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Leviticus Chapter Twenty-seven

 

Leviticus 27

Chapter Contents

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)

Commentary on Leviticus 27:1-13

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.

Commentary on Leviticus 27:14-25

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.

Commentary on Leviticus 27:26-33

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.

Commentary on Leviticus 27:34

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 Hebrews 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.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on Leviticus

 

Leviticus 27

Verse 2

[2] Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them When a man shall make a singular vow the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.

A singular vow-Or an eminent or hard vow not concerning things which was customary but concerning persons which he devoted to the Lord which was unusual and difficult: yet there want not instances of persons who devoted either themselves or their children and that either more strictly as the Nazarites and the Levites 1 Samuel 1:11 and for these there was no redemption admitted but they were in person to perform the service to which they were devoted: or more largely as some who were not Levites might yet through zeal to God or to obtain God's help which they wanted or desired devote themselves or their children to the service of God and of the sanctuary tho' not in such a way as the Levites which was forbidden yet in some kind of subserviency to them. And because there might be too great a number of persons thus dedicated which might be burdensome to the sanctuary an exchange is allowed and the priests are directed to receive a tax for their redemption.

By thy estimation — Thine O man that vowest as appears from Leviticus 27:8 where his estimation is opposed to the priest's valuation. Nor was there any fear of his partiality in his own cause for the price is particularly limited. But where the price is undetermined there to avoid that inconvenience the priest is to value it as Leviticus 27:8 12.

Verse 3

[3] And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver after the shekel of the sanctuary.

Unto sixty years — Which is the best time for strength and service and therefore prized at the highest rate.

Verse 4

[4] And if it be a female then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels.

Thirty shekels — Less than the man's price because she is inferior to him both in strength and serviceableness.

Verse 5

[5] And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels and for the female ten shekels.

Five years old — At which age they might be vowed by their parents as appears from 1 Samuel 1:11-28 tho' not by themselves; and the children were obliged by their parents vow which is not strange considering the parents right to dispose of their children so far as is not contrary to the mind of God.

Verse 8

[8] But if he be poorer than thy estimation then he shall present himself before the priest and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him.

Than thy estimation — If he be not able to pay the price which thou according to the rules here given requirest of him.

Verse 9

[9] And if it be a beast whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy.

Whereof men bring an offering — That is a clean beast.

Giveth — Voweth to give: Shall be holy - Consecrated to God either to be sacrificed or to be given to the priest according to the manner of the vow and the intention of him that voweth.

Verse 10

[10] He shall not alter it nor change it a good for a bad or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy.

He shall not alter it nor change it — Two words expressing the same thing more emphatically that is he shall in no wise change it neither for one of the same nor of another kind: partly because God would preserve the reverence of consecrated things and therefore would not have them alienated and partly to prevent abuses of them who on this pretence might exchange it for the worse.

It and the exchange — That is both the thing first vowed and the thing offered or given in exchange. This was inflicted upon him as a just penalty for his levity in such weighty matters.

Verse 11

[11] And if it be any unclean beast of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the LORD then he shall present the beast before the priest:

Unclean — Either for the kind or for the quality of it; if it were such an one as might not be offered.

Verse 14

[14] And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD then the priest shall estimate it whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it so shall it stand.

Sanctify his house — By a vow for of that way and manner of sanctification he speaks in this whole chapter.

Verse 15

[15] And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it and it shall be his.

The fifth part — Which he might the better do because the priests did usually put a moderate rate upon it.

Verse 16

[16] And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.

Of his possession — That is which is his by inheritance because particular direction is given about purchased lands Leviticus 27:22. And he saith part of it for it was unlawful to vow away all his possessions because thereby he disabled himself from the performance of divers duties and made himself burdensome to his brethren.

According to the seed — That is according to the quantity and quality of the land which is known by the quantity of seed which it can receive and return.

Fifty-shekels — Not to be paid yearly 'till the year of jubilee but once for all as is most probable 1. Because here is no mention of any yearly payment but only of one payment. 2. Because it is probable that lands were moderately valued that men might be rather encouraged to make such vows than deterred by excessive impositions. But if this were yearly rent it was an excessive rate and much more than the land ordinarily yielded. For an omer is but the tenth part of an ephah about a pottle of our measure which quantity of seed would not extend very far and in some lands would yield but an inconsiderable crop especially in barley which was cheaper than wheat and which for that reason among others may be mentioned rather than wheat.

Verse 17

[17] If he sanctify his field from the year of jubile according to thy estimation it shall stand.

From the year of jubilee — That is immediately after the year of jubilee is past.

According to thy estimation — Now mentioned of fifty shekels for an omer of barley seed.

It shall stand — That is that price shall be paid without diminution.

Verse 18

[18] But if he sanctify his field after the jubile then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain even unto the year of the jubile and it shall be abated from thy estimation.

After the jubilee — That is some considerable time after. The defalcation from the full price of fifty shekels shall be more or less as the years are more or fewer.

Verse 20

[20] And if he will not redeem the field or if he have sold the field to another man it shall not be redeemed any more.

