Leviticus 24

1 And the Lorde spake vnto Moses saynge:

2 commaunde the childern of Israel that they bringe vnto the, pure oyle olyue bete for lightes to poure in to the lampes allwaye,

3 without the vayle of testimonye within the tabernacle of witnesse. And Aaron shall dresse them both euen and morninge before the Lorde alwayes. And it shalbe a lawe for euer amoge youre childern after you.

4 And he shal dresse the lampes apon the pure candelsticke before the Lorde perpetually.

5 And thou shalt take fine floure ad bake .xij wastels thereof, two tenthdeales shall euery wastell be.

6 And make two rowes of them, sixe on a rowe apon the pure table before the Lorde,

7 and put pure frankencens vppon the rowes. And it shalbe bred of remembraunce, ad an offerynge to the Lorde.

8 Euery Sabbath he shall put them in rowes before the Lorde euer more, geuen off the childern of Israel, that it be an euerlastynge couenaunte.

9 And they shalbe Aarons and his sonnes, and they shall eate them in the holy place. For they are most holy vnto him of the offerynges of the Lorde, and shalbe a dutye for euer.

10 And the sonne of an Israelitish wife whose father was an Egiptian, went oute amonge the childern of Israel. And this sonne off the Israelitish wife and a man of Israel, strooue togither in the hoste.

11 And the Israelitish womans sonne blasphemed the name and cursed, and they broughte him vnto Moses. And his mothers name was Selamyth, the doughter off Dybri off the trybe of Dan:

12 and they putt him in warde, that Moses shulde declare vnto them what the Lorde sayde thereto.

13 And the Lorde spake vnto Moses sayenge,

14 bringe him that cursed without the hoste, and let all that herde him, put their handes apo his heed, and let all the multitude stone him.

15 And speake vnto the childern of Israel sayenge: Whosoeuer curseth his God, shall bere his synne:

16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lorde, shall dye for it: all the multitude shall stone him to deeth. And the straunger as well as the Israelite yf he curse the name, shall dye for it.

17 He that kylleth any man, shall dye for it:

18 but he that kylleth a beest shall paye for it, beest for beest.

19 Yf a man mayme his neyghboure as he hath done, so shall it be done to him agayne:

20 broke for broke, eye for eye and toth for toth: euen as he hath maymed a man, so shall he be maymed agayne.

21 So nowe he that kylleth a beest, shall paye for it: but he that kylleth a man, shall dye for it.

22 Ye shall haue one maner of lawe amonge you: eue for the straunger as wel as for one of youre selues, for I am the Lorde youre God.

23 And Moses tolde the childern of Israel, that they shulde bringe him that had cursed, out of the hoste, and stone him with stones. And the childern of Israel dyd as the Lorde comaunded 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.