Leviticus 26:22

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your [high] ways shall be desolate.

Complete Jewish Bible:

I will send wild animals among you; they will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock and reduce your numbers, until your roads are deserted.

Berean Standard Bible:

I will send wild animals against you to rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and reduce your numbers, until your roads lie desolate.

American Standard Version:

And I will send the beast of the field among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your ways shall become desolate.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

I will also send^{H7971} wild^{H7704} beasts^{H2416} among you, which shall rob you of your children^{H7921}, and destroy^{H3772} your cattle^{H929}, and make you few in number^{H4591}; and your high ways^{H1870} shall be desolate^{H8074}.

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Commentary for Leviticus 26:22

Leviticus 26:22 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus known as the Holiness Code, which outlines the consequences of obeying or disobeying God's commands. This particular verse is situated within a series of blessings and curses that are contingent upon the Israelites' adherence to the covenant with God.

**Themes:**
1. **Covenantal Faithfulness:** The verse reflects the theme of covenantal faithfulness, emphasizing that blessings or curses are tied to the people's obedience or disobedience to the terms of the covenant established by God with Israel.
2. **Divine Retribution:** It illustrates the theme of divine retribution, where God actively responds to the actions of His people. The sending of wild beasts is a specific punishment for failing to uphold the covenant.
3. **Protection and Providence:** The potential loss of children and cattle highlights the themes of protection and providence, as these are areas where God had promised to bless the Israelites if they remained faithful.
4. **Desolation as a Consequence:** The desolation of the ways (paths or roads) symbolizes the broader impact of disobedience on the community and the land, indicating a breakdown of societal order and prosperity.

**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The book of Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses and is set during the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, approximately the 13th century BCE.
- **Purpose:** Leviticus serves as a manual for the priests and the people of Israel, providing instructions on how to live in a way that is holy and set apart for God.
- **Covenant Renewal:** The book is part of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible), which lays the foundation for Israel's religious and social life, including the covenant relationship with God.
- **Ancient Near Eastern Context:** The blessings and curses found in Leviticus reflect a common ancient Near Eastern literary form used in treaties and covenants. These were meant to ensure loyalty and outline the consequences of breaking the agreement.

In summary, Leviticus 26:22 is a stark warning to the Israelites that failure to adhere to God's covenantal laws would result in severe consequences, including the loss of life, livelihood, and security, as well as the disruption of their social fabric. It serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's commands within the context of the covenant community.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7971
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַח
   Transliteration: shâlach
   Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
   
2. Strong's Number: H7704
   There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂדֶה
   Transliteration: sâdeh
   Pronunciation: saw-deh'
   Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2416
   There are 452 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חַי
   Transliteration: chay
   Pronunciation: khah'-ee
   Description: from חָיָה; alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively; [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7921
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁכֹל
   Transliteration: shâkôl
   Pronunciation: shaw-kole'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or figuratively); bereave (of children), barren, cast calf (fruit, young), be (make) childless, deprive, destroy, [idiom] expect, lose children, miscarry, rob of children, spoil.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3772
   There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּרַת
   Transliteration: kârath
   Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
   Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want.
   
6. Strong's Number: H929
   There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּהֵמָה
   Transliteration: bᵉhêmâh
   Pronunciation: be-hay-maw'
   Description: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective); beast, cattle.
   
7. Strong's Number: H4591
   There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָעַט
   Transliteration: mâʻaṭ
   Pronunciation: maw-at'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to pare off, i.e. lessen; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective); suffer to decrease, diminish, (be, [idiom] borrow a, give, make) few (in number, -ness), gather least (little), be (seem) little, ([idiom] give the) less, be minished, bring to nothing.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1870
   There are 627 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דֶּרֶךְ
   Transliteration: derek
   Pronunciation: deh'-rek
   Description: from דָּרַךְ; a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb; along, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).
   
9. Strong's Number: H8074
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמֵם
   Transliteration: shâmêm
   Pronunciation: shaw-mame'
   Description: a primitive root; to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense); make amazed, be astonied, (be an) astonish(-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate(-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder.