Bereans Corner
Bereans Corner
Thru the Bible - #114 - Leviticus 27 - Rules Concerning Valuations
Unlock the ancient wisdom of Leviticus as we dissect the intricate guidelines for vows and tithing that shaped the spiritual fabric of the Israelites. How did age, gender, and economic status influence the valuation of people, animals, and possessions dedicated to God? Join us to unravel the profound themes of holiness and redemption that resonate through Leviticus 27, illuminating the sacred bond between the Israelites and their Creator.
Explore the voluntary nature of vows and the meticulous valuation system in ancient Israelite society. We dissect the categories and valuations assigned to men, women, and animals, shedding light on how poverty impacted these assessments. By referencing Malachi, we underscore the critical importance of offering unblemished sacrifices with sincerity, while also delving into the role of priests in the valuation and redemption processes.
Discover the biblical principles of tithing from Leviticus and Deuteronomy, emphasizing the three distinct tithes: for God's purposes, the Levites, and the impoverished. These commands underscore the societal obligation to support those in need, providing timeless lessons on compassion and community. Remember to access additional insights and resources on Bereans Corner Buzzsprout and our YouTube channel to deepen your understanding and reflection.
How's everyone doing? I hope that you are well. Grab yourself a glass of water, a cup of coffee, cup of tea, and let's get into this lesson. When you get back from doing that, open your Bible to Leviticus 27. We're actually at the end of the book of Leviticus. Now, for anyone who may just be joining in, we go through the Bible chronologically. We've already gone through the book of genesis. We've gone through the book of job, which is right after the 11th chapter of genesis. We've gone through the book of exodus and we are now at the end of the book of leviticus and in the proper chronological order, next we will be going right into numbers. So we are going to finish up with Leviticus 27. Let's read and then let's get into the lesson.
Speaker 2:Leviticus 27.
Speaker 2:The Lord said to Moses speak to the Israelites and say to them if anyone makes a special vow to dedicate persons to the Lord by giving equivalent values, dedicate persons to the Lord by giving equivalent values. Set the value of a male between the ages of 20 and 60 at 50 shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, and if it is a female, set her value at 30 shekels. If it is a person between the ages of 5 and 20, set the value of a male at 20 shekels and of a female at 10 shekels. If it is a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at ten shekels. If it is a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels of silver. If it is a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels and of a female at ten shekels. If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay the specified amount, he is to present the person to the priest, who will set the value for him according to what the man making the vow can afford. If what he vowed is an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the Lord. Such an animal, given to the Lord, becomes holy. He must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one or a bad one for a good one. If he should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy. If what he vowed is a ceremonially unclean animal, one that is not acceptable as an offering to the Lord, the animal must be presented to the priest, who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be. If the owner wishes to redeem the animal, he must add a fifth to its value.
Speaker 2:If a man dedicates his house as something holy to the Lord, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain. If the man who dedicates his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to its value and the house will again become his. If a man dedicates to the Lord part of his family land, its value is to be set according to the amount of seed required for it. Fifty shekels of silver to a homer of barley seed. If he dedicates his field during the year of Jubilee, the value that has been set remains, but if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, the priest will determine the value according to the number of years that remain until the next year of Jubilee, and its set value will be reduced. If the man who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, he must add a fifth to its value and the field will again become his. It he must add a fifth to its value and the field will again become his. If, however, he does not redeem the field or if he has sold it to someone else, it can never be redeemed. When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the Lord. It will become the property of the priests.
Speaker 2:If a man dedicates to the Lord a field he has bought which is not part of his family land, the priest will determine its value up to the year of Jubilee and the man must pay its value on that day as something holy to the Lord. In the year of Jubilee, the field will revert to the person from whom he bought it, the one whose land it was. Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel twenty geras to the shekel. No one, however, may dedicate the firstborn of an animal, since the firstborn already belongs to the Lord. Whether a cow or a sheep, it is the Lord's. If it is one of the unclean animals, he may buy it back at its set value, adding a fifth of the value to it. If he does not redeem it, it is to be sold at its set value.
Speaker 2:But nothing that a man owns and devotes to the Lord, whether a man or animal or family land, may be sold or redeemed. Everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord. No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed. He must be put to death. A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord. It is holy to the Lord. If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock, every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod, will be holy to the Lord. He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed. These are the commands the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.
Speaker 1:All right Now. The last time we were together, we looked at the blessings and penalties of Israel's obedience and disobedience. To close, leviticus. We are looking at valuations Now. This chapter deals with vows. A vow is a promise you would make to a person, or sometimes persons. It is not something you are forced to do, but something you do on your own. We start this chapter by seeing who the lord is speaking to and who the lord is telling him to address. We see this in verses one through two of leviticus 27. Again, the lord spoke to moses saying speak to the sons of israel and say to them when a man makes a difficult vow, he shall be valued according to your valuation of persons belonging to the lord. What do we see here? The lord is speaking to moses and he is telling moses to who? Not the Gentiles, to the sons of Israel. Now we will break this chapter down in four sections. The first section vows involving humans. We will see this in verses 3 through 8. If your valuation is of the male, from 20 years, even to 60 years old, then your valuation shall be 50 shekels of silver. After the shekel of the male, from 20 years, even to 60 years old, then your valuation shall be 50 shekels of silver after the shekel of the sanctuary. Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be 30 shekels. And if it be from five years old, even to 20 years old, then your valuations for the male shall be 20 shekels and for the female 10 shekels. But if they are from a month, even up to five years old, then your valuation shall be five shekels of silver. For the male and for the female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver. And if they are from 60 years old and upwards, if it is a male, then your valuation shall be 15 shekels and for the female 10 shekels. But if he is poor than your valuation, then he shall be placed before the priest and the priest shall value him according to the means of the one who vowed. The priest shall value him.
