Cherem
27: 28-29
Cherem DIG: What is a cherem vow? What is the difference between a cherem vow and korban? How does the story of Hannah dedicating Samuel illustrate a complete dedication? What motivates parents like Hannah to irrevocably give over their children to the LORD?
REFLECT: What Amalekites are you facing where you live? Do you want them to intermarry with your children and grandchildren for the sake of not offending anyone? What is something you have recently given to the Lord? Are you a Hannah, or a Sha’ul? Explain.
We should love what God loves and hate what God hates.
Until now we have been discussing people, property and possessions which a man might vow to YHVH. The Torah now takes an aside to discuss a different type of vow to God. Just as a person could vow something to the LORD as holy, he could vow it as cherem. Something vowed as cherem was completely unredeemable. It was completely surrendered to the priesthood. It was not a korban or sacrifice of any sort. But nothing that a person owns and devotes to ADONAI – whether a human being or an animal or family land – may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to ADONAI (27:28). A person who verbally declares some property or possession of his as cherem vow to the LORD is obligated to fulfill it according to the stringencies of the cherem status.549
No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed; they are to be put to death (27:29). When Joshua defeated Jericho, the city and all its inhabitants and possessions were regarded as cherem, or devoted to destruction (Joshua 6:17-19). The word cherem speaks of a total dedication over to God – often for destruction. Achan’s sin was a violation of the cherem status. As a result, everything he touched or owned was devoted to destruction. When found out, all of Isra’el took Achan, the silver, the robe, the gold bar that he had taken from Jericho, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor . . . Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Thus, that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since (Joshua 7:24-26).
Hannah, who was barren, desperately poured out her heart to God in prayer for a son. On one occasion she made a cherem vow that if the LORD would grant her request, she would completely surrender her son Samuel to the priesthood (First Samuel 1:11, 22, 28). Shortly after that, she conceived and in due time bore a son whom she named Samuel (meaning heard of God). After Hannah had weaned her son, she fulfilled her pledge and took him to Shiloh, where the Tabernacle and high priest were dwelling at that time, to offer him to ADONAI as a lifelong Nazirite. When he grew up, Samuel would become a prophet and judge of Isra’el, who played a key role in the transition from the biblical judges to the United Kingdom under Sha’ul, and again in the monarchy’s transition from Sha’ul to David.
Ha’Shem demanded that all of the Amalekites be killed, including their sheep and cattle, and women and children, under the cherem judgment of holy war (see the commentary on Deuteronomy, to see link click Ag – The Problem of Holy War in the TaNaKh). But when Sha’ul saw the fatness of the Amalekite sheep and cattle, he considered his own glory and prestige in bringing them back, along with Agag, king of Amalek, as public exhibits of his leadership, but failed to honor the terms of the cherem. That mistake cost him his crown. Similarly, King Ahab violated the cherem ban when he spared the Syrian king Ben-Hadad. For that transgression, Ahab lost his life.
The merciless demands of the cherem judgment are difficult for us to understand today. It seems incongruous that a God who loves mercy and compassion would also want us, at times, to be ruthless.550 But there are things that God hates. There are six things God hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community (Prov 6:16-19). And if He hates them, we should also hate them. We need to be ruthless in defending our Messiah against a wicked society. We need to be ruthless in protecting our children against evil. We need to be ruthless in defending our Lord against the evil one. And we need to be ruthless in the defense of the Gospel.
How are you keeping yourself and your family from being contaminated by the world? John seems very ruthless about this topic when he says: Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (First John 2:15-17). How ruthless are you?
Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for being both completely wise and totally loving! Your love is wise, not like a “sugar daddy” who gives in; but like the prodigal son’s father who forgives when the son is remorseful for his sin and confesses it. You wisely hate evil for You are holy and You know that sin/evil will keep Your children from the good that You have for them.
Wisdom and patience go together in Your character for in Your omniscience (all-knowing- even the future) knew the time when the sin of the Amorites would be full and only then did You punish them for their sin. Then in the fourth generation they [Abram’s seed] will return here – for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete (Genesis 15:16). Without light, there would be no darkness. Without hating evil, love would not be love.
You are always holy and perfect in all You do. Your love is holy and pure and extends to all who love You. Your hate is righteous and is not in any way selfish; but hates all that is evil and would rob men and women of the eternal peace and joy that You have for them. Thank You for being so wonderful! In Your holy name and power of Yeshua’s resurrection. Amen
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