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. read more
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... read more
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. read more
Singular vows. The loving heart will ask not only what must, but what may, be done; and the sacrifices offered in the flames of love are acceptable to God ( 2 Chronicles 6:8 ). These are the principles which underlie the laws concerning singular vows. I. THE SINGULARITY LIES IN THE ELEMENT OF SEPARATION . 1 . Hence the subject of the vow is styled a Nazarite. 2 . Jesus was a Nazarite in spirit. 3 . So are true Christians. II. THINGS MAY BE... read more
Spontaneous devotion. The relations between God and his ancient people were not so rigid as they are sometimes supposed to have been. It was not all enactment on the one hand, and obedience or disobedience on the other. We find illustration here— I. THAT THE LAW OF GOD LEAVES AMPLE ROOM FOR THE PLAY OF SPONTANEOUS DEVOTION . Under the inspiring influence of some signal mercies, individual or national, the Israelite might devote to God either This was to be... read more
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 that they should be redeemed at a certain price, though occasionally the redemption was not made. Vowing a person to God thus, was, as a rule, no more than vowing so much money to the use of the sanctuary as was fixed as the price of the redemption of the person vowed. Yet there is a great... read more
Vows are not instituted by the Mosaic legislation; they were already in existence as a habit of the Hebrew people, and they are only regulated by Moses. The principle on the subject of vows is that no one was bound to make a vow, but that when a vow was made, it must be observed by the payment of the thing vowed or its recognized commutation. Thus Deuteronomy 23:21 , "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it... read more
On keeping vows. cf. Ecclesiastes 5:4 , Ecclesiastes 5:5 ; Genesis 28:20-22 ; Genesis 35:1-7 . We have in this apparent appendix to the book an interesting chapter about keeping vows. Religious enthusiasm may very properly express itself in the dedication either of one's self, or a relative in whose destiny we have a voice, or a beast, or a house, or finally a field. Such a sense of special obligation may be laid upon us that we feel constrained to dedicate either a person, an... read more
Vows and dues. I. We find here a representation of the union of righteousness and grace in the kingdom of God. The sacredness of vows and dues; but the estimation, by the priest, according to the ability of him that made the vow. The Law makes its claim, but God provides against its rigour. II. Comparison of the Law of God as given to his ancient people with the imperfect and cruel laws of merely human origin. Especially as to human sacrifices. The only human life which could be... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 27:1-13
This is part of the law concerning singular vows, extraordinary ones, which though God did not expressly insist on, yet, if they were consistent with and conformable to the general precepts, he would be well pleased with. Note, We should not only ask, What must we do, but, What may we do, for the glory and honour of God? As the liberal devises liberal things (Isa. 32:8), so the pious devises pious things, and the enlarged heart would willingly do something extraordinary in the service of so... read more