Daily Scripture Reading Leviticus 26:40 - 27:13
One day at lunch, some coworkers were talking about their children. One mother told stories about her daughter playing soccer and being able to run just as fast as the boys. After she had finished, a male coworker asked, “At what age will biology kick in and she won’t be able to keep up with the boys anymore?”
The woman replied, “I don’t believe that will ever happen.”
The male asked, “Do you believe she will be able to run as fast as the boys when they are seniors in high school?”
She replied, “Yes, I do.”
Despite centuries of evidence that men are stronger and faster than women, some people refuse to accept this biological reality. The Bible does not state whether or not women can physically keep up with men, but the 27th chapter of Leviticus contains a rule that reflects the biological differences between men and women.
The 26th chapter of Leviticus opens by reinforcing core commands such as rejecting idols, keeping the Sabbath, and revering the sanctuary. Then verses 3-13 promise prosperity and safety to the Israelites if they obey the laws of God. In contrast, verses 14-39 assure the Israelites that if they choose to disobey Yahweh, then they will suffer consequences. Starting in verse 40, Yahweh promises grace if Israel repents after a season of rebellion.
Lev. 26:40 ¶ ‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also how they walked in hostility against Me—
Notice the word “If”. Verses 40-41 are the first half of an if/then statement.
Lev. 26:41 I also was walking in hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies—or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they then make up for their iniquity,
Lev. 26:42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.
Take note of the word “then”. Verse 42 is the second half of the if/then statement.
Yahweh had made a covenant with Abraham and promised that Abraham’s descendants would possess the land of Canaan (see Genesis 15:18). That promise was passed along to Isaac (see Genesis 26:3) and then to Jacob (see Genesis 28:13). The early part of Leviticus 26 warned Israel that disobedience would result in them being exiled from the land. But in verses 40-42 Yahweh assured Israel that when they repented, He would remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and bring the Israelites back to the Promised Land after their exile.
Lev. 26:43 For the land will be forsaken by them and will make up for its sabbaths while it is made desolate without them. They, meanwhile, will be making up for their iniquity because they rejected My judgments and their soul loathed My statutes.
Lev. 26:44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so loathe them as to bring an end to them, breaking My covenant with them; for I am Yahweh their God.
Lev. 26:45 But I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am Yahweh.’”
Lev. 26:46 ¶ These are the statutes and judgments and laws which Yahweh has given to be between Himself and the sons of Israel by the hand of Moses at Mount Sinai.
Lev. 27:1 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
This verse indicates Yahweh was turning to a different topic.
Lev. 27:2 “Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When a man makes a difficult vow, he shall be valued according to your valuation of persons belonging to Yahweh.
Lev. 27:3 If your valuation is of the male from twenty years even to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
Males were valued at fifty shekels.
Lev. 27:4 Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels.
Females of the same age were valued at thirty shekels. This raises the question of why males were valued higher than females.
Lev. 27:5 If it be from five years even to twenty years old then your valuation for the male shall be twenty shekels and for the female ten shekels.
Whereas males over the age of twenty were valued at fifty shekels, males under the age of twenty were only valued at twenty shekels.
Females between five and twenty were half the value of males of the same age.
In addition to wanting to know why males had a higher valuation, this verse also raises the question of why adults were valued higher than children.
Lev. 27:6 But if they are from a month even up to five years old, then your valuation shall be five shekels of silver for the male, and for the female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver.
Infants had a lower valuation than children. In contrast to male children over the age of five who were valued at twenty shekels, male infants under the age of five were valued at five shekels. Female infants under the age of five were valued less than male infants of the same age and less than female children over the age of five.
Lev. 27:7 If they are from sixty years old and upward, if it is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.
Elderly people had a lower valuation than adults who were in the prime of life.
The valuation was not based on males being superior to females or on one age being superior to another age. Instead, the valuation was based on the ability to perform productive work. Male Israelites between the ages of twenty and sixty were in the prime of life and could work faster and harder than females or males of other ages. The value of the work they could perform in one day was greater; thus, they as a person had a higher valuation.
This reflects a reality that is still true today. Males are faster and stronger than females. This has always been the case throughout all of history. It will always be true.
Lev. 27:8 But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be presented before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to the means of the one who vowed, the priest shall value him.
Lev. 27:9 ¶ ‘Now if it is an animal of the kind which men can bring near as an offering to Yahweh, any such that one gives to Yahweh shall be holy.
Lev. 27:10 He shall not replace it or exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; or if he does exchange animal for animal, then both it and its substitute shall become holy.
Lev. 27:11 If, however, it is any unclean animal of the kind which men do not bring near as an offering to Yahweh, then he shall present the animal before the priest.
Lev. 27:12 And the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be.
Lev. 27:13 But if he should ever wish to redeem it, then he shall add one-fifth of it to your valuation.
Many people today want to deny that there are physical differences between the sexes. However, males have always been faster and stronger than females, which gives males the ability to produce more work in the same amount of time. Just as the Mosaic Law recognized this difference and valued people accordingly, so too modern people should accept this fact of life and live life accordingly.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”