for that, the redemption of his son takes precedence, as it is said, "All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem," and afterward, "and none shall appear before Me empty."