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Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Leviticus 27:4-7

The relative values of the persons appear to be regulated according to an estimate of the probable value of their future work: Ages Male Female From a month to five years of age 5 shekels 3 shekels From five years to twenty of age 20 shekels 10 shekels From forty years to sixty of age 50 shekels 30 shekels Sixty years of age and older: 15 shekels 10 shekels As regards the shekel of the sanctuary, see Exodus 38:24 note. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Leviticus 27:1-34

Valuations for things vowed (27:1-34)People often vowed things to God out of gratitude for his goodness to them, usually in some crisis they had met. If the offering vowed was a person, this person was not to be offered in sacrifice but was to be redeemed, or bought back, by the payment of money to the sanctuary. The amount to be paid was estimated by the priests according to the usefulness of the person offered. The priests were to give special consideration to a poor person who could not pay... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Leviticus 27:2-3

Leviticus 27:2-3. When a man shall make a singular vow, &c.— Or, it may be read, When any one shall set apart to the Lord a vow, according to such valuation of persons as thou shalt fix, and thy valuation shall be of a male from twenty years old to sixty years old; then thou shalt set the value at fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 4. But if it be a female, the rate shall be, &c. The phrase in the original shall separate, or set apart, a vow, signifies to... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Leviticus 27:6

Leviticus 27:6. And if it be from a month old— Some children were devoted not only in the first month, but before they were born; as was the case with Samuel, 1 Samuel 1:11. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Leviticus 27:1-8

1. Vows concerning persons 27:1-8The amount of money that a person had to pay at the end of a vow in which he pledged a person depended on the age and sex of the individual. Some people were worth more in this respect than others."These figures are very large. The average wage of a worker in biblical times was about one shekel per month. [Note: I. Mendelsohn, Slavery in the Ancient Near East, p. 118.] It is little wonder that few could afford the valuations set out here (Leviticus 27:8)."... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Leviticus 27:1-34

H. DIRECTIONS CONCERNING VOWS ch. 27The blessings and curses (ch. 26) were in a sense God’s vows to His people. This chapter deals with His people’s vows to Him. Another connection between these chapters is that in times of divine discipline (Leviticus 26:14-33) people tend to make vows to God. Chapter 27 shows how God wanted the Israelites to honor their vows. [Note: Wenham, The Book . . ., p. 336.] "The directions concerning vows follow the express termination of the Sinaitic lawgiving (chap.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 27:1-34

Vows and Tithes and their Redemption1-29. Law of vows and their redemption.The making of vows is a very ancient and universal practice connected with prayer. In order to secure his desire the suppliant adds a vow to his prayer. Vows may be either positive or negative. A man may promise either to devote something to God, or to abstain from some comfort or necessary of life. Instances of the latter, vows of abstinence, are to be found in Numbers 6:1-21; Numbers 30; 1 Samuel 14:24; Psalms 132:2-5,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Leviticus 27:3

(3) And thy estimation shall be of the male.—Better, Then thy estimation of the male shall be (as follows).From twenty years old even unto sixty years old.—The estimation not only begins with the male, who is the most important person, but takes special notice of his age. The years here specified represent the prime of his life, and he is to be rated not according to his rank or position, but according to the value of his services.Fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Leviticus 27:4

(4) And if it be a female . . . thirty shekels.—As the woman is the weaker vessel, and her labour is of less value, if she vows herself or dedicates by a vow any other one of her own sex to the sanctuary, she is to pay thirty shekels, or £3 17s. 6d., provided she is within the above-named limits of age. This was the value of a slave (Exodus 21:32), and is the price at which Christ was sold (Matthew 27:9). It is supposed that under this provision Jephtha might have redeemed his daughter whom he... read more

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