(6) From a month old even unto five years old.--That is, if a parent, or any other person, devotes his or anyone else's child to the sanctuary, he is obliged to be redeemed according to the prescribed valuation. The formula used in such a case during the second Temple was, "Behold the estimation of this my boy, or this my girl, or of that boy or that girl, be upon me."
The male five shekels of silver.--As at this tender age the service of a child is not of much value, the vower is to pay for a boy 12s. 11d.
The female . . . three shekels of silver.--The girl being proportionately less valuable, is to be redeemed at 7s. 9d.
27:1-13 Zeal for the service of God disposed the Israelites, on some occasions, to dedicate themselves or their children to the service of the Lord, in his house for life. Some persons who thus dedicated themselves might be employed as assistants; in general they were to be redeemed for a value. It is good to be zealously affected and liberally disposed for the Lord's service; but the matter should be well weighed, and prudence should direct as to what we do; else rash vows and hesitation in doing them will dishonour God, and trouble our own minds.
And if it be from a month old even unto five years old,.... That is, if a man devotes his child to the Lord within such an age, and says, the estimation of this my son or my daughter be upon me, then he was to pay the value, as next directed; for one under a month old no estimation was to be made: the Jews say,"one less than a mouth old may be vowed, but not estimated (o):"
then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver; somewhat more than ten shillings:
and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver; about seven shillings, which is the least value put on any; and though the lives of male or female at this age are equally uncertain, and the service of either of little worth when near the full time fixed; yet the preference is given to the male, as being of the more perfect kind, and its life generally most desirable.
The male five shekels of silver.--As at this tender age the service of a child is not of much value, the vower is to pay for a boy 12s. 11d.
The female . . . three shekels of silver.--The girl being proportionately less valuable, is to be redeemed at 7s. 9d.
then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver; somewhat more than ten shillings:
and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver; about seven shillings, which is the least value put on any; and though the lives of male or female at this age are equally uncertain, and the service of either of little worth when near the full time fixed; yet the preference is given to the male, as being of the more perfect kind, and its life generally most desirable.
(o) Misn. Eracin, c. 1. sect. 1.