Leviticus 24
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1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. 3Outside of the veil of the Testimony, in the Tent of Meeting, shall Aaron keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh continually: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 4He shall keep in order the lamps on the pure gold lamp stand before Yahweh continually. 5“You shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it: two tenths of an ephah shall be in one cake. 6You shall set them in two rows, six on a row, on the pure gold table before Yahweh. 7You shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire to Yahweh. 8Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before Yahweh continually. It is an everlasting covenant on the behalf of the children of Israel. 9It shall be for Aaron and his sons; and they shall eat it in a holy place: for it is most holy to him of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire by a perpetual statute.” 10The son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelite woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp. 11The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12They put him in custody, until Yahweh’s will should be declared to them. 13Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 14“Bring out of the camp him who cursed; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16He who blasphemes Yahweh’s name, he shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him. The foreigner as well as the native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. 17“‘He who strikes any man mortally shall surely be put to death. 18He who strikes an animal mortally shall make it good, life for life. 19If anyone injures his neighbor; as he has done, so shall it be done to him: 20fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has injured someone, so shall it be done to him. 21He who kills an animal shall make it good; and he who kills a man shall be put to death. 22You shall have one kind of law for the foreigner as well as the native-born; for I am Yahweh your God.’” 23Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they brought him who had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. The children of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses.
World English Bible (public domain)
“And the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the name, shall be put to death.”
Leviticus 24:16
Summary
Leviticus chapter 24 presents laws concerning the care of the lamps and the bread of the Presence, as well as the consequences for blasphemy. The chapter begins by outlining the responsibilities of the priests regarding the perpetual lighting of the lamps in the sanctuary, signifying God's continuous presence among His people. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining holiness in worship and the careful observance of sacred duties. The chapter then discusses the showbread, which is placed before the Lord every Sabbath, highlighting themes of sustenance and God's provision for His people. A significant incident regarding blasphemy occurs in this chapter, where a man who curses the name of the Lord faces dire consequences. This narrative underlines the seriousness of God's name and the respect that must be afforded to it, reminding the Israelites of the necessity to uphold God's holiness. The laws regarding punishment are given, illustrating the community's duty to maintain righteousness, while also reflecting on the concept of justice in the community. This chapter encapsulates the themes of divine presence, worship, community justice, and the sanctity of God's name. It serves to reinforce the identity of Israel as a holy nation called to reflect God’s character through adherence to His laws. Overall, Leviticus 24 calls the people to honor God through proper worship and to recognize the seriousness of their covenant relationship with Him.
Key Themes
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