Bible Commentaries

When

Genesis 28:20-22, Numbers 6:2, 21:2, Deuteronomy 23:21-23, Judges 11:30,31,39, 1 Samuel 1:11,28

a singular vow

A vow is a religious promise made to God, for the most part with prayer, and paid with thanksgiving. Vows were either of abstinence (Nu 6:30), or the devoting of something to the Lord, as sacrifices (Le 7:16,) or the value of persons, beasts, houses, or lands, concerning which the law is here given. A man might vow or devote himself, his children, his domestics, his cattle, his goods, etc.; and respecting the redemption of all these, rules are laid down in this chapter. But if, after consecrating these things, he refused to redeem them, they then became the Lord's property forever. The persons continued all their lives devoted to the sanctuary, the goods were sold for the profit of the temple, or the priests; and the animals, if clean, were offered in sacrifice; and if not proper for sacrifice, were sold, and the proceeds devoted to sacred uses. This is a general view of the different laws relative to vows, mentioned in this chapter.

Ecclesiastes 5:4,5

And thy estimation

14, 5:15, 6:6, Numbers 18:16, 2 Kings 12:4; *marg:

fifty shekels

i.e, At three shillings each, 7£. 10s. sterling.

after the

25, Exodus 30:13

thirty shekels

i.e., 4£. 10s. sterling, A little more than one-half the value of a man; for this obvious reason, that a woman, if employed, would not be of so much use in the sanctuary as the man.

Zechariah 11:12,13, Matthew 26:15, 27:9,10

twenty shekels

i.e., 3£. sterling. ten shekels. i.e., 1£. 10s. sterling

from

Numbers 3:40-43, 18:14-16

the male

The male five shekels, 15s., the female three shekels, 9s. Being both in infancy they were nearly of an equal value.

from

Psalms 90:10

fifteen

The old man and the old woman, being almost past labour, were nearly of an equal value; the former being estimated at 15 shekels, and the latter at 10.

poorer

5:7, 12:8, 14:21,22, Mark 14:7, Luke 21:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:12

according

Jeremiah 5:7

all: is holy, i.e. separated and devoted; it cannot be redeemed like a human being, a house, or a field (Young), Leviticus 27:9

15-33, James 1:8

Deuteronomy 23:18, Malachi 1:14

as thou valuest it, who art the priest

Heb. according to thy estimation, O priest, etc.

10,15,19, 5:16, 6:4,5, 22:14

sanctify

21, 25:29-31, Numbers 18:14, Psalms 101:2-7

as the priest

then he shall add

some part

Though the words "some part" are not expressed, yet it is generally allowed that they should be supplied here; as it was not lawful for a man to alienate in this manner his whole patrimony: he might express his good will for the house of God but he must not impoverish his own family.

of a field

Acts 4:34-37, 5:4

an homer

or, the land of an homer, etc., i.e, as much land as required a homer of barley to sow it. The homer was very different from the omer; the latter held about three quarts, the former seventy-five gallons three pints.

Isaiah 5:10, Ezekiel 45:11-14, Hosea 3:2

25:15,16,27,51,52

Leviticus 27:13

when

25:10,28,31

devoted

It is cherem, a thing so devoted to God, as never more to be capable of being redeemed.

28,29, Deuteronomy 13:17, Joshua 6:17, Ezra 10:8, Ezekiel 44:29; *marg:

priest's

Numbers 18:14, Ezekiel 44:29

his possession

25:10,25

12,18

20, 25:28

And all

to the shekel

A standard shekel; the standard being kept in the sanctuary, to try and regulate all the weights in the land by.

twenty

Exodus 30:13, Numbers 3:47, 18:16, Ezekiel 45:12

the firstling

Heb. first born, etc. As these firstlings were the Lord's before, it would have been a solemn mockery to pretend to make them a matter of a singular vow; for they were already appointed, if clean, to be sacrificed.

which

Exodus 13:2,12,13, 22:30, Numbers 18:17, Deuteronomy 15:19

and shall add

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 it.

no devoted

This is the cherem, the absolute, irredeemable grant to God.

21, Exodus 22:20, Numbers 21:2,3, Deuteronomy 7:1,2, 13:15,16, 20:16,17, 25:19, Joshua 6:17-19,26, 7:1,11-13,25, Judges 11:30,31, 21:5,11,18, 1 Samuel 14:24-28,38-45, 15:3,18,32,33, Matthew 25:41, Acts 23:12-14, Romans 9:3, 1 Corinthians 16:22, Galatians 3:10,13

None

Numbers 21:2,3, 1 Samuel 15:18-23

which shall be devoted

That is, either that every person devoted to the service of God shall not be redeemed, but die in that devoted state, or, that such as were devoted to death by appointment and law of God, as the Canaanites were, shall be put to death.

Genesis 14:20, 28:22, Numbers 18:21-24, Deuteronomy 12:5,6, 14:22,23, 2 Chronicles 31:5,6,12, Nehemiah 10:37,38, 12:44, 13:5,12, Malachi 3:8-10, Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, 18:12, Hebrews 7:5-9

Leviticus 27:13

passeth under the rod

The Rabbins say, that when a man gave the tithe of his sheep or calves, he shut them in one fold, in which was a narrow door, to let out but one at a time. He then stood by the door, with a rod dipped in vermilion in his hand, and as they passed he counted them with the rod; and when the tenth came he touched it, by which it was distinguished as the tithe calf, sheep, etc.

Jeremiah 33:13, Ezekiel 20:37, Micah 7:14

Leviticus 27:10

commandments

26:46, Deuteronomy 4:45, John 1:17

in mount

Numbers 1:1, Galatians 4:24,25, Hebrews 12:18-25