Leviticus 26 Footnotes

26:14-39 A list of curses occurs in nearly all ancient Near Eastern treaties that have been preserved as sanctions that guarantee the observance of the agreement. The classic collections of biblical curses in 26:14-33 and Dt 28:15-68 resemble the epilogue of the Code of Hammurabi. But Leviticus and Deuteronomy are unique in holding out the hope of survival for those who experience even the most severe punishment, exile from the homeland. The presence of these curses underscores the character of the biblical covenant as a “treaty” between Yahweh and his people.

26:46 The belief that God disciplines his people in order to keep them from continuing in their sinful paths is also expressed in Dt 8:5 and Pr 3:11-12 (see Heb 12:4-11). While the ultimate curse of exile would cause Israel to forfeit her occupation of the land of her inheritance for a period of time (see Lv 18:24-28), it would not threaten the existence of Israel, the seed of Abraham (Rm 11). The NT seems to regard the principle of blessing and cursing as applying to the church, individually and corporately. As in the OT, those who accept God’s grace will enjoy its privileges in doing God’s will but will suffer if they do not (e.g., Rm 2:6-10). Many of the horrifying judgments described in Rv 6 find their original setting in the covenant curses of Lv 26 and Dt 28.