Question:
Does Leviticus 27:29 refer to both men and beasts as described in verse 28? Obviously it would be hard to put a field to death. The NIV appears to state that "devoted" persons are to be put to death. Jephthah the Gileadite, a judge of great faith, appears to have made such a vow and offering.
Was there human sacrifice under the Old Covenant?
Denver
Answer: Dear Denver,
This last chapter of Leviticus concerns details about vows and tithes – a vow placing a person in a consecrated relationship with God (Samson and the daughter of Jepthah are examples) – they were consecrated by others.
The word for devoted thing (herem) refers to both extremes – those things that are totally holy and those that are totally evil. No citizen could simply ordain that an animal or human should die – in this context. Those decisions are a part of a great community input and council, involving elders, etc. The destruction also was utilized in the destruction of Jericho, and at other times it was not (Achan) when it should have been. Things were pronounced evil and were burned – this was intended to prevent Israel from going to war simply to profit from plunder and spoils.
The Bible clearly states that human sacrifice is an abomination to God (Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5; Deut. 12:31; 18:10). We do not know that Jepthah offered his daughter in a human sacrifice because 1) Jepthah was aware of the law against human sacrifice. 2) the text of Judges 11 does not say that he killed his daughter. It could have been that he dedicated her to the Lord – Romans 12:1 – makes a New Testament reference to the way that believers are dedicated to God.
She could have remained, by her father’s decree (under the old covenant – a very different law both civilly and culturally than we in the Western world live by today) as a living sacrifice – a perpetual virgin who would not give birth to or raise children. This would explain her weeping, for children and parenthood were valued highly in the nation of Israel.
In Christ,
Greg Albrecht