27:9-13
Now we come to animals being dedicated to the Lord. There is provision here to ensure that someone does not present a good animal to the priest, and then actually offer a lesser beast. Mal 1:12-14 rebukes Israel for offering dodgy animals. If someone wanted to redeem an animal then a fifth had to be added to its value.
27:14,15
Someone could dedicate their house to the Lord, or “as something holy to the Lord”. The house would revert back to the owner at the Jubilee. If a person wanted to redeem it before that time they would have to pay an extra fifth. So it seems to recognise that a person’s circumstances may change, so they need the house back, but there was a penalty for doing so, therefore people would not lightly dedicate their house.
27:16-21
If land was dedicated, then its value was determined according to how much seed was required for the land. They had to redeem the field by the Jubilee, otherwise it would belong to the priesthood forever. At one level all these regulations seem to be a bit much, however, they are bringing some order to giving, and providing fairness.
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