by jimwalton » Tue Jul 31, 2018 9:06 pm
> When you say Leviticus 27:28 is about herem, are you implying the verse isn't denoting the dedication of persons, animals, and family land specifically mentioned in previous verses throughout Leviticus 27?
That's correct. Verse 28 starts a different category: things not merely dedicated, but those things removed from human use (herem). You'll notice that the dedicated things throughout the chapter have valuations, but in 28-29, not so.
> If so, then what type of person, animal, or family land was Leviticus 27:28 referring to?
For instance, if the owner of a piece of land failed to redeem it from debt, the title deed would pass to the priests and it would become their permanent property (removed from human use, now solely for the use of the temple and its keepers). A landowner could also give his property to the temple. Sometimes such lands were used for grazing the bulls for future sacrifice. Sometimes the land was cleared of inhabitants and left empty—removed from human use.
Herem food could be eaten by the priests and their families (Num. 18).
Vessels like pitchers or plates would become the property of the temple and for its sole use as well. David consigned his precious metal spoils to God (1 Sam. 8.10-11). Hannah gave her son to temple service (1 Sam. 1-3). Nothing given to the priests/temple with this intent could ever be sold, even by the priests.
As far as the persons of v. 29, these were criminals whose acts could not be expiated through sacrifice, nor were they eligible for redemption by their families or clans. These may not be ransomed but must be executed by the State.
> When you say Leviticus 27:28 is about herem, are you implying the verse isn't denoting the dedication of persons, animals, and family land specifically mentioned in previous verses throughout Leviticus 27?
That's correct. Verse 28 starts a different category: things not merely dedicated, but those things removed from human use ([i]herem[/i]). You'll notice that the dedicated things throughout the chapter have valuations, but in 28-29, not so.
> If so, then what type of person, animal, or family land was Leviticus 27:28 referring to?
For instance, if the owner of a piece of land failed to redeem it from debt, the title deed would pass to the priests and it would become their permanent property (removed from human use, now solely for the use of the temple and its keepers). A landowner could also give his property to the temple. Sometimes such lands were used for grazing the bulls for future sacrifice. Sometimes the land was cleared of inhabitants and left empty—removed from human use.
[i]Herem[/i] food could be eaten by the priests and their families (Num. 18).
Vessels like pitchers or plates would become the property of the temple and for its sole use as well. David consigned his precious metal spoils to God (1 Sam. 8.10-11). Hannah gave her son to temple service (1 Sam. 1-3). Nothing given to the priests/temple with this intent could ever be sold, even by the priests.
As far as the persons of v. 29, these were criminals whose acts could not be expiated through sacrifice, nor were they eligible for redemption by their families or clans. These may not be ransomed but must be executed by the State.