Derasha 2 on Behaalosecha 8:17

Parashas Behaalosecha · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 17

The Complete Passuk

כִּ֣י לִ֤י כׇל־בְּכוֹר֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה בְּי֗וֹם הַכֹּתִ֤י כׇל־בְּכוֹר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם הִקְדַּ֥שְׁתִּי אֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah continues the firstborn theme: the dual category (human and animal) underscores the breadth of the original consecration that the Levites now replace.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה

English: “Both man and beast” — the original consecration was comprehensive; the Levites inherit that comprehensive role in the service of the sanctuary.

Type of Learning

Scope of the original claim — the verse’s pairing of human and animal firstborn defines the magnitude of what is being transferred.

What Is Learned

By taking the Levites in place of every firstborn, Israel is relieved of a claim that once covered both family and flock.