If he will not redeem it — When the priest shall set a price upon it and offer it to him in the first place to redeem it: or rather and for this seems to be added by way of accumulation if he that is the priest of whom he might have redeemed it upon his refusal offers it to sale and have sold the field to another man - He shall for ever lose the benefit of redemption.

Verse 21

[21] But the field when it goeth out in the jubile shall be holy unto the LORD as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's.

When it goeth out — That is out of the possession of the other man to whom the priest sold it.

The possession shall be the priests — For their maintenance. Nor is this repugnant to that law that the priests should have no inheritance in the land Numbers 18:20 for that is only spoken of the tribe of Levi in general in reference to the first division of the land wherein the Levites were not to have a distinct part of land as other tribes had; but this doth not hinder but some particular lands might be vowed and given to the priests either for their own benefit or for the service of the sanctuary.

Verse 22

[22] And if a man sanctify unto the LORD a field which he hath bought which is not of the fields of his possession;

His possession — His patrimony or inheritance.

Verse 23

[23] Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation even unto the year of the jubile: and he shall give thine estimation in that day as a holy thing unto the LORD.

Thy estimation — That is the price which thou O Moses by my direction hast set in such cases.

To the jubilee — As much as it is worth for that space of time between the making of the vow and the year of jubilee: for he had no right to it for any longer time as the next verse tells us.

As an holy thing — As that which is to be consecrated to God instead of the land redeemed by it.

Verse 25

[25] And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.

The shekel — About 2s. 6d.

Verse 26

[26] Only the firstling of the beasts which should be the LORD's firstling no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox or sheep: it is the LORD's.

No man shall sanctify it — By vow; because it is not his own but the Lord's already and therefore to vow such a thing to God is a tacit derogation from and an usurpation of the Lord's right and a mocking of God by pretending to give what we cannot withhold from him.

Or ox or sheep — Under these two eminent kinds he comprehends all other beasts which might be sacrificed to God the firstlings whereof could not be redeemed but were to be sacrificed; whereas the firstlings of men were to be redeemed and therefore were capable of being vowed as we see 1 Samuel 1:11.

Verse 27

[27] And if it be of an unclean beast then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed then it shall be sold according to thy estimation.

An unclean beast — That is if it be the first-born of an unclean beast as appears from Leviticus 27:26 which could not be vowed because it was a first-born nor offered because it was unclean and therefore is here commanded to be redeemed or sold.

It shall be sold — And the price thereof was given to the priests or brought into the Lord's treasury.

Verse 28

[28] Notwithstanding no devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath both of man and beast and of the field of his possession shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD.

No devoted thing — That is nothing which is absolutely devoted to God with a curse upon themselves or others if they disposed not of it according to their vow; as the Hebrew word implies.

Most holy — That is only to be touched or employed by the priests and by no other persons; no not by their own families for that was the state of the most holy things.

Verse 29

[29] None devoted which shall be devoted of men shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death.

Devoted of men — Not by men as some would elude It; but of men for it is manifest both from this and the foregoing verses that men are here not the persons devoting but devoted to destruction either by God's sentence as idolaters Exodus 22:20; Deuteronomy 23:15 the Canaanites Deuteronomy 20:17 the Amalekites Deuteronomy 25:19 and 1 Samuel 15:3 26 Benhaded 1 Kings 20:42 or by men in pursuance of such a sentence of God as Numbers 21:2; 3 or for any crime of an high nature as Judges 21:5; Joshua 17:15. But this is not to be generally understood as some have taken it as if a Jew might by virtue of this Text devote his child or his servant to the Lord and thereby oblige himself to put them to death. For this is expressly limited to all that a man hath or which is his that is which he hath a power over. But the Jews had no power over the lives of their children or servants but were directly forbidden to take them away by that great command thou shalt do no murder. And seeing he that killed his servant casually by a blow with a rod was surely to be punished as is said Exodus 21:20 it could not be lawful wilfully to take away his life upon pretence of any such vow as this. But for the Canaanites Amalekites etc. God the undoubted Lord of all men's lives gave to the Israelites a power over their persons and lives and a command to put them to death. And this verse may have a special respect to them or such as them.

Verse 30

[30] And all 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 unto the LORD.

The tithe — There are divers sorts of tithes but this seems to be understood only of the ordinary and yearly tithes belonging to the Levites as the very expression intimates and the addition of the fifth part in case of redemption thereof implies.

Verse 32

[32] And concerning the tithe of the herd or of the flock even of whatsoever passeth under the rod the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Under the rod — Either 1. The tither's rod it being the manner of the Jews in tithing to cause all their cattle to pass through some gate or narrow passage where the tenth was marked by a person appointed for that purpose and reserved for the priest. Or 2. the shepherd's rod under which the herds and flocks passed and by which they were governed and numbered. See Jeremiah 33:13.

Verse 34

[34] These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai — This has reference to the whole book. Many of these commandments are moral: others ceremonial and peculiar to the Jewish economy: Which yet are instructive to us who have a key to the mysteries that are contained in them. Upon the whole we have cause to bless God that we are not come to mount Sinai that we are not under the dark shadows of the law but enjoy the clear light of the gospel. The doctrine of our reconciliation to God by a Mediator is not clouded with the smoke of burning sacrifices but cleared by the knowledge of Christ and him crucified. And we may praise him that we are not under the yoke of the law but under the sweet and easy instructions of the gospel which pronounces those the true worshippers that worship the Father in spirit and in truth by Christ only who is our priest temple altar sacrifice purification and all.

