mh_parser/vol_split/3 - Leviticus/Chapter 27.xml

<div2 id="Lev.xxviii" n="xxviii" next="Num" prev="Lev.xxvii" progress="63.31%" title="Chapter XXVII">
<h2 id="Lev.xxviii-p0.1">L E V I T I C U S</h2>
<h3 id="Lev.xxviii-p0.2">CHAP. XXVII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Lev.xxviii-p1">The <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.46" parsed="|Lev|26|46|0|0" passage="Le 26:46">last verse of the
foregoing chapter</scripRef> seemed to close up the statute-book;
yet this chapter is added as an appendix. Having given laws
concerning instituted services, here he directs concerning vows and
voluntary services, the free-will offerings of their mouth. Perhaps
some devout serious people among them might be so affected with
what Moses had delivered to them in the foregoing chapter as in a
pang of zeal to consecrate themselves, or their children, or
estates to him: this, because honestly meant, God would accept;
but, because men are apt to repent of such vows, he leaves room for
the redemption of what had been so consecrated, at a certain rate.
Here is, I. The law concerning what was sanctified to God, persons
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.2-Lev.27.8" parsed="|Lev|27|2|27|8" passage="Le 27:2-8">ver. 2-8</scripRef>), cattle, clean
or unclean (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.9-Lev.27.13" parsed="|Lev|27|9|27|13" passage="Le 27:9-13">ver. 9-13</scripRef>),
houses and lands (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.15-Lev.27.25" parsed="|Lev|27|15|27|25" passage="Le 27:15-25">ver.
15-25</scripRef>), with an exception of firstlings, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.26-Lev.27.27" parsed="|Lev|27|26|27|27" passage="Le 27:26,27">ver. 26, 27</scripRef>. II. Concerning what
was devoted, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.28-Lev.27.29" parsed="|Lev|27|28|27|29" passage="Le 27:28,29">ver. 28,
29</scripRef>. III. Concerning tithes, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.30-Lev.27.34" parsed="|Lev|27|30|27|34" passage="Le 27:30-34">ver. 30</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Lev.xxviii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27" parsed="|Lev|27|0|0|0" passage="Le 27" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xxviii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.1-Lev.27.13" parsed="|Lev|27|1|27|13" passage="Le 27:1-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.27.1-Lev.27.13">
<h4 id="Lev.xxviii-p1.10">The Law Concerning Vows. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p1.11">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxviii-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses, saying,   2 Speak unto the children of
Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow,
the persons <i>shall be</i> for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p2.2">Lord</span> by thy estimation.   3 And thy
estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto
sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of
silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.   4 And if it
<i>be</i> a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels.
  5 And if <i>it be</i> from five years old even unto twenty
years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels,
and for the female ten shekels.   6 And if <i>it be</i> from a
month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of
the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation
<i>shall be</i> three shekels of silver.   7 And if <i>it
be</i> from sixty years old and above; if <i>it be</i> a male, then
thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten
shekels.   8 But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he
shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value
him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value
him.   9 And if <i>it be</i> a beast, whereof men bring an
offering unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p2.3">Lord</span>, all that
<i>any man</i> giveth of such unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p2.4">Lord</span> shall be holy.   10 He shall not alter
it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he
shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange
thereof shall be holy.   11 And if <i>it be</i> any unclean
beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p2.5">Lord</span>, then he shall present the beast before the
priest:   12 And the priest shall value it, whether it be good
or bad: as thou valuest it, <i>who art</i> the priest, so shall it
be.   13 But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a
fifth <i>part</i> thereof unto thy estimation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p3">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 <i>liberal devises liberal things</i>
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.32.8" parsed="|Isa|32|8|0|0" passage="Isa 32:8">Isa. xxxii. 8</scripRef>), so the
pious devises pious things, and the enlarged heart would willingly
do something extraordinary in the service of so good a Master as
God is. When we receive or expect some singular mercy it is good to
honour God with some singular vow.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p4">I. The case is here put of persons vowed to
God by a singular vow, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.2" parsed="|Lev|27|2|0|0" passage="Le 27:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. If a man consecrated himself, or a child, to the
service of the tabernacle, to be employed there in some inferior
office, as sweeping the floor, carrying out ashes, running of
errands, or the like, <i>the person</i> so consecrated <i>shall be
for the Lord,</i> that is, "God will graciously accept the
good-will." <i>Thou didst well that it was in thy heart,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.6.8" parsed="|2Chr|6|8|0|0" passage="2Ch 6:8">2 Chron. vi. 8</scripRef>. But
forasmuch as he had no occasion to use their service about the
