He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
He must not inspect whether the animal is good or bad, and he must not replace it with another one. If he does try to replace it, then both the original animal and the replacement will be considered holy and cannot be bought back.
This verse teaches that when someone dedicates an animal to God, they cannot pick and choose or make substitutions - God deserves our first commitment, not our leftovers.
📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, God provided detailed laws through Moses in the book of Leviticus to guide the people on making vows and dedicating property, including the tithing of animals from their flocks. This specific verse addressed the practice of tithing livestock, where every tenth animal was to be given to the Lord without inspecting its quality or attempting to swap it for a better one, ensuring that offerings remained pure and unaltered. These instructions emphasized obedience and trust in God's provision as part of the broader covenant relationship with Israel.
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