What does Leviticus 27:28 mean by "devoted to the LORD"? Scriptural Text “Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD — whether a person, an animal, or his inherited land — may be sold or redeemed. Everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:28) Literary Setting Leviticus 27 concludes the book by regulating voluntary vows. Verses 1-25 address items that may be vowed and later redeemed with an assessed value. Verses 26-34 distinguish two sacred categories that are never redeemable: firstborn animals (v. 26) and things “devoted” (ḥērem, v. 28). Thus 27:28 marks a climactic principle: some gifts move beyond personal control into God’s exclusive domain. Categories Covered 1. Persons – A man could devote himself or a household member to lifelong tabernacle service, paralleling Hannah’s dedication of Samuel (1 Samuel 1:11, 28). 2. Animals – Clean livestock became priestly property for sacrifice; unclean animals were either killed or used for community needs but never returned to the owner. 3. Land – Fields or houses devoted became permanent priestly estates (cf. Numbers 18:14). Jubilee did not restore them (Leviticus 27:21). Irredeemability Explained Regular vows (neder) allowed redemption by paying an assessed shekel amount plus one-fifth (27:13, 15, 19). By contrast, a ḥērem could “not be sold or redeemed.” The verb pair stresses an absolute transfer: no commercial exchange and no substitution. The dedicated item becomes “qōḏeš qodāšîm” — “most holy,” a phrase reserved for altar vessels, incense, and the inner-sanctum sacrifices (Exodus 30:29). Theological Rationale 1. Divine Ownership: Devotion acknowledges God’s utter sovereignty (Psalm 24:1). 2. Holiness: YHWH’s holiness demands separation from common use (Leviticus 10:3). 3. Covenant Justice: In warfare, cherem expressed judicial sentence on cultures under divine judgment (Deuteronomy 20:17-18). Historical and Archaeological Corroboration Destruction layers at Jericho (John Garstang, 1930s; Bryant Wood, 1990) display a short, fiery ruin matching Joshua 6:24, consistent with an Israelite conquest about 1406 BC (Ussher chronology places Exodus 1446 BC). Tomb inscriptions at Kuntillet ‘Ajrud call YHWH “baal,” “owner,” echoing cherem’s claim of ownership. The temple archive from Emar (14th cent. BC) records property “placed under ban” that parallels Leviticus in wording, underscoring the authenticity of Mosaic legal categories. Ethical Objections Addressed The charge of genocide ignores the covenantal context: nations placed under cherem had centuries of moral warning (Genesis 15:16). God, as Creator and moral lawgiver, holds rightful authority over life (Deuteronomy 32:39). The ban was limited, specific in time, and never racial; repentant individuals (Rahab, Joshua 6:25) received mercy, displaying both justice and grace. Christological Fulfillment Jesus embodies the principle of irrevocable devotion: • As firstborn, He is “holy to the LORD” (Luke 2:23). • He becomes “a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13), bearing the anathema reserved for the ḥērem. • His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) vindicates the offering, proving the devotion acceptable and securing salvation. Over 500 eyewitnesses (v. 6) meet historical criteria of multiple attestation and early proclamation, establishing this as fact, not legend. Continuity in the New Covenant Believers respond by offering themselves as “living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1). Property yielded for the gospel, as with Barnabas’s field (Acts 4:37), prefigures the irretrievable nature of cherem. Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit (Acts 5) shows that pretending devotion while retaining control invites judgment. Practical Implications for Today • Stewardship: Recognize that once we commit resources to Kingdom work, we relinquish rights to reclaim them. • Worship: Cherem calls for wholehearted surrender, opposing cultural consumerism. • Mission: The devoted life proclaims God’s worth to a watching world. Summary Leviticus 27:28 teaches that anything “devoted to the LORD” falls under God’s absolute ownership, irrevocable and most holy. The statute magnifies His sovereignty, foreshadows Christ’s once-for-all devoted sacrifice, and invites believers into uncompromising dedication. |
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