Leviticus 27

The chapter follows a structured sequence of valuations (עֵרֶךְ H6187), moving from the highest value (human beings) to property, and finally to the mandatory tithe, creating a comprehensive list of how to handle items dedicated to the sanctuary.

• If a man makes a vow, the persons shall be valued (v. 2).
• He shall not alter or change the animal dedicated (v. 10).
• If he redeems his house or animal, he must add a fifth part to the value (v. 13, 15).
• Tithe the seed, fruit, and herd (v. 30, 32).

• If an animal is changed, both it and the exchange are holy and cannot be redeemed (v. 10).
• Devoted things cannot be sold or redeemed; they are most holy to the Lord (v. 28).

• The setting is the Israelite encampment at Mount Sinai (v. 34), occurring during the wilderness period.
• The 'shekel of the sanctuary' was a known weight standard used for temple dues and valuations.

• The year of jubilee (v. 17-24) was a sabbatical year every 50th year where land returned to its original owners, directly affecting the price of buying or dedicating fields.
• The distinction between male and female valuations (vv. 3-7) reflects the specific labor and temple-service roles inherent in the Ancient Near Eastern agrarian context.

• This chapter concludes the book of Leviticus, providing a way to conclude the legislation of the covenant by defining how vows and tithes were to be regulated.

• The concept of the tithe predates the Law, famously seen in Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek (Gen 14:20). Matthew Henry observes that these institutions teach us to honour God with our substance, though we are not bound by the ceremonial rites themselves.
• Regarding the 'devoted' (herem) things in verse 29, there is historic theological debate: some see this as describing state-sanctioned judgment or extreme religious dedication, while others note the tension between the prohibition of human sacrifice elsewhere in the Pentateuch (Lev 18:21) and the plain reading here; standard exegesis often interprets this as referring to items or persons set apart for destruction as part of divine judgment.

• The tithe requirement (v. 30) echoes the principle established in Genesis 14 and the instructions in Exodus regarding firstborn animals.

• עֵרֶךְ (H6187, erek): Used 17 times in this chapter, it signifies a 'valuation' or 'estimate'—a monetary equivalent assigned to a person or object.
• נֶדֶר (H5088, neder): A 'vow' or 'promise' made to God, carrying significant weight as a binding religious obligation.
• קֹדֶשׁ (H6944, qodesh): 'Sanctuary' or 'holy thing', emphasizing the set-apart nature of the items dedicated.

• The text allows for the redemption of some items (like houses or certain animals) but strictly forbids the redemption of anything explicitly 'devoted' (herem) to the Lord.
• The valuation of a person was not a 'sale' of the person, but a contribution to the sanctuary based on the person's ability to serve or contribute.

• The exact procedure of verse 29 regarding those 'devoted' is a subject of significant scholarly debate due to the potential tension with other laws forbidding human sacrifice; many commentators align on the view that this refers to an act of divine judgment (like the ban in war) rather than a voluntary vow.