Leviticus 24:12

12 And they kept him shut up, till a decision might be given by the mouth of the Lord.

Leviticus 24:12 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 24:12

And they put him in ward
In some prison, a place known in the camp, as Aben Ezra observes: that the mind of the Lord might be shewed them;
for, though this was a breach of the third command, in which God declares he would not hold such an one guiltless, ( Exodus 20:7 ) ; yet no particular punishment being expressed, it was not a clear case whether the Lord would punish for it himself, by an immediate stroke of his hand, or whether by the civil magistrate; and if by the latter, in what manner; for though it might be concluded, without any hesitation, that he was worthy of death, since cursing father or mother was death, ( Exodus 21:17 ) ( Leviticus 20:9 ) ; and much more blaspheming God, yet what death to put him to they might be at a loss about; or if that was understood of stoning, they might think this deserved a sorer punishment, and therefore consulted God about it.

Leviticus 24:12 In-Context

10 And a son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel and had a fight with a man of Israel by the tents;

11 And the son of the Israelite woman said evil against the holy Name, with curses; and they took him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.

12 And they kept him shut up, till a decision might be given by the mouth of the Lord.

13 And the Lord said to Moses,

14 Take the curser outside the tent-circle; and let all in whose hearing the words were said put their hands on his head, and let him be stoned by all the people.