Herem (Septuagint: Ἀνάθημα) (M.A.)

HEREM (Septuagint ἀνάθρης) (μ.α.) - Among the Jews it designated: 1) a penalty whereby individuals or peoples declared objects of execration were exterminated in honour of God (Lev. 27, 29); or else it denoted those themselves who were punished. Such were the Canaanites (Deut. 7, 1-6 etc.), the cities that lapsed into idolatry (Ex. 22, 19 etc.), violators of the h., etc. Their goods were sometimes destroyed, at other times partly set aside. Transgression of the h. constituted a most serious sin. 2) A vow by which men, fields, animals, etc. were consecrated to God, renouncing the right of redemption (Lev. 27, 28). Since they became “most holy things,” the fields and objects belonged to the priests (Num. 18, 14; Lev. 27, 21; etc.). It is not established that this was practised with men (v. ANATEMA).