tabernacle, a whole tribe being appropriated to the use of it,
those that were thus vowed were to be redeemed, and the money paid
for their redemption was employed for the repair of the sanctuary,
or other uses of it, as appears by <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.12.14" parsed="|2Kgs|12|14|0|0" passage="2Ki 12:14">2
Kings xii. 14</scripRef>, where it is called, in the margin, the
<i>money of the souls of his estimation.</i> A book of rates is
accordingly provided, by which the priests were to go in their
estimation. Here is, 1. The rate of the middle-aged, between twenty
and threescore, these were valued highest, because most
serviceable; a male fifty shekels, and a female thirty, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.3-Lev.27.4" parsed="|Lev|27|3|27|4" passage="Le 27:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>. The females were
then less esteemed, but not so in Christ; for in <i>Christ Jesus
there is neither male nor female,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Gal.3.28" parsed="|Gal|3|28|0|0" passage="Ga 3:28">Gal. iii. 28</scripRef>. Note, Those that are in the
prime of their time must look upon themselves as obliged to do more
in the service of God and their generation than can be expected
either from minors, that have not yet arrived to their usefulness,
or from the aged, that have survived it. 2. The rate of the youth
between five years old and twenty was less, because they were then
less capable of doing service, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.5" parsed="|Lev|27|5|0|0" passage="Le 27:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. 3. Infants under five years old
were capable of being vowed to God by their parents, even before
they were born, as Samuel was, but not to be presented and redeemed
till a month old, that, as one sabbath passed over them before they
were circumcised, so one new moon might pass over them before they
were estimated; and their valuation was but small, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.6" parsed="|Lev|27|6|0|0" passage="Le 27:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Samuel, who was thus
vowed to God, was not redeemed, because he was a Levite, and a
particular favourite, and therefore was employed in his childhood
in the service of the tabernacle. 4. The aged are valued less than
youth, but more than children, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.7" parsed="|Lev|27|7|0|0" passage="Le 27:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. And the Hebrews observe that the
rate of an aged woman is two parts of three to that of an aged man,
so that in that age the female came nearest to the value of the
male, which occasioned (as bishop Patrick quotes it here) this
saying among them, <i>That an old woman in a house is a treasure in
a house.</i> Paul sets a great value upon the aged women, when he
makes them <i>teachers of good things,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.9" osisRef="Bible:Titus.2.3" parsed="|Titus|2|3|0|0" passage="Tit 2:3">Tit. ii. 3</scripRef>. 5. The poor shall be valued
according to their ability, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.10" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.8" parsed="|Lev|27|8|0|0" passage="Le 27:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. Something they must pay, that they might learn not to
be rash in vowing to God, for <i>he hath no pleasure in fools,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.11" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.5.4" parsed="|Eccl|5|4|0|0" passage="Ec 5:4">Eccl. v. 4</scripRef>. Yet not more than
their ability, but <i>secundum tenementum—according to their
possessions,</i> that they might not ruin themselves and their
families by their zeal. Note, God expects and requires from men
according to what they have, and not according to what they have
not, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p4.12" osisRef="Bible:Luke.21.4" parsed="|Luke|21|4|0|0" passage="Lu 21:4">Luke xxi. 4</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p5">II. The case is put of beasts vowed to God,
1. If it was a clean beast, such as was offered in sacrifice, it
must not be redeemed, nor any equivalent given for it: <i>It shall
be holy,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.9-Lev.27.10" parsed="|Lev|27|9|27|10" passage="Le 27:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9,
10</scripRef>. After it was vowed, it was not to be put to any
common use, nor changed upon second thoughts; but it must be either
offered upon the altar, or, if through any blemish it was not meet
to be offered, he that vowed it should not take advantage of that,
but the priests should have it for their own use (for they were
God's receivers), or it should be sold for the service of the
sanctuary. This teaches caution in making vows and constancy in
keeping them when they are made; for <i>it is a snare to a man to
devour that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Prov.20.25" parsed="|Prov|20|25|0|0" passage="Pr 20:25">Prov. xx. 25</scripRef>. And to this
that rule of charity seems to allude (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.9.7" parsed="|2Cor|9|7|0|0" passage="2Co 9:7">2
Cor. ix. 7</scripRef>), <i>Every man, according as he purposeth in
his heart, so let him give.</i> 2. If it was an unclean beast, it
should go to the use of the priest at such a value; but he that
vowed it, upon paying that value in money, and adding a fifth part
more to it, might redeem it if he pleased, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.11-Lev.27.13" parsed="|Lev|27|11|27|13" passage="Le 27:11-13"><i>v.</i> 11-13</scripRef>. It was fit that men
should smart for their inconstancy. God has let us know his mind
concerning his service, and he is not pleased if we do not know our
own. God expects that those that deal with him should be at a
