Leviticus 27
1 He that makes a singular vow must be the Lord's.
3 The estimation of the person;
9 of a beast given by vow;
14 of a house;
16 of a field, and the redemption thereof.
28 No devoted thing may be redeemed.
30 The tithe may not be changed.
man <0376> [When.]
special votive offering <05088 06381> [a singular vow.]
A vow is a religious promise made to God, for the most part with prayer, and paid with thanksgiving. Vows were either of abstinence (Nu 6:30), or the devoting of something to the Lord, as sacrifices (Le 7:16,) or the value of persons, beasts, houses, or lands, concerning which the law is here given. A man might vow or devote himself, his children, his domestics, his cattle, his goods, etc.; and respecting the redemption of all these, rules are laid down in this chapter. But if, after consecrating these things, he refused to redeem them, they then became the Lord's property forever. The persons continued all their lives devoted to the sanctuary, the goods were sold for the profit of the temple, or the priests; and the animals, if clean, were offered in sacrifice; and if not proper for sacrifice, were sold, and the proceeds devoted to sacred uses. This is a general view of the different laws relative to vows, mentioned in this chapter.
conversion value <06187> [And thy estimation.]
fifty shekels ........ shekel <08255 02572> [fifty shekels. i.e, At three shillings each, 7Å“. 10s. sterling.]
shekels ........ shekel <08255> [after the.]
thirty shekels <08255 07970> [thirty shekels. i.e., 4Å“. 10s. sterling, A little more than one-half the value of a man; for this obvious reason, that a woman, if employed, would not be of so much use in the sanctuary as the man.]
# Zec 11:12,13 Mt 26:15 27:9,10
twenty ........... twenty shekels ....... shekels <06242 08255> [twenty shekels. i.e., 3Å“. sterling. ten shekels. i.e., 1Å“.]
10s. sterling
month <02320> [from.]
male <02145> [the male.]
The male five shekels, 15s., the female three shekels, 9s. Being both in infancy they were nearly of an equal value.
sixty <08346> [from.]
fifteen <02568> [fifteen.]
The old man and the old woman, being almost past labour, were nearly of an equal value; the former being estimated at 15 shekels, and the latter at 10.
too poor <04134> [poorer.]
according <06310> [according.]
According to the assessed conversion value <06187> [as thou valuest it, who art the priest. Heb. according to thy estimation, O priest, etc.]
consecrates <06942> [sanctify.]
priest .............. priest <03548> [as the priest.]
add <03254> [then he shall add.]
landed <07704> [some part.]
Though the words "some part" are not expressed, yet it is generally allowed that they should be supplied here; as it was not lawful for a man to alienate in this manner his whole patrimony: he might express his good will for the house of God but he must not impoverish his own family.
landed <07704> [of a field.]
homer <02563> [an homer. or, the land of an homer, etc., i.e, as much land as required a homer of barley to sow it.]
The {homer} was very different from the {omer;} the latter held about three quarts, the former seventy-five gallons three pints.
reverts <03318> [when.]
dedicated <02764> [devoted.]
It is {cherem,} a thing so devoted to God, as never more to be capable of being redeemed.
priest's <03548> [priest's.]
property <0272> [his possession.]
conversion value <06187> [And all.]
shekel ...... shekel <08255> [to the shekel.]
A standard shekel; the standard being kept in the sanctuary, to try and regulate all the weights in the land by.
twenty <06242> [twenty.]
firstborn <01060> [the firstling. Heb. first born, etc.]
As these firstlings were the Lord's before, it would have been a solemn mockery to pretend to make them a matter of a singular vow; for they were already appointed, if clean, to be sacrificed.
Lord .................... Lord <03068> [which.]
add <03254> [and shall add.]
This was probably intended to prevent rash vows and covetous redemptions. The priest alone was to value the thing; and to whatever his valuation was, a fifth part must be added by him who wished to redeem it.
dedicates ........................... dedicated <02764> [no devoted.]
This is the {cherem,} the absolute, irredeemable grant to God.
dedicated <02764> [None.]
<03808 02763> [which shall be devoted.]
That is, either that every person devoted to the service of God shall not be redeemed, but die in that devoted state, or, that such as were devoted to death by appointment and law of God, as the Canaanites were, shall be put to death.
passes .... rod <07626 05674> [passeth under the rod.]
The Rabbins say, that when a man gave the tithe of his sheep or calves, he shut them in one fold, in which was a narrow door, to let out but one at a time. He then stood by the door, with a rod dipped in vermilion in his hand, and as they passed he counted them with the rod; and when the tenth came he touched it, by which it was distinguished as the tithe calf, sheep, etc.
commandments <04687> [commandments.]
Mount <02022> [in mount.]
CONCLUDING REMARKS. Thus terminates this most interesting and important book; a book containing a code of sacrificial, ceremonial, civil, and judicial laws, which, for the purity of their morality, the wisdom, justice, and beneficence of their enactments, and the simplicity, dignity, and impressive nature of their rites, are perfectly unrivalled, and altogether worthy of their Divine Author. All the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law are at once dignified and expressive. They point out the holiness of their Author, the sinfulness of man, the necessity of an atonement, and the state of moral excellence to which the grace and mercy of the Creator have destined to raise the human soul. They include, as well as point out, the gospel of the Son of God; from which they receive their consummation and perfection. The sacrifices and oblations were significant of the atonement of Christ; the requisite qualities of these sacrifices were emblematical of his immaculate character; and the prescribed mode in the form of these offerings, and the mystical rites ordained, were allusive institutions, calculated to enlighten the apprehensions of the Jews, and to prepare them for the reception of the Gospel. The institution of the high priesthood typified Jesus, the Great High Priest, called and prepared of God, who hath an unchangeable priesthood, and is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him.
