Leviticus 26:29-39

29 You will eat the bodies of your sons and daughters.

30 I will destroy your places where gods are worshiped and cut down your incense altars. I will pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols. I will hate you.

31 I will destroy your cities and make your holy places empty, and I will not smell the pleasing smell of your offerings.

32 I will make the land empty so that your enemies who come to live in it will be shocked at it.

33 I will scatter you among the nations, and I will pull out my sword and destroy you. Your land will become empty, your cities a waste.

34 When you are taken to your enemy's country, your land will finally get its rest. It will enjoy its time of rest all the time it lies empty.

35 During the time the land is empty, it will have the rest you should have given it while you lived in it.

36 "'Those of you who are left alive will lose their courage in the land of their enemies. They will be frightened by the sound of a leaf being blown by the wind. They will run as if someone were chasing them with a sword, and they will fall even when no one is chasing them.

37 They will fall over each other, as if someone were chasing them with a sword, even though no one is chasing them. You will not be strong enough to stand up against your enemies.

38 You will die among other nations and disappear in your enemies' countries.

39 So those who are left alive will rot away in their enemies' countries because of their sins. They will also rot away because of their ancestors' sins.

Leviticus 26:29-39 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.