point, and way what they will stand to.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xxviii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27" parsed="|Lev|27|0|0|0" passage="Le 27" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xxviii-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.14-Lev.27.25" parsed="|Lev|27|14|27|25" passage="Le 27:14-25" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.27.14-Lev.27.25">
<h4 id="Lev.xxviii-p5.7">Concerning Things
Sanctified. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p5.8">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxviii-p6">14 And when a man shall sanctify his house <i>to
be</i> holy unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p6.1">Lord</span>, then the
priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest
shall estimate it, so shall it stand.   15 And if he that
sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth
<i>part</i> of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be
his.   16 And if a man shall sanctify unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p6.2">Lord</span> <i>some part</i> of a field of his
possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed
thereof: an homer of barley seed <i>shall be valued</i> at fifty
shekels of silver.   17 If he sanctify his field from the year
of jubilee, according to thy estimation it shall stand.   18
But if he sanctify his field after the jubilee, then the priest
shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain,
even unto the year of the jubilee, and it shall be abated from thy
estimation.   19 And if he that sanctified the field will in
any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth <i>part</i> of the
money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him.
  20 And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold
the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more.  
21 But the field, when it goeth out in the jubilee, shall be holy
unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p6.3">Lord</span>, as a field devoted;
the possession thereof shall be the priest's.   22 And if <i>a
man</i> sanctify unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p6.4">Lord</span> a
field which he hath bought, which <i>is</i> not of the fields of
his possession;   23 Then the priest shall reckon unto him the
worth of thy estimation, <i>even</i> unto the year of the jubilee:
and he shall give thine estimation in that day, <i>as</i> a holy
thing unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p6.5">Lord</span>.   24 In
the year of the jubilee the field shall return unto him of whom it
was bought, <i>even</i> to him to whom the possession of the land
<i>did belong.</i>   25 And all thy estimations shall be
according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be
the shekel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p7">Here is the law concerning real estates
dedicated to the service of God by a singular vow.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p8">I. Suppose a man, in his zeal for the
honour of God, should <i>sanctify his house to God</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.14" parsed="|Lev|27|14|0|0" passage="Le 27:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), the house must be
valued by the priest, and the money got by the sale of it was to be
converted to the use of the sanctuary, which by degrees came to be
greatly enriched with <i>dedicated things,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.15.15" parsed="|1Kgs|15|15|0|0" passage="1Ki 15:15">1 Kings xv. 15</scripRef>. But, if the owner be
inclined to redeem it himself, he must not have it so cheap as
another, but must add a fifth part to the price, for he should have
considered before he had vowed it, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.15" parsed="|Lev|27|15|0|0" passage="Le 27:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. To him that was necessitous God
would abate the estimation (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.8" parsed="|Lev|27|8|0|0" passage="Le 27:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>); but to him that was fickle and humoursome, and whose
second thoughts inclined more to the world and his secular interest
than his first, God would rise in the price. Blessed be God, there
is a way of sanctifying our houses to be holy unto the Lord,
without either selling them or buying them. If we and our houses
serve the Lord, if religion rule in them, and we put away iniquity
far from them, and have a church in our house, holiness to the Lord
is written upon it, it is his, and he will dwell with us in it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p9">II. Suppose a man should sanctify some part
of his land to the Lord, giving it to pious uses, then a difference
must be made between land that came to the donor by descent and
that which came by purchase, and accordingly the case altered.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p10">1. If it was the inheritance of his
fathers, here called the <i>field of his possession,</i> which
pertained to his family from the first division of Canaan, he might
not give it all, no, not to the sanctuary; God would not admit such
a degree of zeal as ruined a man's family. But he might sanctify or
dedicate only some part of it, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.16" parsed="|Lev|27|16|0|0" passage="Le 27:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. And in that case, (1.) The land
was to be valued (as our countrymen commonly compute land) by so
many measures' sowing of barley. So much land as would take a
<i>homer,</i> or <i>chomer,</i> of barley, which contained ten
ephahs, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.45.11" parsed="|Ezek|45|11|0|0" passage="Eze 45:11">Ezek. xlv. 11</scripRef>
(not, as some have here mistaken it, an <i>omer,</i> which was but
a tenth part of an ephah, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.16.36" parsed="|Exod|16|36|0|0" passage="Ex 16:36">Exod. xvi.
