Leviticus 26:11-21

11 Also I will place my Holy Tent among you, and I will not turn away from you.

12 I will walk with you and be your God, and you will be my people.

13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves. I broke the heavy weights that were on your shoulders and let you walk proudly again.

14 "'But if you do not obey me and keep all my commands,

15 and if you turn away from my rules and hate my laws, refusing to obey all my commands, you have broken our agreement.

16 As a result, I will do this to you: I will cause terrible things to happen to you. I will cause you to have disease and fever that will destroy your eyes and slowly kill you. You will not have success when you plant your seed, and your enemy will eat your crops.

17 I will be against you, and your enemies will defeat you. These people who hate you will rule over you, and you will run away even when no one is chasing you.

18 "'If after all this you still do not obey me, I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

19 I will break your great pride, and I will make the sky like iron and the earth like bronze.

20 You will work hard, but it will not help. Your land will not grow any crops, and your trees will not give their fruit.

21 "'If you still turn against me and refuse to obey me, I will beat you seven times harder. The more you sin, the more you will be punished.

Leviticus 26:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 26

In this chapter, after a repetition of some laws against idolatry, and concerning keeping sabbaths, and reverencing the sanctuary of God, Le 26:1,2; in order to encourage the Israelites to keep the various statutes and commandments in this book, and in the preceding, many promises are made of plenty, and peace, and safety from enemies, and of the presence of God with them, Le 26:3-13; and on the contrary, to such as should despise and break his commandments, the most grievous things are threatened, as diseases of body, destruction by their enemies, barrenness and unfruitfulness of land, the sore judgments of wild beasts, famine, sword, and pestilence, Le 26:14-39; and yet after all, when they should confess their sins, and were humbled for them, the Lord promises to remember the covenant he made with their ancestors, and would deal kindly with them, and not cast them away, and utterly destroy them, Le 26:40-46.