Leviticus 27:12

_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._ If it be a beast - a clean beast; after it had been vowed, it could neither be employed in common purposes nor exchanged for an equivalent-it must be sacrificed; or if, through some discovered blemish, it was unsuitable for the altar, it might be sold, and the money applied for the sacred service. If an unclean beast-such as a donkey or camel, for instance-had been vowed, it was to be appropriated to the use of the priest at the estimated value, or it might be redeemed by the person vowing, on payment of that value, and the additional fine of one-fifth more....

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....

APPENDIX. EXPOSITION The final chapter, attached to the book after the concluding exhortation, is a short treatise on persons (Leviticus 27:2), animals (Leviticus 27:9-3), houses (Leviticus 27:14, Leviticus 27:15), lauds (Leviticus 27:16-3), vowed to God; and on the commutation of vows. A man might vow to the service of God whatever he had a right over, that is, himself, his wife, his children, his slaves, his beasts, his houses, his fields. In case persons were vowed, the rule was

AND THE PRIEST SHALL VALUE IT, WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR BAD,.... Put a price upon it according to its worth, as it shall appear to him: AS THOU VALUEST IT, [WHO ART] THE PRIEST, SO SHALL IT BE; that shall be the price at which it shall be sold, not to the owner or devoter of it, for he must give more, as appears from Leviticus 27:13; but, as Jarchi observes, to all other men who come to purchase it....

VII. CONCERNING VOWS The Claims of Jehovah Realized CHAPTER 27 _ 1. The singular vow (Leviticus 27:1)_ 2. The sacrifice (Leviticus 27:9) 3. Concerning the house (Leviticus 27:14) 4. Concerning the land (Leviticus 27:16) 5. Concerning the firstling (Leviticus 27:26) 6. Devoted things (Leviticus 27:28) 7. All holy to Jehovah ...

COMMUTATION FOR AN ANIMAL. An animal once vowed is treated as holy; any attempt to substitute another less valuable renders the second holy (and forfeit) also. An unclean animal cannot be directly offered for sacrifice; it must, therefore, be sold and the price paid to the Temple; if the owner wishes to have it back he must pay an extra 20 per cent. (_cf._ Leviticus 27:15; Leviticus 6:5; Leviticus 22:14)....

AS THOU, &C.. as thou,. priest, valuest it so, &c....

_The case of cattle_ Such an animal, when presented as a vow, must not be changed, a bad for a good. Otherwise both animals became dedicated. If the animal so presented was -unclean," and as such could not lawfully be offered to God, the priest was to set upon it a value in proportion to its worth, whereupon the owner might sell it for that sum and pay over the amount. If, however, he desired to have it back, he must pay in addition one-fifth of the price which the priest had adjudged....

AS THOU VALUEST IT, WHO ART THE PRIEST— _According to the valuation of the priest._ _Note;_ (1.) A zealous heart is not only willing to its power, but above its power. (2.) We should be careful not to be hasty to vow, lest we involve ourselves in difficulties, and repent of our rashness. There is a zeal not according to knowledge. But when we have vowed to the Lord, we should pay without reserve or change: for he loveth the cheerful giver....

B. VOWS OF DOMESTIC ANIMALS 27:9-13 TEXT 27:9-13 9 And if it be a beast, whereof men offer an oblation unto Jehovah, all that any man giveth of such unto Jehovah shall be holy. 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 both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy. 11 And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer an oblation unto Jehovah, then he shall set the beast before the priest; 12 and the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou the priest valuest it, so shall it be. 13 But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part thereof unto thy estimation. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 27:9-13 677. What is the difference in offering an animal for a vow and offering an animal for a sacrifice? 678. Once an animal is given for a vow, _i.e._ to con