Leviticus 26:1-13

Rewards for Obeying the LORD

1 " 'Do not make statues of gods for yourselves. Do not set up a likeness of a god or a sacred stone for yourselves. Do not place a carved stone in your land and bow down in front of it. I am the LORD your God.

2 " 'You must always keep my Sabbath days. Have respect for my sacred tent. I am the Lord.

3 " 'Follow my rules. Be careful to obey my commands.

4 Then I will send you rain at the right time. The ground will produce its crops. The trees of the field will bear their fruit.

5 You will continue to thresh your grain until you gather your grapes. You will continue to gather your grapes until you plant your crops. You will have all you want to eat. And you will live in safety in your land.

6 " 'I will give you peace in the land. You will sleep, and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild animals from the land. There will not be any war in your country.

7 You will hunt down your enemies. You will kill them with your swords.

8 Five of you will chase 100. And 100 of you will chase 10,000. You will kill your enemies with your swords.

9 " 'I will look with favor on you. I will give you many children and increase your numbers. And I will keep my covenant with you.

10 You will still be eating last year's crops when you have to move them out to make room for new crops.

11 " 'I will live among you. I will not turn away from you.

12 I will walk among you. I will be your God. And you will be my people.

13 I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt. I did not want you to be slaves in Egypt anymore. I threw off your heavy load. I helped you walk with your heads held high.

Leviticus 26:1-13 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.