Parents in the Bible, such as Hannah, dedicated children to God to acknowledge God's part in giving them children. They were remembering that their children belonged to God. This practice had particular importance when the first son was born.
In many societies, firstborn sons have special privileges, including the right to most of the family's estate. The birth of the family's first son brought special honor to the mother—she had provided her husband with a future to the family name. Certainly Jewish families felt blessed by firstborn sons.
The Bible gives firstborn sons an important teaching role. Each of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) were affected by the handling of firstborns. The death sentence passed on the firstborns of Egypt as the final plague before the Exodus made it clear that the very future of that nation was in God's hands (Exodus 11:1-12:30). At that same time, God told Moses, "Dedicate to me all the firstborn sons of Israel and every firsborn male animal. They are mine" (Exodus 13:1).
Although other nations practiced child sacrifice, Gods people were instructed to "redeem" their firstborn sons by offering a substitute sacrifice (Exodus 13:12-16). In Hannah's case (1 Samuel 1:11), dedication of a child involved leaving the recently weaned Samuel with the priest Eli to be raised as a servant of God. In most cases, Old Testament parents recognized God's ownership by dedicating their children through an animal sacrifice.
A modern form of child dedication is practiced in some churches as a means of committing and entrusting that child to God's sovereign care.
In many societies, firstborn sons have special privileges, including the right to most of the family's estate. The birth of the family's first son brought special honor to the mother—she had provided her husband with a future to the family name. Certainly Jewish families felt blessed by firstborn sons.
The Bible gives firstborn sons an important teaching role. Each of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) were affected by the handling of firstborns. The death sentence passed on the firstborns of Egypt as the final plague before the Exodus made it clear that the very future of that nation was in God's hands (Exodus 11:1-12:30). At that same time, God told Moses, "Dedicate to me all the firstborn sons of Israel and every firsborn male animal. They are mine" (Exodus 13:1).
Although other nations practiced child sacrifice, Gods people were instructed to "redeem" their firstborn sons by offering a substitute sacrifice (Exodus 13:12-16). In Hannah's case (1 Samuel 1:11), dedication of a child involved leaving the recently weaned Samuel with the priest Eli to be raised as a servant of God. In most cases, Old Testament parents recognized God's ownership by dedicating their children through an animal sacrifice.
A modern form of child dedication is practiced in some churches as a means of committing and entrusting that child to God's sovereign care.
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