The LORD said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate someone to the Lord by paying the value of that person, here is the scale of values to be used. A man between the ages of twenty and sixty is valued at fifty shekels of silver, as measured by the sanctuary shekel. A woman of that age is valued at thirty shekels of silver. A boy between the ages of five and twenty is valued at twenty shekels of silver; a girl of that age is valued at ten shekels of silver. A boy between the ages of one month and five years is valued at five shekels of silver; a girl of that age is valued at three shekels of silver. A man older than sixty is valued at fifteen shekels of silver; a woman of that age is valued at ten shekels of silver. If you desire to make such a vow but cannot afford to pay the required amount, take the person to the priest. He will determine the amount for you to pay based on what you can afford. [Leviticus 27.1-8]
I took the time today to review my past thoughts about this particular passage of scripture and found that I mostly focused on the "valuation" implications of it as it relates to human equality. Certainly that topic is a worthy discussion! However, as I read this passage again today, it occurred to me to ask myself what this passage is about!
What IS it about?
In the context of Leviticus 27 there are four categories of things "dedicated" to the LORD: humans, animals, houses, and land. Of these four, the discussion about the latter three include specific instructions for "buying them back." Note: In the context that these "dedicated" things could be "bought back," it would seem then that "dedicating" and "selling" are synonymous... Well, except that "dedicating," in this context, involves "paying" to dedicate the person, animal, or property.
However, anything specially set apart for the LORD—whether a person, an animal, or family property—must never be sold or bought back. Anything devoted in this way has been set apart as holy, and it belongs to the LORD. [Leviticus 27.28]
Now, although the verse above confirms that a person, animal, or property that has previously been specially set apart for the LORD (ie. "dedicated" with payment) may NOT be "sold or bought back," it presents what, to me, is a very confusing circumstance. Why give all the instruction about dedicating these things to the LORD and giving instructions for "buying back" only to conclude that anything "dedicated" to the LORD must never be sold or bought back?
And to further twist the inquiring mind, how can one human "dedicate" another? Mind you, this is not "selling" as much as it is "paying" the priest to "receive" the dedicated person, animal or property. However, there seems to be a definite ownership transfer in this transaction indicated by the discussion about "buying back."
Can extra-biblical sources explain this? I am sure there are a plethora of opinions - and maybe even some well-founded theories about the questions here, but I fear they may all be based on modern cultural presuppositions. How could we ever expect to understand these ancient things with modern minds? I think we cannot. However, I am convinced that the Holy Spirit can put perspective in us that will allow us to see how these things work together with the full context of God's Story as portrayed so completely in the Bible. I believe the truly dedicated soul will acknowledge that God ultimately has all the "rights." I believe the genuinely converted individual will accept that Jesus Christ is portrayed even in these ancient manuscripts - if only that revelation will be allowed to come. I believe we must lay our cultural understandings aside to fully comprehend these confusing passages of holy scripture.
I look forward to continued revelation of this myself.
Father, as I have asked so many times before, please give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to understand all that You have to teach me from Your Word!
I took the time today to review my past thoughts about this particular passage of scripture and found that I mostly focused on the "valuation" implications of it as it relates to human equality. Certainly that topic is a worthy discussion! However, as I read this passage again today, it occurred to me to ask myself what this passage is about!
What IS it about?
In the context of Leviticus 27 there are four categories of things "dedicated" to the LORD: humans, animals, houses, and land. Of these four, the discussion about the latter three include specific instructions for "buying them back." Note: In the context that these "dedicated" things could be "bought back," it would seem then that "dedicating" and "selling" are synonymous... Well, except that "dedicating," in this context, involves "paying" to dedicate the person, animal, or property.
However, anything specially set apart for the LORD—whether a person, an animal, or family property—must never be sold or bought back. Anything devoted in this way has been set apart as holy, and it belongs to the LORD. [Leviticus 27.28]
Now, although the verse above confirms that a person, animal, or property that has previously been specially set apart for the LORD (ie. "dedicated" with payment) may NOT be "sold or bought back," it presents what, to me, is a very confusing circumstance. Why give all the instruction about dedicating these things to the LORD and giving instructions for "buying back" only to conclude that anything "dedicated" to the LORD must never be sold or bought back?
And to further twist the inquiring mind, how can one human "dedicate" another? Mind you, this is not "selling" as much as it is "paying" the priest to "receive" the dedicated person, animal or property. However, there seems to be a definite ownership transfer in this transaction indicated by the discussion about "buying back."
Can extra-biblical sources explain this? I am sure there are a plethora of opinions - and maybe even some well-founded theories about the questions here, but I fear they may all be based on modern cultural presuppositions. How could we ever expect to understand these ancient things with modern minds? I think we cannot. However, I am convinced that the Holy Spirit can put perspective in us that will allow us to see how these things work together with the full context of God's Story as portrayed so completely in the Bible. I believe the truly dedicated soul will acknowledge that God ultimately has all the "rights." I believe the genuinely converted individual will accept that Jesus Christ is portrayed even in these ancient manuscripts - if only that revelation will be allowed to come. I believe we must lay our cultural understandings aside to fully comprehend these confusing passages of holy scripture.
I look forward to continued revelation of this myself.
Father, as I have asked so many times before, please give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to understand all that You have to teach me from Your Word!
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