Leviticus 27

Leviticus 27:1-34

Leviticus 27:1-34(b) The Matter of Special Vows Is Treated in Leviticus 27:1-34 The vows referred to in this chapter are special vows-those which have been assumed voluntarily, probably as the result of some special blessing or extraordinary zeal. Such blessings have often led men to dedicate themselves, their children, their houses, their goods, or their money to God. The offering of oneself is dealt with here (Leviticus 27:1-8). If there was no room for his personal service because of the plentiful supply of Levites, he could give money to provide for his substitute. What a lesson here for one who is called to certain forms of Christian service, who, nevertheless, is unable, for legitimate reasons, to enter into that service. If he cannot go himself, he can make it possible for someone else to go. Sometimes a man dedicated his children to God. This he was at liberty to do, probably during the years of their minority, for the children themselves, during their minority, were not allowed to devote themselves or to commit themselves without the consent of their parents. Women could devote themselves to the service of God by spinning or weaving, or in similar ways helping the priests. Animals that were devoted were not to be exchanged. After they had passed under the rod, the sacrifice was settled. An unclean animal could be redeemed with a clean one. No man was allowed to impoverish his family by vowing all that he had. Simply saying “ Corban” (it is a gift cf. Mark 7:11-12) did not relieve a man from responsibility for the care of his family. A man could not vow that which was already the Lord’ s, for example, the firstling of the flock, the firstborn, or the tithes (Leviticus 27:30-34; cf. Leviticus 26:21). The children of Israel were obliged to support the Levites. This was their bounden duty.