36</scripRef>), was valued at fifty shekels, a moderate price
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.16" parsed="|Lev|27|16|0|0" passage="Le 27:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), and that if
it were sanctified immediately from the year of jubilee, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.17" parsed="|Lev|27|17|0|0" passage="Le 27:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. But, if some years
after, there was to be a discount accordingly, even of that price,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.18" parsed="|Lev|27|18|0|0" passage="Le 27:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. And, (2.)
When the value was fixed, the donor might, if he pleased, redeem it
for sixty shekels the homer's sowing, which was with the addition
of a fifth part: the money then went to the sanctuary, and the land
reverted to him that had sanctified it, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.19" parsed="|Lev|27|19|0|0" passage="Le 27:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. But if he would not redeem it,
and the priest sold it to another, then at the year of jubilee,
beyond which the sale could not go, the land came to the priests,
and was theirs for ever, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.20-Lev.27.21" parsed="|Lev|27|20|27|21" passage="Le 27:20,21"><i>v.</i>
20, 21</scripRef>. Note, What is given to the Lord ought not to be
given with a power of revocation; what is devoted to the Lord must
be his for ever, by a perpetual covenant.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p11">2. If the land was his own purchase, and
came not to him from his ancestors, then not the land itself, but
the value of it was to be given to the priests for pious uses,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.22 Bible:Lev.27.24" parsed="|Lev|27|22|0|0;|Lev|27|24|0|0" passage="Le 27:22,24"><i>v.</i> 22, 24</scripRef>. It was
supposed that those who, by the blessing of God, had grown so rich
as to become purchasers would think themselves obliged in gratitude
to sanctify some part of their purchase, at least (and here they
are not limited, but they might, if they pleased, sanctify the
whole), to the service of God. For we ought to give <i>as God
prospers us,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.16.2" parsed="|1Cor|16|2|0|0" passage="1Co 16:2">1 Cor. xvi.
2</scripRef>. Purchasers are in a special manner bound to be
charitable. Now, forasmuch as purchased lands were by a former law
to return at the year of jubilee to the family from which they were
purchased, God would not have that law and the intentions of it
defeated by making the lands <i>corban, a gift,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Mark.7.11" parsed="|Mark|7|11|0|0" passage="Mk 7:11">Mark vii. 11</scripRef>. But it was to be
computed how much the land was worth for so many years as were from
the vow to the jubilee; for only so long it was his own, and God
<i>hates robbery for burnt-offerings.</i> We can never acceptably
serve God with that of which we have wronged our neighbour. And so
much money he was to give for the present, and keep the land in his
own hands till the year of jubilee, when it was to return free of
all encumbrances, even that of its being dedicated to him of whom
it was bought. The value of the shekel by which all these
estimations were to be made is here ascertained (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.25" parsed="|Lev|27|25|0|0" passage="Le 27:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>); it shall be twenty gerahs, and
every gerah was sixteen barley-corns. This was fixed before
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.30.13" parsed="|Exod|30|13|0|0" passage="Ex 30:13">Exod. xxx. 13</scripRef>); and,
whereas there had been some alterations, it is again fixed in the
laws of Ezekiel's visionary temple (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.45.12" parsed="|Ezek|45|12|0|0" passage="Eze 45:12">Ezek. xlv. 12</scripRef>), to denote that the gospel
should reduce things to their ancient standard.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xxviii-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.26-Lev.27.34" parsed="|Lev|27|26|27|34" passage="Le 27:26-34" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.27.26-Lev.27.34">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xxviii-p12">26 Only the firstling of the beasts, which
should be the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p12.1">Lord</span>'s firstling, no
man shall sanctify it; whether <i>it be</i> ox, or sheep: it
<i>is</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p12.2">Lord</span>'s.   27 And
if <i>it be</i> of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem <i>it</i>
according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth <i>part</i> of
it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold
according to thy estimation.   28 Notwithstanding no devoted
thing, that a man shall devote unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p12.3">Lord</span> of all that he hath, <i>both</i> of man and
beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or
redeemed: every devoted thing <i>is</i> most holy unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p12.4">Lord</span>.   29 None devoted, which shall
be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; <i>but</i> shall surely be
put to death.   30 And all the tithe of the land,
<i>whether</i> of the seed of the land, <i>or</i> of the fruit of
the tree, <i>is</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p12.5">Lord</span>'s:
<i>it is</i> holy unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p12.6">Lord</span>.