Speaker 1:Now we looked at different uh values there and actually I should have broken down a little bit different so it wouldn't get so confusing. So let's just do that real quick. First, we looked at 20 to 60 year old men's value, verse 3. If your valuation is of the male, from 20 years, even to 60 years old, then your valuation shall be 50 shekels of silver then. Second, they looked at 20 to 60 year old females in verse 4. Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be 30 shekels.
Speaker 1:Third, the value of male and females between the ages of 5 and 20. We saw that in verse 5. And if it be from 5 years, even to 20 years old, then your valuation for the male shall be 20 shekels and for the female 10 shekels. Fourth, the valuation excuse me, the value of a male or female one month to five years. Verse six said but if they are from one month, even up to five years, then your valuation shall be five shekels of silver for the male and for the female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver. Fifth, the value of a male or female 60 years old or older. That was in verse 7. And if they are from 60 years old and upwards, if it is a male then your valuation shall be 15 shekels and for the female 10 shekels.
Speaker 1:And then six, the value of a poor person. And we saw that. They said if the person is poor, the valuation then you shall be placed before the priest and the priest shall value him. I want to repeat it like that because maybe it would make a little more sense and it would break it up a little bit as we move on to section two, vows involving animals. We see this in verses nine through 13. First, the animal had to be holy Verse nine. Now, if it is an animal of the kind which men can present as an offering to the Lord, any such that one gives to the Lord shall be holy. Second, once the animal was given, it could not be exchanged verse 10 he shall not replace it or exchange it a good for a bad or a bad for a good. Or if he does exchange animal for animal, then both it and its substitute shall become holy.
Speaker 1:Now this sin is what happened in Malachi's day. Let's look at that real quick. Turn to Malachi chapter one and let's see how this sin happened in that day. Malachi chapter one, malachi chapter one. All right, there we go. Hold your finger in Leviticus 27, malachi chapter one, verses 13 to 14. You also say my, how tiresome it is. And you disdainly sniff at it, says the Lord of hosts, and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick. So you bring the offering. Should I receive that from your hand, says the Lord. But curse be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is feared among the nations. So you see, you, you know some of that robbery that they talk about in malachi, that what was happened, that what? That is what was happening in their day all right. Now, back to it.
Speaker 1:Third, the priest had to evaluate an unclean animal. We see this in verses 11 through 12. If, however, it is an unclean animal, of the kind which men do not present as an offering to the Lord, then he shall place the animal before the priest and the priest shall value it as either good or bad. As you, the priest, value it, so it shall be. So the priest will give a valuation on that. And then, fourth, if a man wanted to redeem his animal, it would cost him 120 percent. If a man wanted to redeem his animal, it would cost him 120 percent, verse 13. But if he should ever wish to redeem it, then he shall add one fifth of it to your value. And when you did the math, that value was 120 percent. So if a man went back on his word, in other words, it was going to cost him 120 percent to get it back.
Speaker 1:We move on to section three, vows involving things. Excuse me, vows involving things. And we look at this in verses 14 through 25. I'm sorry, my own notes kind of got in my way there. All right, first, the promise of a house. Now we're looking at things now. We see this in verses 14 to 15. Now, if a man consecrates his house as holy to the lord, then the priest shall value it as either good or bad. As the priest values it, so it shall stand. Yet if the one who consecrates it should wish to redeem his house, then he shall add one, shall add one fifth of your valuation price to it, so that it may be his.
Speaker 1:Second, the land promise. We see this in verses 16 through 25. I'm sorry, I'm sorry about that. Verses 16 through 25. We will look at the land promise in two parts. Number one, the land that is one's own. So we are still looking at the second part of number three, vows involving things. We're looking at the land promise. We're looking at verses 16 through 25, and we are looking at it in two parts. Sorry, I had to repeat that. I just wanted to be sure I wasn't confusing you and jambling my words up the land that is one's own. We see this in verses 16 through 21.
Speaker 1:Again, if a man consecrates to the lord part of the fields of his own property, then your valuation shall be proportionate to the seed needed for it a homer or barley seed at 50 shekels of silver. If he consecrates his field as the of the year of jubilee, according to your valuation it shall stand. If he consecrates his field after the jubilee, however, then the priest shall calculate the price for him proportionate to the years that are left until the year of jubilee and it shall be deducted from your valuation. And if one who consecrates it should ever wish to redeem the field, then he shall add one-fifth of your valuation price to it so that it may pass to him. Yet if he will not redeem the field but has sold the field to another man, it may no longer be redeemed.
