Estimation - Tithe Leviticus 27

Leviticus 27:2 "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the Lord by thy estimation."

Outline:

v1 He that maketh a singular vow must be the Lord's
v2 The estimation of the person
v9 Of a beast given by vow
v14 Of a house
v16 Of a field and the redemption thereof
v28 No devoted thing may be redeemed
v32 The tithe may not be changed

The last chapter in this book is the most difficult for me to get a handle on. I went to Webster and found a couple of definitions after reading over the chapter. For some reason, I came up with the word appraise in relation to estimate. Or appraisal and estimation.

Estimate: to give or form an approximation (as of value, size or cost) Judge conclude evaluate, value rate, appraise, assay or assess
Estimation: judgment, opinion, esteem, honor

appraise: to set a value on
appraisal: same

So working from those definitions and the reading of the scripture, my best understanding is that Moses or the priest are to decide what something or someone is worth, money wise. The ending purpose for valuation being to allow redemption later except where restricted and to decide what the tithe would be in order to give to the Lord the tenth part.

The value is separated by age for the people and makes allowances for the poor.

The chapter also deals with vows once the method of estimation is established.

v28 "Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord."

Then we go to the subject of the tithe which has been the subject of much discussion in churches.

V30 "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the three, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord."

v32"...the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord." This spoke of the flocks which were counted by passing under the rod. v32 .

This is a good place for Malachi 3:10-12

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. v11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. v12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts."

These instructions were given at Mount Sinai as v34 states: These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in Mount Sinai."

In the next book called Numbers, the setting is the wilderness of Sinai. Numbers 1:1 "And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying."

The end of Exodus has the children of Israel travelling with the cloud and pillow of fire. In Leviticus we have instructions at the mount, even though we are told of their moving on. I believe this is because Moses was teaching what he had received on the mount as they journeyed. Obviously, I do not understand this clearly. I just do not think all the instructions were on the stone tablets but that all this detailed stuff was written down after they broke camp at the mount. I'll take any clarity anyone has to offer. But like our churches, the tabernacle was where the people gathered to listen to Moses.

Psalm 6:2 "Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed."