Leviticus 27

Leviticus 27:1

XII. VOWS AND TITHES (Chap. 27)The last chapter of Leviticus deals with voluntary vows made to the Lord. It seems that in gratitude to the Lord for some blessing, a man could vow to the Lord a person (himself or a member of his family), an animal, a house, or a field. The things vowed were given to the priests (Num_18:14). Since these gifts were not always of use to the priests, provision was made that the person making the vow could give the priest a sum of money in lieu of the thing vowed. 27:1, 2 A vow of consecration was very special. 27:3-7 If a person was vowed to the Lord, then the redemption price to be paid to the priest was as follows:

A man from 20-60 years old50 shekelsA woman from 20-60 years old30 shekelsA male from 5-20 years old20 shekelsA female from 5-20 years old10 shekelsA male from 1 month to 5 years old5 shekelsA female from 1 month to 5 years old3 shekelsA male 60 years old and above15 shekelsA female 60 years old and above10 shekels27:8 If a man was too poor to redeem his vow according to this chart, then the priest determined some figure according to his ability. 27:9-13 If the vow was an animal, the following rules applied: A clean animal, suitable for sacrifice, could not be redeemed (v. 9). It was to be offered to the Lord upon the altar (Num_18:17); nothing could be gained by exchanging one animal for another, because both would then become the Lord’s (vv. 10, 33); an unclean animal could be redeemed by paying the value placed on it by the priest, plus one-fifth (vv. 11-13). 27:14, 15 If a man dedicated his house to . . . the LORD, he could change his mind and buy it back by paying the priest’s estimate of its value, plus one-fifth. 27:16-18 Appraising the value of a field was complicated by the fact that it reverted to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee. If it was dedicated by its original owner, that is, if he inherited it, then the rules in verses 16-21 applied. It was valued according to the seed sown in it. For example, if a homer of barley seed were sown in it, it would be valued at fifty shekels of silver. If the field was vowed near or at the Year of Jubilee, then the above appraisal was effective. But if it was dedicated some years after the Year of Jubilee, then the value of the field decreased accordingly. In other words, the field would be worth only 30 shekels if it was vowed 20 years after the Year of Jubilee. 27:19-21 If the field was redeemed, then an added payment of one-fifth was required. If, after giving the land to the Lord, the owner did not . . . redeem it before the Year of Jubilee, or if he secretly sold it to someone else, it could no longer be redeemed but became the possession of the priest at the Year of Jubilee. The land was then “devoted” or “holy” to the LORD. 27:22-25 If a field was dedicated by someone who was not its original owner, that is, by someone who bought it, then verses 22-25 applied. The priest set a value on the property, depending on how many crops could be raised on it before the Year of Jubilee. In that year, the field went back to its original owner. 27:26, 27 The firstborn of a sacrificial animal could not be dedicated to the Lord, because it belonged to Him anyway. The firstborn of an unclean animal could be redeemed by paying the priest’s valuation of it, plus one-fifth. Otherwise the priest could sell it. 27:28, 29 Nothing that was under sentence of death or destruction could be redeemed. This is what was meant by a devoted or proscribed thing. Thus a son who cursed his parents could not be redeemed but must be put to death. It should be noted that there is an important distinction in this chapter between what is consecrated (NASB) or sanctified (KJV) and what is proscribed (NASB) or devoted (NKJV, KJV). Things sanctified by vowthat is, set apart for divine usecould be redeemed. Devoted things were given completely and finally, and could not be redeemed. 27:30, 31 A tithe or tenth of the grain and fruit belonged to the Lord. If the offerer wanted to keep it, he could pay its value plus one-fifth. 27:32, 33 The expression “whatever passes under the rod” refers to the practice of numbering sheep or goats by causing them to pass under the shepherd’s rod. Leslie Flynn comments: With rod in hand, he [the shepherd] would touch every tenth one. He could in no way contrive to change their order so that a good animal would escape tenth place. If he tried to alter the order, both the real tenth and the attempted switch would be the Lord’s. This first tithe was called the levitical tithe, because it was paid to the Levites (Num_18:21-24). A second tithe, which apparently is a different one, is prescribed in Deu_14:22-29. 27:34 The commandments which the LORD commanded Moses in the last verse of Leviticus probably refer to the whole book. After studying the multitude of detailed rituals and blood sacrifices, we can rejoice with Matthew Henry that We are not under the dark shadows of the law, but enjoy the clear light of the gospel, . . . that we are not under the heavy yoke of the law, and the carnal ordinances of it . . . , but under the sweet and easy institutions of the gospel, which pronounces those the true worshippers that worship the Father in spirit and truth, by Christ only, and in his name, who is our priest, temple, altar, sacrifice, purification, and all. Let us not therefore think that because we are not tied to the ceremonial cleansings, feasts, and oblations, a little care, time, and expense, will serve to honour God with. No, but rather have our hearts more enlarged with free-will offerings to his praise, more inflamed with holy love and joy, and more engaged in seriousness of thought and sincerity of intention. 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 so much the more cheerfulness and humble confidence, still saying, Blessed be God for Jesus Christ!