Leviticus 24

1 The LORD spoke to Moses,

2 "Command the Israelites to bring you pure, virgin olive oil for the lamp stand so that the lamps won't go out.

3 In the tent of meeting, outside the canopy where the words of my promise are, Aaron must keep the lamps lit in the LORD's presence from evening until morning. It is a permanent law for generations to come.

4 Aaron must keep the lamps on the pure gold lamp stand lit in the LORD's presence.

5 "Also take flour and bake twelve rings of bread. Each ring will contain four quarts of flour.

6 Put them in two stacks of six each on the gold table in the LORD's presence.

7 Lay pure incense on top of each stack. The incense on the bread will be a reminder, an offering by fire to the LORD.

8 Every day of worship [a priest] must arrange the bread in the LORD's presence. It is a continual reminder of my promise to the Israelites.

9 The bread will belong to Aaron and his sons. They will eat it in a holy place. It is very holy, set apart from the LORD's offering by fire. This is a permanent law."

10 A man, whose mother was Shelomith (daughter of Dibri, from the tribe of Dan in Israel) and whose father was from Egypt, got into a quarrel with an Israelite in the camp.

11 The Israelite woman's son began cursing the LORD's name and treating it with contempt. So they brought him to Moses.

12 They kept him in custody until the LORD told them what to do.

13 The LORD spoke to Moses,

14 "The man who cursed [my name] must be taken outside the camp. All who heard him curse [my name] must lay their hands on his head. Then the whole congregation must stone him to death.

15 "Also tell the Israelites: Those who treat their God with contempt will be punished for their sin.

16 But those who curse the LORD's name must be put to death. The whole congregation must stone them to death. It makes no difference whether they are Israelites or foreigners. Whoever curses the LORD's name must die.

17 "Whoever kills another person must be put to death.

18 Whoever kills an animal must replace it, life for life.

19 Whoever injures a neighbor must receive the same injury in return--

20 a broken bone for a broken bone, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Whoever injures another person must receive the same injury in return.

21 Whoever kills an animal must replace it. Whoever kills a person must be put to death.

22 The same rule applies to every one of you. It makes no difference whether you are a foreigner or an Israelite, because I am the LORD your God."

23 Moses spoke to the people of Israel. So the man who had cursed the LORD's name was taken outside the camp. There they stoned him to death as the LORD commanded Moses. The Israelites did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

Oil for the lamps, The shew-bread. (1-9) The law of blasphemy, blasphemer is stoned. (10-23)

Verses 1-9 The loaves of bread typify Christ as the Bread of life, and the food of the souls of his people. He is the Light of his church, the Light of the world; in and through his word this light shines. By this light we discern the food prepared for our souls; and we should daily, but especially from sabbath to sabbath, feed thereon in our hearts with thanksgiving. And as the loaves were left in the sanctuary, so should we abide with God till he dismiss us.

Verses 10-23 This offender was the son of an Egyptian father, and an Israelitish mother. The notice of his parents shows the common ill effect of mixed marriages. A standing law for the stoning of blasphemers was made upon this occasion. Great stress is laid upon this law. It extends to the strangers among them, as well as to those born in the land. Strangers, as well as native Israelites, should be entitled to the benefit of the law, so as not to suffer wrong; and should be liable to the penalty of this law, in case they did wrong. If those who profane the name of God escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgments. What enmity against God must be in the heart of man, when blasphemies against God proceed out of his mouth. If he that despised Moses' law, died without mercy, of what punishment will they be worthy, who despise and abuse the gospel of the Son of God! Let us watch against anger, do no evil, avoid all connexions with wicked people, and reverence that holy name which sinners blaspheme.

Chapter Summary

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.