Hi Fredy,

Thanks for yesterday's session on "Born of a Virgin" (Lesson 6 of The Bible and The Virgin Mary). We had a good discussion with German and the English-speaking group, though we lost Clyde and Debbie early on in our discussion, unfortunately.

There was a review question about the meaning of a "firstborn". I understand what it is meant to be or symbolic of but I found it perplexing that females seemed to be indirectly excluded.  Together, we read over Exodus 13: 2 and 13:11-16.  At first we thought it was all inclusive until we read onto the latter verses.

Exodus 13:2 says "Consecrate to me all the firstborn; whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelites, of human beings and animals, is mine." This seems all inclusive, male and female human beings and animals.

Exodus 13:12-13 says "You shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb.  ... Every first born male among your children you shall redeem." This now seems to only talk about the male firstborns.

Question 1: What about the female firstborns? Mary was consecrated to God, body and soul. Wasn't Mary a firstborn female in her family? Was the firstborn referring to only to the eldest son of the family? I know that typically the father in the family was the "priest" in that household? I, myself, being a female firstborn feel excluded from this consecration statement, but perhaps it is the sign of the times (terminology of the time did not seem to lend itself to females). I like the Exodus 13:2 statement better as it seems to be more inclusive. But perhaps there is context here that I do not have or see? Even in the movie "The Ten Commandments", I do not recall seeing female firstborns dying/saved, only male firstborns!

Question 2: Was the Pharaoh not a firstborn? His son died after the Passover but the Pharaoh was not!

Thanks. God bless.

Warmest regards,
Mandy