── John WesleyExplanatory Notes on Leviticus

                             

 

27 Chapter 27

 

Verses 2-13

Leviticus 27:2-13

When a man shall make a singular vow.

Laws concerning vows

I. That voluntary and special vows were permitted by the Lord. Vows should be made cautiously deliberately and in most instances conditionally; because further enlightenment or changed conditions may render their fulfilment undesirable unnecessary or even impossible.

II. That vows were acceptable to the Lord according to the spirit which prompted them and in which they were paid. When circumstances justified an Israelite repenting of his vow it could be com-mutated or remitted or some compensation offered in its stead. Jehovah would accept nothing that was recklessly or reluctantly presented. All adjustments and decisions were to be made according to the standards of the sanctuary not according to human fallibility and caprice. Though a vow should not be literally performed it must be perfectly fulfilled in respect to honourable intention and sacred fidelity. The state of heart in the presentation of sacrifice determined the value of the gift. This law has fever been repealed.

III. That freedom of choice given in the fulfilment of vows did not contravene the purposes of the lord concerning his work and worship. The compensation paid in lieu of the original vow went to sustain the sanctuary services and the Lord reserved to Himself some unalienable rights. Some things when devoted could not be withheld or withdrawn under any circumstances. He demanded a tenth of the produce of the land and enforced His claim with righteous and unrelaxing rigour. Thus the preservation and perpetuation of Jehovah’s worship were secured and not left contingent upon the fickleness and uncertainty of human devotedness. Righteousness lies at the foundation of the Levitical economy; is the basis of natural and revealed religion. Leviticus is a witness to Christ and His gospel. In Him we have combined all that the law embodied--Altar Sacrifice Priest. Simplicity and purity of aims loftiest motives deepest meanings and incomparable excellence lift the law and the gospel infinitely above all other religions of the world. The superiority to Jewish narrowness and bigotry to human sinfulness and shortsightedness demonstrate their divinity of origin mutual dependence absolute authority undying vigour and inestimable worth. (F. W. Brown.)

The extraordinary in the service of God

This is part of the law concerning singular vows extraordinary ones; which though God did not expressly insist on yet if they were consistent and conformable to the general precepts He would be well pleased with. Note--We should not only ask what must we do but what may we do for the glory and honour of God. As the liberal deviseth liberal things (Isaiah 32:8) so the pious deviseth pious things and the enlarged heart would willingly de something extraordinary in the service of so good a Master as God is. When we receive or expect some singular mercy it is good to honour God with some singular vow. (Matthew Henry D. D.)

The singular vow

I. Speaking in modern phrase we should describe this chapter as the act of the old law on the “singular vow.” This vow was distinguished from certain other vows common among the Hebrews by the circumstance that it was susceptible of redemption. We can all understand that a consecration of a man’s self or of a man’s estate might be so hurriedly or so thoughtlessly made (as in the case of Jephtha with his daughter) that the author of them would find out afterwards how rashly the promise had been given and how unequal he was to the keeping it and so be anxious to compound by a money equivalent for the more spiritual service he found himself incompetent to bring. This kind of engagement is called in the Hebrew the “Neder ” and is further marked by the character of singularity or wonderfulness; whereas towards the end of this very chapter we have another vow provided for and called the “Cherem ” which being accompanied with some sort of anathema or execration allowed no redemption. But now observe very carefully the method appointed for gaining release from the obligation. Moses was to arbitrate according to what he considered the ability of the applicant to render. “Pay so much ” would be the decision of the lawgiver “and thou mayest go free.” Rut the remarkable and the beautiful thing is that even that measure of relief to the vow-maker was not absolutely or invariably final. Moses might overestimate the resources of the devotee for the buying himself off from the personal service of the Tabernacle--Moses might adjudge too heavy a ransom--and therefore the law provided a yet further and more merciful escape. The man was at liberty to appeal from Moses to the priest. Aaron was the priest. His very name stands for a representative before God of the wants and the sorrows and the sins of the people; and hence to transfer the adjudication of a debtor’s affairs from Moses to his brother would as you can all see be the introduction of a perfectly new element into the ease to be tried. The appellant would be as poor in the presence of Aaron as he was in the presence of the former judge. He would also be as rich. And yet the very terms of the text are all but decisive on the fact that he would gain by carrying his cause before this new tribunal. Aaron would certainly--if we understand the law of the case--fix the money ransom at a lower figure. And the obvious reason is that Aaron by virtue of his own calling would make up for it--i.e. for the deficiency--in some other way and in some way in which Moses could not make up for it. We must not pronounce with any authority on the exact method in which the priest would settle with the poverty of a debtor and make it possible for him to go free whom his brother would have handed over to the full penalties of the vow to do perhaps Gibeonites’ work as a hewer of wood or a drawer of water. But the probability is that the remedy in Aaron’s hands would be the appointment of some easy offering in which the priest would render him the aid of his sacred functions.

