Leviticus 27:13

_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....

Verse Leviticus 27:13. _SHALL ADD A FIFTH_ PART] This was probably intended to prevent _rash_ vows and covetous redemptions. The priest alone was to value the thing; and to whatever his valuation was, a _fifth part_ must be added by him who wished to redeem the consecrated thing. Thus, if the priest valued it at _forty_ _shekels_, if the former owner redeemed it he was obliged to give _forty-eight_....

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

BUT IF HE WILL AT ALL REDEEM IT,.... The owner of it, or he that has devoted it, if he is determined to have it again at any rate: THEN HE SHALL ADD A FIFTH [PART] THEREOF UNTO THY ESTIMATION; he shall give the full price for it, as rated by the priest, and for which it might be sold to another man, and a fifth part of the value of it besides; this was done that the full price might be paid for it, the priest not knowing, as it might be, the worth of it so well as the owner; and that the value of consecrated things might be kept to, and to make men careful how and what they devoted, since, though redeemable, they were obliged to pay a large price for them....

REDEEMED Hebrew, "goel," Redemption (Kinsman type). (_ See Scofield) - (Isaiah 59:20). _...

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)....

AT ALL REDEEM IT. Figure of speech _Polyptoton_ (App-6). Hebrew "redeeming he will redeem it". Well translated by "at all". See note on Genesis 26:28. Hebrew. _ga'al._ See note on Exodus 6:6....

_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....