  31 And if a man will at all redeem <i>ought</i> of his
tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth <i>part</i> thereof.  
32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock,
<i>even</i> of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be
holy unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p12.7">Lord</span>.   33 He
shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change
it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof
shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.   34 These <i>are</i>
the commandments, which the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xxviii-p12.8">Lord</span>
commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount Sinai.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p13">Here is, I. A caution given that no man
should make such a jest of sanctifying things to the Lord as to
sanctify any firstling to him, for that was his already by the law,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.26" parsed="|Lev|27|26|0|0" passage="Le 27:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>. Though the
matter of a general vow be that which we were before obliged to, as
of our sacramental covenant, yet a singular vow should be of that
which we were not, in such circumstances and proportions,
antecedently bound to. The law concerning the firstlings of unclean
beasts (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.27" parsed="|Lev|27|27|0|0" passage="Le 27:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>) is
the same with that before, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.11-Lev.27.12" parsed="|Lev|27|11|27|12" passage="Le 27:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11, 12</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p14">II. Things or persons devoted are here
distinguished from things or persons that were only sanctified. 1.
Devoted things were most holy to the Lord, and could neither revert
nor be alienated, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.28" parsed="|Lev|27|28|0|0" passage="Le 27:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>. They were of the same nature with those sacrifices
which were called most holy, which none might touch but only the
priests themselves. The difference between these and other
sanctified things arose from the different expression of the vow.
If a man dedicated any thing to God, binding himself with a solemn
curse never to alienate it to any other purpose, then it was a
thing devoted. 2. Devoted persons were to be put to death,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.29" parsed="|Lev|27|29|0|0" passage="Le 27:29"><i>v.</i> 29</scripRef>. Not that it
was in the power of any parent or master thus to devote a child or
a servant to death; but it must be meant of the public enemies of
Israel, who, either by the appointment of God or by the sentence of
the congregation, were devoted, as the seven nations with which
they must make no league. The city of Jericho in particular was
thus devoted, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.6.17" parsed="|Josh|6|17|0|0" passage="Jos 6:17">Josh. vi. 17</scripRef>.
The inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead were put to death for violating
the curse pronounced upon those who came not up to Mizpeh,
<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.21.9-Judg.21.10" parsed="|Judg|21|9|21|10" passage="Jdg 21:9,10">Judg. xxi. 9, 10</scripRef>. Some
think it was for want of being rightly informed of the true intent
and meaning of this law that Jephtha sacrificed his daughter as one
devoted, who might not be redeemed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p15">III. A law concerning tithes, which were
paid for the service of God before the law, as appears by Abraham's
payment of them, (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.14.20" parsed="|Gen|14|20|0|0" passage="Ge 14:20">Gen. xiv.
20</scripRef>), and Jacob's promise of them, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.22" parsed="|Gen|28|22|0|0" passage="Ge 28:22">Gen. xxviii. 22</scripRef>. It is here appointed, 1.