II. Now it will hardly require any one of us to be very deep in controversial divinity to understand that if we are going to Christianise this type and turn it to the account of a modern religious experience we shall be treading on most critical though it may turn out very lawful and very instructive ground. In a word then let us say we are now having no business whatever with an unregenerate man nor any business whatever with the sacrifice of Christ as the only channel of his justification. The solitary topic of the text is a topic for men already in the covenant. Regeneration and even justification must be understood as settled already; and the vow-making of Leviticus must be looked upon wholly and solely as the service of the Christian at peace with the law but struggling with subsequent duties. Is there no difference? There is all the difference in the world between the terms on which the great God will take a man to heaven and the terms on which He will treat him when already in the covenant. In the former transaction the man may vow as he likes; he can pay nothing and he is never asked to pay. In the latter transaction where the former is finished the man is commanded to pay and struggles to pay; but nevertheless our point with you is that times without number he is unable to pay. The universal and the sad fact is that entire duty is what none of us can render. Even in the Church the law is too much for us. And what we have to do a hundred times a day and all our lives long is to fall back on the solitary and sufficient and omnipotent righteousness of Christ. We do greatly err if we limit the sacerdotal functions of Immanuel to the gaining us forgiveness at our conversion or the taking us to heaven when we die. We want a priest every moment; some one that is to furnish the balance of service and duty demanded by our profession but never forthcoming. Those two men Moses and Aaron may be said to travel with the Christian every inch of his journey: Moses standing for what I ought to do and to be; Aaron standing for what I take refuge in as often as I come short or fall below “If he be poorer than thy estimation.” Which of us is not poorer than the Lawgiver’s estimation? Can we pay what is due from us? We acknowledged when first we believed that we could do nothing of the kind. But remember that there is a power and a merit in the righteousness of Christ that continues at the disposal of the saint till the day of his death. Immanuel is certain to judge me or according to the text to value me on other grounds than those of justice and of law: and the reason is that He has something to give me something of His own. He is my Priest and has business with the altar and the sacrifice and under the gospel Christ is Himself all three. You who tell me my duty are only my lawgivers fresh from Mount Sinai. So is the Sermon on the Mount; so is my conscience; so is everything and every one but Christ. But do you not see that if a Mediator who for ever is holding up His righteousness on my behalf--if He values me my value alters? I am now not the bankrupt debtor who had not enough to pay I am that debtor and some one else besides. I am a part of Christ. I bring now my poor offerings of duty for I must still bring them but I bring them covered with blood and made worth something by blood. And therefore though I was not rich enough to pay what I owed as bare law sat and measured my resources I can pay the uttermost farthing as soon as Jesus the Saviour adds His own Cross to my inheritance. (H. Christopherson.)

The provisions of righteousness and grace

Now in the case of a person devoting himself or his beast his house or his field unto the Lord it was obviously a question of capacity or worth; and hence there was a certain scale of valuation according to age. Moses as the representative of the claims of God was called upon to estimate in each case according to the standard of the sanctuary. If a man undertakes to make a vow he must be tried by the standard of righteousness; and moreover in all cases we are called upon to recognise the difference between capacity and title. Moses had a certain standard from which he could not possibly descend. He had a certain rule from which he could not possibly swerve. If any one could come up to that well; if not he had to take his place accordingly. What then was to be done in reference to the person who was unable to rise to the height of the claims set forth by the representative of Divine righteousness? Hear the consolatory answer (Leviticus 27:8). In other words if it be a question of man’s undertaking to meet the claims of righteousness then he must meet them. But if on the other hand a man feels himself wholly unable to meet those claims he has only to fall back upon grace which will take him up just as he is. Moses is the representative of the claims of Divine righteousness. The priest is the exponent of the provisions of Divine grace. The poor man who was unable to stand before Moses fell back into the arms of the priest. Thus it is ever. If we cannot “dig” we can “beg”; and directly we take the place of a beggar it is no longer a question of what we are able to earn but of what God is pleased to give. “Grace all the work shall crown through everlasting days.” How happy it is to be debtors to grace! How happy to take when God is glorified in giving! When man is in question it is infinitely better to dig than to beg; but when God is in question the case is the very reverse. I would just add that I believe this entire chapter bears in an especial manner upon the nation of Israel. It is intimately connected with the two preceding chapters. Israel made “a singular vow” at the foot of Mount Horeb; but were quite unable to meet the claims of law--they were far “poorer than Moses’ estimation.” But blessed be God they will come in under the rich provisions of Divine grace. (C. H. Mackintosh.)

Influence of a singular vow

I made a solemn vow before God that if General Lee were driven back from Pennsylvania I would crown the result by the declaration of freedom to the slaves. (President Lincoln.)

A vow kept

I met some time ago a gentleman residing in a retired town in Kent who told that he was recently confined to his house by indisposition and inclement weather on a wintry Sunday. When the rest of the family were at church he took up George Muller’s book in which he describes “The Lord’s Dealings” with him. He became so much interested in the author’s life and labours that he promised his conscience then and there that if a certain business transaction he had in hand resulted in a certain amount of success he would send the philanthropist £100 for his Orphans’ Home. The success was realised and he was then just on the point of sending off a cheque for the promised amount. (Elihu Burritt.)

