Valuation עֵ֫רֶךְ

We are in chapter twenty-seven of Leviticus with our word for today. עֵ֫רֶךְ layer, row, provision, equipment, value, estimate. It is used 33 times in the Old Testament, 21 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of arrangement, an orderly grouping considered as a unit, the result of arranging. A good example of this is the setting up of the tabernacle. Exodus 40:4, 23 And you shall bring in the table and עֶרְכּ֑וֹ arrange it … and arranged עֵ֥רֶךְ [not translated probably because seems repetitive. So literally is what needs to be arranged] the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Most of the uses of our word are in the sense of valuation, assessed price. This is how our word is used 21 times in our chapter. We first see our word in the context of the valuation of people. Leviticus 27:1-3, 8 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the Lord בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ involving the valuation of persons, then the עֶרְכְּךָ֙ valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary … And if someone is too poor to pay the מֵֽעֶרְכֶּ֔ךָ valuation, then he shall be made to stand before the priest, and the priest shall value him; the priest shall value him according to what the vower can afford. We also see our word used in the valuation of houses and property given to the Lord. Leviticus 27:14-18 When a man dedicates his house as a holy gift to the Lord, the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand. And if the donor wishes to redeem his house, he shall add a fifth to the עֶרְכְּךָ֛ valuation price, and it shall be his. If a man dedicates to the Lord part of the land that is his possession, then the עֶרְכְּךָ֖ valuation shall be in proportion to its seed. A homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. If he dedicates his field from the year of jubilee, the כְּעֶרְכְּךָ֖ valuation shall stand, but if he dedicates his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall calculate the price according to the years that remain until the year of jubilee, and a deduction shall be made from the מֵֽעֶרְכֶּֽךָ valuation. We have already looked at our word for redeemed which is closely related to our word for today. The idea in our chapter is part of making a vow is the idea of our commitment to God expressed in a person cost to us. David understood this when he wanted to offer a sacrifice to God and was offered a way to do so that would be inexpensive. 2 Samuel 24:24-25 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel. There was a sacrifice that had to be made because of David’s sin. The good news is that because of Jesus work on the cross he has already paid this price. And the good news is that God loved us and valued us so much that he was willing to pay the price to forgive us and free us from our sins. I’ll close with this great reminder. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.