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Leviticus 27:1
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Redeeming Persons and Property Dedicated to God

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: a‘When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord, according to your2 valuation,  
3 if your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, aaccording to the shekel of the sanctuary.  
4 If it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels;
5 and if from five years old up to twenty years old, then your valuation for a male shall be twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels;
6 and if from a month old up to five years old, then your valuation for a male shall be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver;
7 and if from sixty years old and above, if it is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.
8 ‘But if he is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall set a value for ahim; according to the ability of him who vowed, the priest shall value him.  
9 ‘If it is an animal that men may bring as an offering to the Lord, all that anyone gives to the Lord shall be holy.
10 He shall not substitute it or exchange it, good for bad or bad for good; and if he at all exchanges animal for animal, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be aholy.  
11 If it is an unclean animal which they do not offer as a sacrifice to the Lord, then he shall present the animal before the priest;
12 and the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be.
13 aBut if he wants at all to redeem it, then he must add one-fifth to your valuation.  
14 ‘And when a man1 dedicates his house to be holy to the Lord, then the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand.  
15 If he who dedicated it wants to1 redeem his house, then he must add one-fifth of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall be his.  
16 ‘If a man1 dedicates to the Lord part of a field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it. A homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.  
17 If he dedicates his field from the Year of Jubilee, according to your valuation it shall stand.
18 But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, then the priest shall areckon to him the money due according to the years that remain till the Year of Jubilee, and it shall be deducted from your valuation.  
19 And if he who dedicates the field ever wishes to redeem it, then he must add one-fifth of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall belong to him.
20 But if he does not want to redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed anymore;
21 but the field, awhen it is released in the Jubilee, shall be holy to the Lord, as a bdevoted field; it shall be cthe possession of the priest.  
22 ‘And if a man dedicates to the Lord a field which he has bought, which is not the field of ahis possession,  
23 then the priest shall reckon to him the worth of your valuation, up to the Year of Jubilee, and he shall give your valuation on that day as a holy offering to the Lord.
24 aIn the Year of Jubilee the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, to the one who owned the land as a possession.  
25 And all your valuations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: atwenty gerahs to the shekel.  
26 ‘But the afirstborn of the animals, which should be the Lord’s firstborn, no man shall dedicate; whether it is an ox or sheep, it is the Lord’s.  
27 And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall redeem it according to your valuation, and ashall add one-fifth to it; or if it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.  
28 a‘Nevertheless no1 devoted offering that a man may devote to the Lord of all that he has, both man and beast, or the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted offering is most holy to the Lord.  
29 aNo person under the ban, who may become doomed to destruction among men, shall be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death.  
30 And aall the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.  
31 aIf a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it.  
32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever apasses under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.  
33 He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, anor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’ ”  
34 aThese are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount bSinai. 
Commentaries:
Matthew Henry
<< Leviticus 26:46   Leviticus 27:2 >>


Leviticus 27:1-34

The law concerning vows, Of persons and animals. (1-13) Vows concerning houses and land. (14-25) Devoted things not to be redeemed. (26-33) Conclusion. (34)

Verses 1-13 Zeal for the service of God disposed the Israelites, on some occasions, to dedicate themselves or their children to the service of the Lord, in his house for life. Some persons who thus dedicated themselves might be employed as assistants; in general they were to be redeemed for a value. It is good to be zealously affected and liberally disposed for the Lord's service; but the matter should be well weighed, and prudence should direct as to what we do; else rash vows and hesitation in doing them will dishonour God, and trouble our own minds.

Verses 14-25 Our houses, lands, cattle, and all our substance, must be used to the glory of God. It is acceptable to him that a portion be given to support his worship, and to promote his cause. But God would not approve such a degree of zeal as ruined a man's family.

Verses 26-33 Things or persons devoted, are distinguished from things or persons that were only sanctified. Devoted things were most holy to the Lord, and could neither be taken back nor applied to other purposes. Whatever productions they had the benefit, God must be honoured with the tenth of, if it could be applied. Thus they acknowledge God to be the Owner of their land, the Giver of its fruits, and themselves to be his tenants, and dependants upon him. Thus they gave him thanks for the plenty they enjoyed, and besought his favour in the continuance of it. We are taught to honour the Lord with our substance.

Verse 34 The last verse seems to have reference to this whole book. Many of the precepts in it are moral, and always binding; others are ceremonial, and peculiar to the Jewish nation; yet they have a spiritual meaning, and so teach us; for unto us, by these institutions, is the gospel preached, as well as unto them, Heb 4:2. The doctrine of reconciliation to God by a Mediator, is not clouded with the smoke of burning sacrifice, but cleared by the knowledge of Christ and him crucified. We are under the sweet and easy institutions of the gospel, which pronounces those true worshippers, who worship the Father in spirit and truth, by Christ only, and in his name. Yet, let us not think, because we are not tied to the ceremonial rites and oblations, that a little care, time, and expense, will serve to honour God with. Having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with a true heart, and in full assurance of faith, worshipping God with the more cheerfulness and humble confidence, still saying, BLESSED BE GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST.


 
<< Leviticus 26:46   Leviticus 27:2 >>

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