Brittle vows

It is said of Andreas one of the kings of Hungary that having engaged himself by promise to go to the holy wars (as they then called them) went with all his forces and coming to Jerusalem only bathed himself there as one that had washed off his promise and so returned back again without striking One blow. Such is the case with many men at present their promises covenants and agreements with others though sealed and subscribed prove too too often as brittle as the glasses they drink in; no bounds will hold them they rob the Grecians of their proverb and own it themselves. For let but the worst of men say they will do this or that is as much as if they had sworn they would not do it unless it be when they embark themselves in some unwarrantable actions and the sun may sooner be thrust out of his sphere than they diverted from their adamantine resolutions. (J. Spencer.)

The redemption of a singular vow

Incidents in Oriental history often read like parables. Men are moved by strange motives to do strange things; and the student from the west wanders in a maze of fancies and facts that are bewildering indeed. Thus it is that the early portion of a missionary’s life in an eastern land teems with things that are unreal and he is surrounded by fellow-men who seem in no true sense his fellows. There is so much that is inexplicable to him in their motives and conduct that until he gets a “clue to the maze ” from a constant study of the religions that dominate their lives his blunders are many and sometimes even disastrous to his mission. The following is an instance of what I mean and as it is recorded as an historical fact will serve the purpose admirably: “Abd-al-Muttalib once vowed that if he should be so greatly blessed as to have ten sons one should certainly be devoted to Allah. In process of time the number was fulfilled and the reluctant father gathered his offspring in the Kaaba and cast lots for the one to be sacrificed. The lot fell upon Abdalla the beautiful son of his old age. The sacrifical knife was solemnly prepared”; and like Abraham he stood ready for the awful deed. But the lad’s sisters came to the rescue. They knew that the Arabs offered camels in sacrifice and in their abounding grief they entreated their father to cast lots between their brother and ten of these valuable creatures. He consented; but to their sorrow the lot fell a second time on the favourite boy. The number of beasts was then doubled and the lot cast again; but still it fell upon the lad. Time after time trial was made as the sorrowing sisters and the troubled father became more and more desperate in their anxiety to save the dear one. At last one hundred camels had been proffered and then to their great joy the lot fell upon the beasts. Abdalla was saved. God had set his own value upon the devoted boy and when an equivalent was provided he was free. Arabs value highly the “ships of the desert”; for they are so essential to their mode of life. But a human being is more precious than many of them. This was recognised when ten camels were proffered; but until an unprecedented number had been Divinely sanctioned the true worth of the man was not fully believed in. Thus all the world over man has had to learn the value of his fellow by degrees. Many have not learnt the lesson yet because only man’s Maker and Redeemer can aright estimate the worth of man and reveal it to us. This He hath done in the gift of His Only-begotten Son who took man’s place that the lot might fall upon Him as of more than equal value with the whole of our race. (Robert Spurgeon.)

Philip Henry’s vow

A good man named Philip Henry resolved when he was young to give himself to God and he did it in these words: “I take God the Father to be my Chief End; I take God the Son to be my King and Saviour; I take God the Holy Ghost to be my Guide and Sanctifier; I take the Bible to be my rule of life; I take all God’s people to be my friends; and here I give my body and soul to be God’s--for God to use for ever.” That was Philip Henry’s resolve which he wrote out for himself when he was young; and he put at the end of it--“I make this vow of my own mind freely: God give me grace to keep it.” (C. Bullock.)

A vow fulfilled

“I remember that when we arrived at the hotel at White Mountains the ladies sat down to a cup of tea but I preferred to take a walk alone. It was a beautiful spot. The sun was just then reclining his head behind Mount Washington with all that glorious drapery of an American sunset of which we know nothing in this country. I felt that I should like to be walking with my God on this earth! I said ‘What shall I render to my Lord for all His benefits to me?’ I was led further to repeat that question which Paul asked under other circumstances ‘Lord what wilt Thou have me to do?’ The answer came immediately. It was this: ‘It is true thou canst not bring the many thousands thou hast left in thy native country to see this beautiful scenery; but thou canst create beautiful scenes for them. It is possible on a suitable spot so to arrange art and nature that they shall be within the walk of every working man in Halifax; that he shall go and take his stroll there after he has done his hard day’s toil and be able to get home again without being tired.’“ He pondered the thought prayed over it and the next day resolved to carry it into execution. On his return to England he took immediate steps for the fulfilment of his purpose; the design of the proposed park was entrusted to the late Sir Joseph Paxton and on the 14th of August 1857 it was publicly opened. It covers twelve and a half acres of ground and its entire cost was upwards of £30 000. (Memoir of Sir Francis Crossley.)


Verse 25

Leviticus 27:25

According to the shekel of the sanctuary.

