Leviticus 24:10-23

Assault and blasphemy

10 The son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father came out among the Israelites. A fight broke out between this half-Israelite and another Israelite man in the camp,
11 during which the half-Israelite blasphemed the Lord's name and cursed. So he was brought to Moses. (His mother's name was Shelomith, Dibri's daughter from the tribe of Dan.)
12 He was put under guard until they could determine the LORD's verdict.
13 Then the LORD said to Moses:
14 Take the one who cursed outside the camp. All who heard him will press their hands on his head. Then the whole community will stone him.
15 Tell the Israelites: Anyone who curses God will be liable to punishment.
16 And anyone who blasphemes the LORD's name must be executed. The whole community will stone that person. Immigrant and citizen alike: whenever someone blasphemes the Lord's name, that person will be executed.
17 If anyone kills another person, they must be executed.
18 Someone who kills an animal may make amends for it: a life for a life.
19 If someone injures a fellow citizen, they will suffer the same injury they inflicted:
20 broken bone for broken bone, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The same injury the person inflicted on the other will be inflicted on them.
21 Someone who kills an animal must make amends for it, but whoever kills a human being must be executed.
22 There is but one law on this matter for you, immigrant or citizen alike, because I am the LORD your God.
23 Moses told this to the Israelites. So they took the one who had cursed outside the camp and stoned him. The Israelites did just as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus 24:10-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 24

This chapter treats of the oil for the lamps, and the ordering of them, Le 24:1-4; of the making of the shewbread cakes, and the setting of them on the table, Le 24:5-9; and an Israelite having blasphemed the name of the Lord, and inquiry being made what should be done to him, he, and so any other person guilty of the same, is ordered to be stoned to death, Le 24:10-16; on occasion of which several laws are repeated concerning killing a man or a beast, or doing injury to any man, Le 24:17-23.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or Israelite woman’s son; also in 24:11
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