Buying Atonement

Click here to read Leviticus 27.

Chapter 27 describes the consequences of revival in the people's lives. The people were so impressed with preceding chapters that they consecrated themselves, their children and all that they had to the Lord. In the "heat" of revival many make commitments that they will not keep. So it was in Israel. Here, the Lord realized this and set up a means of "backing out", buying atonement, if you will, for breaking a vow.

The following were established fees:

  1. Men, 20 through 60...50 shekels of silver.
  2. Women, 20 through 60... 30 shekels of silver
  3. Males, 5 through 19... 20 shekels of silver.
  4. Females, 5 through 19... 10 shekels of silver.
  5. Males up to 5... 5 shekels of silver.
  6. Females up to 5... 3 shekels of silver
  7. Men 60 and up... 15 shekels of silver.
  8. Women 60 and up... 10 shekels of silver.
  9. If a man is to poor to pay the fee, the priest shall evaluate his finances and assess a fee.
  10. If it is an animal suitable for sacrifice, no fee can be substituted.
  11. If it is an animal unfit for sacrifice, the priest can evaluate it and set a redeeming fee.
  12. If it is a man's house, he can redeem it for the value of the house plus 1/5.
  13. If it is a man's property, the fields shall be evaluated according to what is planted and according to the number of years before the Jubilee.

Every evaluation shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary, i.e. 20 gerahs = 1 shekel.

No "first born" of animals can be dedicated in a vow because they already belong to the Lord. Nothing dedicated to the Lord and not redeemed can be sold or returned on the Jubilee year.

Finally, a 1/10 th. of everything belongs to the Lord, crops, animals, fruits etc. These are the commandments of the Lord, so said the Lord to Moses.

Thus ends the Book of Leviticus, a book that deals with "separation and communion". It is a book of sacrifice and blood atonement. It is filled with pictures of Christ and His work of redemption on the cross, the shedding of blood for the redemption of the world. It describes the awfulness of sin, the Holiness of God and the need of obedience to obtain God's greatest gift, His Grace.


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