Sanctuary measure demanded in small things

The law of the sanctuary is to regulate all. Full weight is sought for but neither superfluity nor abatement. God loves a perfect balance and a just weight. We do not know whether or not there was a standard measure kept in the sanctuary; but it is very probable. Some indeed render the words “shekel of holiness ” i.e. a true shekel; still it is every way likely that the other is the true meaning admitting that this rendering be right. There was probably a standard measure kept in the sanctuary by which all other weights and measures were regulated. Here would be a type to Israel of the Lord’s justice. Here in the sanctuary of Jehovah they found the source and regulating measure of all dealings in business between man and man and of all similar dealings between God and man through His priests. Would not this standard measure be felt to be a type of the Lord’s original attribute of righteousness? He it is that judges; He it is that fixes what is right and what is wrong; He it is to whom all Israel must come to have thought and action weighed. May not 1 Samuel 2:3 refer to this? Hannah’s eye had rested on this standard measure and so she sings “By Him actions are weighed.” Who shall stand before this holy God? He perceives what is wanting the moment He has adjusted His balances. He detects the want of faith in Cain at the altar; of true godly zeal in Jehu’s heart; of love in Ephesus; of life in Sardis; of oil in the five virgins; of the wedding garment in the speechless guest: He judges according to the real weight--not the apparent. He judges “according as the work has been ” not according as the show has been (1 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 22:12). (A. A. Bonar.)


Verses 30-33

Leviticus 27:30-33

All the tithes of the land . . . is the Lord’s.

The history of tithes

I. The scripture records concerning the law of tithes.

1. Antecedent to the Mosaic legislation. The principle of dedicating a tenth to God was recognised in the act of Abraham who paid tithes of his spoils to Melchizedek in his sacerdotal rather than his sovereign capacity (Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:6). Later in Jacob’s vow (Genesis 28:22) the dedication of a “tenth” presupposes a sacred enactment or’ a custom in existence which fixed that proportion rather than any other proportion such as a seventh or twelfth.

2. The Mosaic statutes. These given in this section lay claim in God’s name to the tenth of produce and cattle. An after enactment fixed that these tithes were to be paid to the Levites for their services (Numbers 18:21-24) who were to give a tithe of what they received to the priests (Leviticus 27:26-28). The sacred festivals were later made occasion for a further tithe (Deuteronomy 12:5-6; Deuteronomy 12:11; Deuteronomy 12:17; Deuteronomy 14:22-23); which was allowed to come in money value rather than in kind (Deuteronomy 14:24-26).

3. Hezekiah’s reformation. This was signalised by the eagerness with which the people came with their tithes (2 Chronicles 31:5-6).

4. After the Captivity. Nehemiah made marked and emphatic arrangements concerning the tithing (Nehemiah 10:37; Nehemiah 12:44).

5. Prophet’s teachings. Both Amos (4:4) and Malachi (3:10) enforce this as a duty by severely rebuking the nation for its neglect-as robbing God.

6. In Christ’s day. Our Lord exposed and denounced the ostentatious punctiliousness of the Pharisees over their tithing (Matthew 23:23).

7. Teaching of the New Testament. The fact of the existence of ministers as a distinct Mass assumes provision made for their maintenance. The necessity for such provision and the right on which it is founded are recognised in such texts as Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; Romans 15:27; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14.

II. The ecclesiastical development of the demand for tithes.

1. The Fathers urged the obligation of tithing on the earliest Christians. The “Apostolical Canons ” the “Apostolical Constitutions ” St. Cyprian on “The Unity of the Church ” and the writings of Ambrose Chrysostom Augustine and other Fathers of both divisions of the early Church abound with allusions to this as a duty; and the response was made not in enforced tithing but by voluntary offerings.

2. The legislation of the first Christian emperors recognised the obligation of maintaining the ministers of Christ. But while they assigned lands and other property to their support they enacted no general payment of the tenth of the produce of the lands.

3. Ancient Church councils favoured tithings of land and produce e.g. the Councils of Tours A.D. 567; the second Council of Macon A.D. 585; the Council of Rouen A.D. 650; of Nantes A.D. 660; of Metz 756.

4. Its first imperial enactment. Charlemagne (king of the Franks A.D. 768-814 and Roman Emperor A.D. 800-814) originated the enactment of tithes as a public law and by his capitularies formally established the practice over the Roman Empire which his rule swayed. From this start it extended itself over Western Christendom; and it became general for a tenth to be paid to the Church.

5. Introduction of tithes into England. Offa king of Mercia is credited with its assertion here at the close of the eighth century. It spread over other divisions of Saxon England until Ethelwulf made it a law for the whole English realm. It remained optional with those who were compelled to pay tithes to determine to what Church they should be devoted until Innocent III. addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury A.D. 1200 a decretal requiring tithes to be paid to the clergy of the parish to which payees belonged. About this time also tithes which had originally been confined to those called praedial or the fruits of the earth was extended to every species of profit and to the wages of every kind of labour.

6. The great and small tithe. The great tithe was made upon the main products of the soil corn hay wood &c.; the small on the less important growths. To the rector the great tithes of a parish are assigned and to the vicar the small.

7. Tithes paid “in kind.” These claim the tenth portion of the product itself (verses 30-33). This is varied by a payment of an annual valuation; or an average taken over seven years; or by a composition which in a bulk sum redeems the land from all future impost rendering it henceforth “tithe flee.” (W. H. Jellie.)

