3,685. Redeeming a Firstborn Donkey

Hilchos Bikkurim 11:30

In the case described in the previous halacha, if the women gave birth to two boys and a girl, the man whose wife had not given birth before should give five sela to a kohein. This is because there’s a double doubt: if his wife gave birth to the boy alone, he would be obligated, and (b) if she gave birth to a boy and a girl, he would have to pay the kohein unless she gave birth to the girl first. Since the odds are against him, he has to pay the redemption money.

Hilchos Bikkurim 12:1

There is an obligation for every Jewish man [or woman] to redeem the first male offspring of a donkey by exchanging it with a sheep [or goat]. If he doesn’t want to redeem it, the donkey must be decapitated as per Exodus 13:13: “The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must decapitate it.” These two mitzvos apply in all times and places. Redeeming the donkey takes priority over decapitating it.