271 And the Lord said to Moses, 2 Say to the children of Israel, If a man makes a special oath, you will give your decision as to the value of the persons for the Lord. 3 And you will put the value of a male from twenty years to sixty years old at fifty shekels of silver, by the scale of the holy place. 4 And if it is a female, the value will be thirty shekels. 5 And if the person is from five to twenty years old, the value will be twenty shekels for a male, and ten for a female. 6 And if the person is from one month to five years old, then the value for a male will be five shekels of silver, and for a female three shekels. 7 And for sixty years old and over, for a male the value will be fifteen shekels, and for a female, ten. 8 But if he is poorer than the value which you have put on him, then let him be taken to the priest, and the priest will put a value on him, such as it is possible for him to give. 9 And if it is a beast of which men make offerings to the Lord, whatever any man gives of such to the Lord will be holy. 10 It may not be changed in any way, a good given for a bad, or a bad for a good; if one beast is changed for another, the two will be holy. 11 And if it is any unclean beast, of which offerings are not made to the Lord, then let him take the beast before the priest; 12 And let the priest put a value on it, if it is good or bad; whatever value the priest puts on it, so will it be. 13 But if he has a desire to get it back for himself, let him give a fifth more than your value.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 27:1-13
Commentary on Leviticus 27:1-13
(Read Leviticus 27:1-13)
Zeal for the service of God disposed the Israelites, on some occasions, to dedicate themselves or their children to the service of the Lord, in his house for life. Some persons who thus dedicated themselves might be employed as assistants; in general they were to be redeemed for a value. It is good to be zealously affected and liberally disposed for the Lord's service; but the matter should be well weighed, and prudence should direct as to what we do; else rash vows and hesitation in doing them will dishonour God, and trouble our own minds.