Tithes

I know of two men who started business with this view: “We will give to God one-tenth of our profits.” The first year the profits were considerable; the tithe was consequently considerable. The next year there was increase in the profits and of course increase in the tithe. In a few years the profits became very very large indeed so that the partners said one to another: “Is not a tenth of this rather too much to give away? Suppose we say we will give a twentieth?” And they gave a twentieth; and the next year the profits had fallen down; the year after they fell down again and the men said to one another as Christians should say in such a case “Have not we broken our vow? Have we not robbed God?” And in no spirit of selfish calculation but with humility of soul self-reproach and bitter contrition they went back to God and told Him how the matter stood prayed His forgiveness renewed their vow and God opened the windows of heaven and gave back to them all the old prosperity. (Joseph Parker D. D.)

Giving to God

What Abraham gave to Melchizedek and Jacob vowed at Bethel has ever appeared most natural for men to set aside for the Lord regularly--the tenth of all. Among the Israelites there were several kinds of tithe and yet all cheerfully paid; the tenth for the Lord paid to the Levites (Numbers 18:21) and the next tenth consecrated and feasted on at Jerusalem or given away to the poor (Deuteronomy 12:6; Deuteronomy 28:29). Seed or fruit might be redeemed; and there might be good reasons for a man wishing to redeem this part of the tithe. He might require to sow his field and be in need of the seed of dates or pomegranates to replenish his orchard. Therefore permission is given to redeem these though still with the addition of a fifth in order to show that the Lord is jealous and marks anything that might be a retraction on the man’s part of what was due to the Lord. He may redeem this tithe but it is done cum nota As to the tithe of herd and flock this is not allowed. Whatever passes under the rod good or bad is tithed and taken inalienably. The Lord does not seek a good animal where the rod in numbering lighted on a bad as the tenth passed by; neither does He admit of the substitution of an inferior animal if the rod has lighted on the best in the whole flock. He seeks just what is His due teaching us strict and holy disregard of bye-ends and selfish interests. And thus this book--this Gospel of the Old Testament--ends with stating God’s claims on us and His expectation of our service and willing devotedness. As the first believers at Pentecost rejoicing in pardon and the love of God counted nothing dear to them nor said that aught they possessed was their own so ought we to live. We must sit loose from earth; and true love to our Redeemer will set us loose. This giving up of our possessions at God’s call teaches us to live a pilgrim life and that is an Abrahamic life--nay it is the life of faith in opposition to sight. The whole of this concluding chapter has been leading us to the idea of giving to the Lord all we have. It has been making us familiar with the idea and by example inculcating the practice of like devotedness. God should be all in all to us; he is “God all-sufficient.” Let us part even with common lawful comforts and try if He alone be not better than all. Like the child with the stalk of grapes who picked one grape after another from the cluster and held it out to her father till as affection waxed warm and self faded she gaily flung the whole into her father’s bosom and smiled in his face with triumphant delight; so let us do until loosening from every comfort and independent of the help of broken cisterns we can say “I am not my own! Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth whom I desire besides. Thou art to me as Thou wert to David at the gates of death ‘All my salvation and all my desire.’” After so much love on God’s part to us displayed in rich variety of type and shadow shall we count any sacrifice hard? (A. A. Bonar.)

Are tithes binding on Christians

In attempting to settle for ourselves this question it is to be observed in order to clear thinking on this subject that in the law of tithe as here declared there are two elements--the one moral the other legal--which should be carefully distinguished. First and fundamental is the principle that it is our duty to set apart to God a certain fixed proportion of our income. The other and--technically speaking--positive element in the law is that which declares that the proportion to be given to the Lord is precisely one-tenth. Now of these two the first principle is distinctly recognised and reaffirmed in the New Testament as of continued validity in this dispensation; while on the other hand as to the precise proportion of our income to be thus set apart for the Lord the New Testament writers are everywhere silent. As regards the first principle St. Paul writing to the Corinthians orders that “on the first day of the week”--the day of the primitive Christian worship--“every one” shall “lay by him in store as God hath prospered him.” He adds that he had given the same command also to the churches of Galatia (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). This most clearly gives apostolic sanction to the fundamental principle of the tithe namely that a definite portion of our income should be set apart for God. While on the other hand neither in this connection where a mention of the law of the tithe might naturally have been expected if it had been still binding as to the letter nor in any other place does either St. Paul or any other New Testament writer intimate that the Levitical law requiring the precise proportion of a tenth was still in force--a fact which is the more noteworthy that so much is said of the duty of Christian benevolence. To this general statement with regard to the testimony of the New Testament on this subject the words of our Lord to the Pharisees (Matthew 23:23) regarding their tithing of “mint and anise and cummin”--“these ye ought to have done”--cannot be taken as an exception or as proving that the law is binding for this dispensation; for the simple reason that the present dispensation had not at that time yet begun and those to whom He spoke were still under the Levitical law the authority of which He there reaffirms. From these facts we conclude that the law of these verses in so far as it requires the setting apart to God of a certain definite proportion of our income is doubtless of continued and lasting obligation; but that in so far as it requires from all alike the exact proportion of one-tenth it is binding on the conscience no longer. Nor is it difficult to see why the New Testament should not lay down this or any other precise proportion of giving to income as a universal law. It is only according to the characteristic usage of the New Testament law to leave to the individual conscience very much regarding the details of worship and conduct which under the Levitical law was regulated by specific rules: which St. Paul explains (Galatians 4:1-5) by reference to the fact that the earlier method was intended for and adapted to a lower and more immature stage of religious development; even as a child during his minority is kept under guardians and stewards from whose authority when he becomes of age he is free. But still further it seems to be forgotten by those who argue for the present and permanent obligation of this law that it was here for the first time formally appointed by God as a binding law in connection with a certain Divinely instituted system of theocratic government which if carried out would effectively prevent excessive accumulations of wealth in the hands of individuals and thus secure for the Israelites in a degree the world has never seen an equal distribution of property. In such a system it is evident that it would be possible to exact a certain fixed and definite proportion of income for sacred purposes with the certainty that the requirement would work with perfect justice and fairness to all. But with us social and economic conditions are so very different wealth is so very unequally distributed that no such law as that of the tithe could be made to work otherwise than unequally and unfairly. To the very poor it must often be a heavy burden; to the very rich a proportion so small as to be a practical exemption. While for the former the law if insisted on would sometimes require a poor man to take bread out of the mouth of wife and children it would still leave the millionaire with thousands to spend on needless luxuries. The latter might often more easily give nine-tenths of his income than the former could give one-twentieth. It is thus no surprising thing that the inspired men who laid the foundations of the New Testament Church did not reaffirm the law of the tithe as to the latter. And yet on the other hand let us not forget that the law of the tithe as regards the moral element of the law is still in force. It forbids the Christian to leave as so often the amount he will give for the Lord’s work to impulse and caprice. Statedly and conscientiously he is to “lay by him in store as the Lord hath prospered him.” If any ask how much should the proportion be one might say that by fair inference the tenth might safely be taken as an average minimum of giving counting rich and poor together (see 2 Corinthians 8:7-9). (S. H. Kellogg D. D.)


Verse 34

Leviticus 27:34

These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel.

The moral and ceremonial commandments as compared with the gospel law

Many of these commandments are moral and of perpetual obligation. Others of them ceremonial and peculiar to the Jewish economy which yet have a spiritual significance and are instructive to us who are furnished with a key to let us into the mysteries contained in them; for unto us by these institutions is the gospel preached as well as unto them (Hebrews 4:2). And upon the whole matter we may see cause to bless God that we are not come to Mount Sinai (Hebrews 12:18).

1. That we are not under the dark shadows of the law but enjoy the clear light of the gospel which shows us Christ the end of the law for righteousness (Romans 10:4). The doctrine of our reconciliation to God by a Mediator is not clouded with the smoke of burning sacrifices but cleared by the knowledge of Christ and Him crucified.

2. That we are not under the heavy yoke of the law and the carnal ordinances of it as the apostle calls them (Hebrews 9:10) imposed till the time of reformation a yoke which neither they nor their fathers were able to bear (Acts 15:10); 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 in free-will-offerings to His praise more inflamed with holy love and joy and more engaged in seriousness of thoughts and sincerity of intention. Having boldness to enter into the holiness 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. (Matthew Henry D. D.)

The covenant in its relation to nations and individuals

The last chapter of the book is taken up with directions for individual worship on the details of which we cannot enter; but this general thought is suggested that though the nation as a whole may lose its covenant standing the way is always open for individuals. There is much comfort in this thought in view of such dark times as those to which the prophetical part of the preceding chapter points. The door of mercy is never shut however dark and degenerate the times may be. However wickedness may abound in the world and coldness and deadness in the Church God will always have His witnesses and they will always have their opportunities. This word is never changed “Whosoever will let him come.” In all times religion in the last resort must be an individual matter between the soul and God. No man can be saved in a crowd; but neither can any man be lost in a crowd. And sometimes when the great multitude seems to carry all before it God still may have His seven thousand men known to Him alone who have brought their individual offerings to Him and “never bowed the knee to Baal.” Remember the comfort that was given to Daniel when his spirit was ready to faint in the prospect of the dark days which the prophetic vision had disclosed. “Go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” “Go thou thy way”--in times of apostasy and darkness it is for the individual believer to leave the destinies of the world and of the Church in the hands of Him who “doeth all things well ” and seek only to be faithful to his own duty. As for others: “shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” And as for thee “thou shalt rest”--there is the fulfilment of the Sabbath and all the sabbatic series--“and stand in thy lot at the end of the days”--there is the fulfilment of the jubilee and all the eighth day series. Amid all the secularities and unbelief and disobedience of the times let us seek to maintain communion with God and bring our individual offerings however “singular” they be and we shall certainly find that “the joy of the Lord is our strength ” and that His thoughts of love expressed in the feasts of the old covenant will be fulfilled for us and then at the end of the days we shall enter on our sabbath of rest and our jubilee of joy eternal. (J. M. Gibson D. D.)

──The Biblical Illustrator