That they should pay tithe of all their increase, their corn,
trees, and cattle, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.30 Bible:Lev.27.32" parsed="|Lev|27|30|0|0;|Lev|27|32|0|0" passage="Le 27:30,32"><i>v.</i> 30,
32</scripRef>. Whatsoever productions they had the benefit of God
must be honoured with the tithe of, if it were titheable. Thus they
acknowledged God to be the owner of their land, the giver of its
fruits, and themselves to be his tenants, and dependents upon him.
Thus they gave him thanks for the plenty they enjoyed, and
supplicated his favour in the continuance of it. And we are taught
in general to <i>honour the Lord with our substance</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.3.9" parsed="|Prov|3|9|0|0" passage="Pr 3:9">Prov. iii. 9</scripRef>), and in particular to
support and maintain his ministers, and to be <i>ready to
communicate</i> to them, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Gal.6.6 Bible:1Cor.9.11" parsed="|Gal|6|6|0|0;|1Cor|9|11|0|0" passage="Ga 6:6,1Co 9:11">Gal.
vi. 6; 1 Cor. ix. 11</scripRef>. And how this may be done in a
fitter and more equal proportion than that of the tenth, which God
himself appointed of old, I cannot see. 2. That which was once
marked for tithe should not be altered, no, not for a better
(<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p15.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.33" parsed="|Lev|27|33|0|0" passage="Le 27:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>), for
Providence directed the rod that marked it. God would accept it
though it were not the best, and they must not grudge it though it
were, for it was what passed under the rod. 3. That it should not
be redeemed, unless the owner would give a fifth part more for its
ransom, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p15.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.31" parsed="|Lev|27|31|0|0" passage="Le 27:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. If
men had the curiosity to prefer what was marked for tithe before
any other part of their increase, it was fit that they should pay
for their curiosity.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xxviii-p16">IV. The <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.34" parsed="|Lev|27|34|0|0" passage="Le 27:34">last
verse</scripRef> seems to have reference to this whole book of
which it is the conclusion: <i>These are the commandments which the
Lord commanded Moses, for the children of Israel.</i> Many of these
commandments are moral, and of perpetual obligation; others of
them, which were ceremonial and peculiar to the Jewish economy,
have notwithstanding a spiritual significancy, and are instructive
to us who are furnished with a key to let us into the mysteries
contained in them; for <i>unto us,</i> by those institutions, <i>is
the gospel preached as well as unto them,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.4.2" parsed="|Heb|4|2|0|0" passage="Heb 4:2">Heb. iv. 2</scripRef>. Upon the whole matter, we may see
cause to bless God that <i>we have not come to Mount Sinai,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.12.18" parsed="|Heb|12|18|0|0" passage="Heb 12:18">Heb. xii. 18</scripRef>. 1. That we
are not under the <i>dark shadows</i> of the law, but enjoy the
clear light of the gospel, which shows us <i>Christ the end of the
law for righteousness,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.10.4" parsed="|Rom|10|4|0|0" passage="Ro 10:4">Rom. x.
4</scripRef>. The doctrine of our reconciliation to God by a
Mediator is not clouded with the smoke of burning sacrifices, but
cleared by the knowledge of <i>Christ and him crucified.</i> 2.
That we are not under the <i>heavy yoke</i> of the law, and the
carnal ordinances of it (as the apostle calls them, <scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.10" parsed="|Heb|9|10|0|0" passage="Heb 9:10">Heb. ix. 10</scripRef>), imposed till the time
of reformation, a yoke which <i>neither they nor their fathers were
able to bear</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xxviii-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:Acts.15.10" parsed="|Acts|15|10|0|0" passage="Ac 15:10">Acts xv.
10</scripRef>), but under the sweet and easy institutions of the
gospel, which pronounces those the <i>true worshippers that worship
the Father in spirit and truth,</i> by Christ only, and in his
name, who is our priest, temple, altar, sacrifice, purification,
and all. Let us not therefore think that because we are not tied to
the ceremonial cleansings, feasts, and oblations, a little care,
time, and expense, will serve to honour God with. No, but rather
have our hearts more enlarge with free-will offerings to his
praise, more inflamed with holy love and joy, and more engaged in
seriousness of thought and sincerity of intention. <i>Having
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, let us
draw near with a true heart, and full assurance of faith,</i>
worshipping God with so much the more cheerfulness and humble
confidence, still saying, <i>Blessed be God for Jesus
Christ!</i></p>
</div></div2>