Leviticus 27:18 - But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, then the priest shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain to the Year of Jubilee; and an abatement shall be made from your valuation.
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What does "Leviticus 27:18" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 27:18 outlines the process for redeeming a field dedicated to the Lord if the dedication happens after a Jubilee year has already passed. Let's break it down:
"But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee..." This refers to a situation where someone vows or dedicates a field to the Lord (likely meaning giving the field's produce or value to the sanctuary/temple) sometime in the 50-year cycle after the Jubilee year has already occurred. Remember, the Jubilee year was a special year of rest and restoration that happened every 50 years.
"...then the priest shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain to the Year of Jubilee..." The key phrase here is "according to the years that remain." The priest wouldn't simply assign a fixed value to the field. Instead, they would calculate its value based on how many years were left until the next Jubilee year. The closer the dedication was to the next Jubilee, the higher the perceived value. The logic is that the land would yield crops for a longer period of time before the Jubilee (when land reverted back to its original owner).
"...and an abatement shall be made from your valuation." "Abatement" means a reduction or deduction. This means that from the initial valuation (based on the remaining years until the Jubilee), the priest would further reduce the amount the person needed to pay to redeem the field. The amount of abatement probably depended on the quality of the land and other relevant factors.
In Summary:
The verse describes how to calculate the redemption price for a dedicated field when the dedication occurs after a Jubilee year. The price is:
1. Based on Remaining Years: Primarily determined by the number of years remaining until the next Jubilee year (more years = higher initial value).
2. Subject to Abatement: Further reduced by the priest based on factors not explicitly defined in the verse.
Why is this important?
This passage reveals the Israelites' understanding of land, time, and dedication to God.
Land Tenure: The Jubilee year served as a system to ensure fair land distribution and prevent perpetual debt/poverty. It highlighted that ultimately, the land belonged to God, and families had a right to their ancestral property.
Valuation and Economics: The passage shows a system of valuation based on time, reflecting an understanding of the economic value of land productivity over time.
Dedication and Redemption: The possibility of redeeming a dedicated field reveals that dedication to God was not always irreversible. There was a mechanism to reacquire the property by paying its assessed value, allowing for flexibility in fulfilling vows. It provided a way for the dedicator to fulfill their vow in monetary form if they needed the land back.
In conclusion, Leviticus 27:18 offers a glimpse into the complex legal and economic system governing dedicated property in ancient Israel, all within the framework of their covenant relationship with God and the Jubilee cycle.
Leviticus 27:18 - But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, then the priest shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain to the Year of Jubilee; and an abatement shall be made from your valuation.
What does "Leviticus 27:18" mean?
This verse from Leviticus 27:18 outlines the process for redeeming a field dedicated to the Lord if the dedication happens after a Jubilee year has already passed. Let's break it down:
"But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee..." This refers to a situation where someone vows or dedicates a field to the Lord (likely meaning giving the field's produce or value to the sanctuary/temple) sometime in the 50-year cycle after the Jubilee year has already occurred. Remember, the Jubilee year was a special year of rest and restoration that happened every 50 years.
"...then the priest shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain to the Year of Jubilee..." The key phrase here is "according to the years that remain." The priest wouldn't simply assign a fixed value to the field. Instead, they would calculate its value based on how many years were left until the next Jubilee year. The closer the dedication was to the next Jubilee, the higher the perceived value. The logic is that the land would yield crops for a longer period of time before the Jubilee (when land reverted back to its original owner).
"...and an abatement shall be made from your valuation." "Abatement" means a reduction or deduction. This means that from the initial valuation (based on the remaining years until the Jubilee), the priest would further reduce the amount the person needed to pay to redeem the field. The amount of abatement probably depended on the quality of the land and other relevant factors.
In Summary:
The verse describes how to calculate the redemption price for a dedicated field when the dedication occurs after a Jubilee year. The price is:
1. Based on Remaining Years: Primarily determined by the number of years remaining until the next Jubilee year (more years = higher initial value).
2. Subject to Abatement: Further reduced by the priest based on factors not explicitly defined in the verse.
Why is this important?
This passage reveals the Israelites' understanding of land, time, and dedication to God.
Land Tenure: The Jubilee year served as a system to ensure fair land distribution and prevent perpetual debt/poverty. It highlighted that ultimately, the land belonged to God, and families had a right to their ancestral property.
Valuation and Economics: The passage shows a system of valuation based on time, reflecting an understanding of the economic value of land productivity over time.
Dedication and Redemption: The possibility of redeeming a dedicated field reveals that dedication to God was not always irreversible. There was a mechanism to reacquire the property by paying its assessed value, allowing for flexibility in fulfilling vows. It provided a way for the dedicator to fulfill their vow in monetary form if they needed the land back.
In conclusion, Leviticus 27:18 offers a glimpse into the complex legal and economic system governing dedicated property in ancient Israel, all within the framework of their covenant relationship with God and the Jubilee cycle.