Leviticus 24
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CHAPTER 24
Oil and Bread Set Before the Lord (24:1–9)
(Exodus 27:20–21)
1–4 See Exodus 27:20–21 and comment.
5–9 In these verses, the making of the bread of the Presence is described (Exodus 25:30).
In addition to the twelve loaves, incense was to be set out as a memorial portion, an offering made to the Lord by fire (verse 7). This was similar to the procedure for the grain offering, though here no mention is made of offering any portion of the bread along with the incense (see Leviticus 2:2).
A Blasphemer Stoned (24:10–23)
10–16 In this section an actual incident is reported to illustrate the consequences of blaspheming God (see Exodus 22:28 and comment).
In this case, the blasphemer was “half alien”—the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father (verse 10). This man in some way “cursed” the Name of God (verse 11). Cursing God’s name is the same as cursing God Himself, because God is represented by His name. The penalty for doing such a thing was death by stoning (the usual means of execution in ancient Israel).
Here we see that the law was to be applied equally to everyone living among the Israelites, whether alien or native-born (verse 16). This was true of all the moral laws (verse 22) and many of the ceremonial laws as well (Exodus 12:49; Leviticus 17:8–16).
17 See Exodus 20:13; 21:12–14 and comments.
18 In all cases—other than the intentional killing of a human being (Numbers 35:31)—the penalty for any injury could be paid in money (silver). In the case of an animal that was killed, the fair price of the animal had to be paid (verse 21); that is, the value of the animal’s life had to be paid—life for life.
19–20 See Exodus 21:22–25 and comment.
21 See verse 18 and comment.
22 This verse repeats the principle that all people—native born and alien, rich and poor, high caste and low caste—are all equal under the law (verse 16).
23 This verse reports the execution of the blasphemer mentioned in verses 10–16. In ancient Israel, the guilty person was usually placed in a pit and stones were thrown down upon him.
The Israelites did as the LORD commanded Moses. First, the people sought the Lord’s will concerning the blasphemer’s punishment (verse 12); second, when the Lord’s will was made known, they did it. And that is what the Lord wants from us. We must seek His will above all else, and then we must do it. This is the truest form of worship: putting God first and doing His will. This, above all, is the worship God wants from us (see Exodus 23:25—26 and comment).