Speaker 1:Number two land that was not originally his own. We see this in verses 20 through 22 through 25. Or if he consecrates to the lord a field which he has bought which is not a part of the field of his own property, meaning this was not something inherited to him this is something he bought. Then the priest shall calculate for him the amount of your valuation up to the year of jubilee, and he shall, on that day, give your valuation as holy to the lord. In the year of jubilee, the field shall return to the one from whom he bought it, to whom the possession of the land belongs. Every valuation of yours, moreover, shall be after the shekel of the sanctuary. The shekel shall be 20 gera. So, in other words, you got to remember, if you brought land from a person, and then the year of jubilee comes around, okay, if you brought land from me and then you wouldn't sow it to someone else, that land will still return to me in the year of jubilee. That's really what it's saying there.
Speaker 1:And then we will look at vows and tithes. This is in verses 26 through 34. First, if god's people made a promise, they were to be faithful to it. We see this in verses 26 through 29. However, a firstborn among animals, which, as a forest born, belongs to the lord. No man may consecrate it, whether ox or sheep, it is the Lord's. But if it is among the unclean animals, then he shall redeem it accordingly to your valuation. Add to it one-fifth of it. And if it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation. Then it shall be sold according to your valuation. Nevertheless, anything which a man sets apart to the lord out of all that he has of man or animal or of the fields of his own property, shall not be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted to destruction is most holy to the lord. No one who may have been set apart among men shall be excuse me, shall be ransomed. He shall surely be put to death.
Speaker 1:The lord is very clear on that next number two, the lord's people were to be fruitful with their tide. We see this in verses 30 through 33. Thus, all the tide of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree is the lord's. It is holy to the lord. If, therefore, a man wishes to redeem part of his tide, he shall add to it one-fifth of it. For every tenth part of herb or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the lord. He is not to be concerned whether it is good or bad. Nor shall he exchange it. Or if he does exchange it, then both it and its substitute shall become holy. It shall not be redeemed.
Speaker 1:Now we need to remember there were three tides. First, there was the general tide, which which we are reviewing here in leviticus 27. Second, it was the meal tied to the levites which is in deuteronomy. You know what? Let's turn there, turn to deuteron, keep your finger right here, but turn to deuteronomy, chapter 14, deuteronomy 14, and we are going to start. Okay, so, deuteronomy 14, 22. We're going here because remember. Second, we're talking about the meal tide, and it's discussed right here. Deuteronomy 14, 22 through 27.
Speaker 1:You shall surely tide all the produce from what you saw, which comes out of the field every year, and you shall eat, in the presence of the lord your god, at the place where he chooses to establish his name, the tide of your grain, your new wine, your oil and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, in order that you may learn to fear the lord your god always. And if the distance is so great for you that you are not able to breathe the tide, since the place where the lord your god chooses to set his name is too far away from you, when the lord your god blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the lord, your god, chooses and you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires for oxen or sheep, or wine, or strong drink or whatever your heart desires. And there you shall eat in the presence of the lord, your god, and rejoice in your household. Also, you shall not neglect the levite, who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you. Actually, hold Deuteronomy there, because we're going to go back there in just a second Now that right there when it talks about the meal tie for the Levite. We read it right there in verse 27, the Levite, who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you. Remember, the Levites weren't given any of these things, so this was to help them out. And then the third tide was a tide for the poor. If you still kept your finger in Deuteronomy, drop down to verses 28 and 29. At the end of every third year you should bring out all the tide of your produce in that year and shall deposit it in your town and the Levite, because he has no portion of the heretics among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the Lord, your God, may bless you in all the work of your hand, which you do. So there was a tide for the poor. I'm sorry that I cannot remember this uh, crooked, uh, charlatan pastor's name, but there was a pastor uh, if I can remember it I will get back and let you all know who actually told his congregation very recently that there is no such thing as a tide for the poor and actually they are cursing themselves when they don't give the money to his church, but are they're giving to the poor? This right here would shoot all that down.
Speaker 1:The Lord said right there in Deuteronomy that there is supposed to be a tie to the poor. You are supposed to help out your fellow brother and sister, your fellow brother and sister, your alien in the land, the widows, the people who can't help themselves. When you have extra, you should give extra. If you have 10 bags of rice, you know that you don't need to eat 10 bags of rice. If you know that you only need eight, leave the other two out there for the people who can't help themselves. He didn't say, leave it for the lazy, but the lord said leave it to the people who can't help themselves. And then, if you are back at leviticus 27, we will move on part three, which is we close by seeing that these commands were given to Israel through Moses, verse 34, leviticus 27. These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the sons of Israel at Mount Sinai. Once again, we see who the Lord was talking to and who he was telling him to deliver the message to All right people. That brings us to the end of Leviticus, chapter 27.
Speaker 1:I hope you enjoyed this journey through the book of Leviticus. As I always say, go to my website, buzzsprout. Excuse me, it's bereanscornerbuzzsproutcom. There you can not only listen to the podcast, but you can get a transcript of it as well. And go to my youtube page, berenescorner. You know you're there when you see the man with the praying hands in the description.
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