(September 24, 2012 at 4:06 am)Undeceived Wrote: This is all easily cleared up with a study of the Bible. "Give" means to consecrate, as read in Exodus 13:2. Exodus 13:12-13 explains the redeeming process, saying "Redeem every firstborn among your sons." Numbers 18:15 adds, "The first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem; and the firstling of an unclean beast shalt thou redeem." So all firstborns were offered, while sons and unsuitable livestock were held back from the altar. This is just an extension of Isaac's story, allowing the beast to take his place, and ultimately Jesus to be sacrificed once for all.
As I explained in a later post, chapter 13 was written after chapter 22. It's a later development from a time in Israel when child sacrifice became unacceptable. Chapter 22 is from an earlier time when child sacrifice was acceptable. It's also what was probably referenced in the Ezekiel passage I quoted which is plainly talking about how God commanded child sacrifice and later rescinded his order.
Following in the steps of Drich, you seem to be just cherry picking what "give" means.
Numbers isn't relevant. It does not rule out that the earlier passage of Exodus is talking about child sacrifice.
My ignore list
"The lord doesn't work in mysterious ways, but in ways that are indistinguishable from his nonexistence."
-- George Yorgo Veenhuyzen quoted by John W. Loftus in The End of Christianity (p. 103).
"The lord doesn't work in mysterious ways, but in ways that are indistinguishable from his nonexistence."
-- George Yorgo Veenhuyzen quoted by John W. Loftus in The End of Christianity (p. 103).
