Mesorat%20hashas for Bekhorot 1:7

לֹא רָצָה לִפְדּוֹתוֹ, עוֹרְפוֹ בְקוֹפִיץ מֵאַחֲרָיו וְקוֹבְרוֹ. מִצְוַת פְּדִיָּה קוֹדֶמֶת לְמִצְוַת עֲרִיפָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג), וְאִם לֹא תִפְדֶּה וַעֲרַפְתּוֹ. מִצְוַת יְעִידָה קוֹדֶמֶת לְמִצְוַת פְּדִיָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם כא), אֲשֶׁר לֹא יְעָדָהּ וְהֶפְדָּהּ. מִצְוַת יִבּוּם קוֹדֶמֶת לְמִצְוַת חֲלִיצָה, בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה, שֶׁהָיוּ מִתְכַּוְּנִין לְשֵׁם מִצְוָה. וְעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאֵין מִתְכַּוְּנִין לְשֵׁם מִצְוָה, אָמְרוּ מִצְוַת חֲלִיצָה קוֹדֶמֶת לְמִצְוַת יִבּוּם. מִצְוַת גְּאֻלָּה בָּאָדוֹן הוּא קוֹדֵם לְכָל אָדָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כז), וְאִם לֹא יִגָּאֵל וְנִמְכַּר בְּעֶרְכֶּךְ:

If one does not want to redeem it, one breaks its neck from behind with an ax and buries it. The commandment of redeeming it precedes the commandment of breaking its neck, as it is written (Exodus 13:13, Exodus 34:20) "If you will not redeem it, break its neck." The commandment of designating it precedes the commandment of redeeming it, as it is written (Exodus 21:8): "That you have not designated it -it shall be redeemed." The commandment of Levirate marriage preceded the commandment of <i>chalitzah</i> [ceremony releasing the widow of a childless man from the obligation to marry his brother] at first, when they had intention for the sake of the commandment, but now that they do not have intention for the sake of the commandment, we say that the commandment of <i>chalitzah</i> precedes the commandment of Levirate marriage. The commandment of redeeming [an animal devoted to general Temple usage] is on the master before any other person, as it is written (Leviticus 27:27): "If it is not redeemed, it shall be sold for its estimated worth."

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