Bibelkommentare

Laws concerning vows, Leviticus 27:1, Leviticus 27:2. Of males and females from twenty to sixty years of age, and their valuation, Leviticus 27:3, Leviticus 27:4. Of the same from five to twenty years, Leviticus 27:5. Of the same from a month to five years of age, Leviticus 27:6. Of males and females from sixty years old and upwards, and their valuation, Leviticus 27:7. The priest shall value the poor according to his ability, Leviticus 27:8. Concerning beasts that are vowed, and their valuation, Leviticus 27:9-13. Concerning the sanctification of a house, Leviticus 27:14, Leviticus 27:15. Concerning the field that is sanctified or consecrated to the Lord, to the year of jubilee, Leviticus 27:16-24. Every estimation shall be made in shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, Leviticus 27:25. The firstlings of clean beasts, being already the Lord's, cannot be vowed, Leviticus 27:26. That of an unclean beast may be redeemed, Leviticus 27:27. Every thing devoted to God shall be unalienable and unredeemable, and continue the Lord's property till death, Leviticus 27:28, Leviticus 27:29. All the tithe of the land is the Lord's, Leviticus 27:30; but it may be redeemed by adding a fifth part, Leviticus 27:31. The tithe of the herd and the flock is also his, Leviticus 27:32. The tenth that passes under the rod shall not be changed, Leviticus 27:33. The conclusion of the book, Leviticus 27:34.

When a man shall make a singular vow - The verse is short and obscure, and may be translated thus: A man who shall have separated a vow, according to thy estimation, of souls unto the Lord; which may be paraphrased thus: He who shall have vowed or consecrated a soul, i. e., a living creature, whether man or beast, if he wish to redeem what he has thus vowed or consecrated, he shall ransom or redeem it according to the priest's estimation; for the priest shall judge of the properties, qualifications, and age of the person or beast, and the circumstances of the person who has vowed it, and shall regulate the value accordingly; and the money shall be put into his hands for the service of the sanctuary. A vow (says Mr. Ainsworth) is a religious promise made unto the Lord, and for the most part with prayer, and paid with thanksgiving, Numbers 21:2, Numbers 21:3; Psalm 66:12, Psalm 66:14. Vows were either of abstinence, such as are spoken of Numbers 30, and the vow of the Nazarite, Numbers 6; or they were to give something to the Lord, as sacrifices, Leviticus 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, (Leviticus 27:5, Leviticus 27:6), his domestics, his cattle, his goods, etc. And in this chapter rules are laid down for the redemption of all these things. But if, after consecrating these things, he refused to redeem them, then they became the Lord's property for ever. The persons continued all their lives devoted to the service of the sanctuary; the goods were sold for the profit of the temple or the priests; the animals, if clean, were offered in sacrifice; if not proper for sacrifice, were sold, and the price devoted to sacred uses. This is a general view of the different laws relative to vows, mentioned in this chapter.

From twenty years old even unto sixty-fifty shekels - A man from twenty to sixty years of age, if consecrated to the Lord by a vow, might be redeemed for fifty shekels, which, at 3s. each, amounted to 7. 10s. sterling.

And if it be a female - The woman, at the same age, vowed unto the Lord, might be redeemed for thirty shekels, 4. 10s. sterling, a little more than one half of the value of the man; for this obvious reason, that a woman, if employed, could not be of so much use in the service of the sanctuary as the man, and was therefore of much less value.

From five years old - The boy that was vowed might be redeemed for twenty shekels, 3. sterling; the girl, for ten shekels, just one half, 1. 10s.

A month old - The male child, five shekels, 15s., the female, three shekels, 9s. Being both in comparative infancy, they were nearly of an equal value. None were vowed under a month old: the first-born being always considered as the Lord's property, could not be vowed, see Leviticus 27:26.

Sixty years old - The old man and the old woman, being nearly past labor, were nearly of an equal value; hence the one was estimated at fifteen shekels, 2. 5s., the other at ten shekels, 1. 10s. This was about the same ratio as that of the children, Leviticus 27:5, and for the same reason.

He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, etc. - Whatever was consecrated to God by a vow, or purpose of heart, was considered from that moment as the Lord's property; to change which was impiety; to withhold it, sacrilege. Reader, hast thou ever dedicated thyself, or any part of thy property, to the service of thy Maker? If so, hast thou paid thy vows? Or hast thou altered thy purpose, or changed thy offering? Has he received from thy hands a bad for a good? Wast thou not vowed and consecrated to God in thy baptism? Are his vows still upon thee? Hast thou "renounced the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful lusts of the flesh?" Dost thou feel thyself bound "to keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life?" Was not this thy baptismal covenant? And hast thou renounced It? Take heed! God is not mocked: that which thou sowest, thou shalt also reap. If thou rob God of thy heart, he will deprive thee of his heaven.