19a“All the firstborn males that come from your herd and your flock you shall1 sanctify to the Lord your God; you shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
20aYou and your household shall eat it before the Lord your God year by year in the place which the Lord chooses.
21aBut if there is a defect in it, ifitis lame or blind orhas any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God.
22 You may eat it within your gates; athe unclean and the clean person alike mayeatit, as ifitwere a gazelle or a deer.
23 Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it on the ground like water.
Compare Exodus 13:11 ff. The directions of the preceding legislation (see Numbers 18:15 ff) are here assumed, with the injunction added, that the animals thus set apart to GodDeuteronomy 15:19 were not to be used by their owners for their earthly purposes. It is further allowed that firstborn animals which had a blemish should be regarded as exceptions, and instead of being given to God might be used as food Deuteronomy 15:21-22. The application of the firstborn of cattle is here directed as in Deuteronomy 12:6, Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 14:23 : they are to be consumed in the sacred Feasts at the sanctuary.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Deuteronomy 15:21:
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