Leviticus 24
Overview
Leviticus 24 is a chapter that combines instructions for ongoing rituals in the Tabernacle with a narrative about the consequences of blasphemy. The chapter covers:
Tending the Lampstand: The chapter begins with instructions for the lampstand in the Tabernacle. Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning continuously using pure olive oil. This symbolizes the continual presence of God's light among His people.
Showbread (Bread of the Presence): Directions are given for arranging twelve loaves of bread on a pure gold table before the LORD every Sabbath. The bread represents a perpetual offering from the Israelites and is to be eaten by Aaron and his sons in a holy place.
Incident of Blasphemy: The chapter narrates an incident involving a man who blasphemed the Name of the LORD. This leads to a commandment that anyone who blasphemes the Name shall be stoned to death. The community is involved in the execution, laying their hands on the blasphemer and then carrying out the stoning, highlighting the seriousness of the offense.
Laws of Retribution: Following this incident, laws of retribution, often known as lex talionis (law of retaliation), are reiterated, stating "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." These laws are meant to ensure justice in the community.
Leviticus 24 emphasizes the sacredness of rituals in worship and the importance of respecting and honoring God's name. The instructions for the lampstand and showbread signify continual devotion and sustenance provided by God. The incident of blasphemy and the subsequent punishment highlight the reverence due to God and the need for the community to uphold His honor. The chapter reflects the intertwining of ritual, law, and moral conduct in maintaining the holiness of the community.
Tending the Lampstand: The chapter begins with instructions for the lampstand in the Tabernacle. Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning continuously using pure olive oil. This symbolizes the continual presence of God's light among His people.
Showbread (Bread of the Presence): Directions are given for arranging twelve loaves of bread on a pure gold table before the LORD every Sabbath. The bread represents a perpetual offering from the Israelites and is to be eaten by Aaron and his sons in a holy place.
Incident of Blasphemy: The chapter narrates an incident involving a man who blasphemed the Name of the LORD. This leads to a commandment that anyone who blasphemes the Name shall be stoned to death. The community is involved in the execution, laying their hands on the blasphemer and then carrying out the stoning, highlighting the seriousness of the offense.
Laws of Retribution: Following this incident, laws of retribution, often known as lex talionis (law of retaliation), are reiterated, stating "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." These laws are meant to ensure justice in the community.
Leviticus 24 emphasizes the sacredness of rituals in worship and the importance of respecting and honoring God's name. The instructions for the lampstand and showbread signify continual devotion and sustenance provided by God. The incident of blasphemy and the subsequent punishment highlight the reverence due to God and the need for the community to uphold His honor. The chapter reflects the intertwining of ritual, law, and moral conduct in maintaining the holiness of the community.
Leviticus 24
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
🔑 Devotion
3 Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations.
4 He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.
5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.
6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.
7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.
10 And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp;
11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)
12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.
13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.
15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.
17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.
19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.
22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.
23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
End of Leviticus 24
1 Year Plan: Feb 23 - Lev 24, Lev 25, Ps 22, Ps 23
2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
🔑 Devotion
3 Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations.
4 He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.
5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.
6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.
7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.
10 And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp;
11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)
12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.
13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.
15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.
17 And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.
19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.
22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.
23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
End of Leviticus 24
1 Year Plan: Feb 23 - Lev 24, Lev 25, Ps 22, Ps 23
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