Leviticus24

Leviticus 24 outlines two distinct sets of divine commands. First, it details the perpetual care of the tabernacle's lamps with pure olive oil and the regular arrangement of the twelve shewbread cakes. Second, it recounts the case of a man who blasphemed the LORD's name, leading to a decree of capital punishment for blasphemy and the establishment of the principle of "eye for eye" for injuries.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Instructions for Tabernacle Service

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. ​
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.

The Bread of the Presence

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. ​

The Case of the Blasphemer

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. ​

Laws of Retribution and Justice

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. ​

Study Notes for Leviticus 24

Verse 2

The requirement for “pure oil olive beaten” signifies the highest quality dedicated to God's service. The continual burning of the lamps symbolized God's enduring presence and illumination among Israel.

Verse 3

The phrase “continually” (Hebrew: *tamid*) emphasizes that the maintenance of the light was a perpetual duty, symbolizing uninterrupted fellowship with God.

Verse 5

The twelve cakes corresponded to the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing the presentation of the entire nation before God in the Holy Place.

Verse 7

The frankincense was intended to be burned as a *memorial offering* (*azkarah*), representing the acceptance of the bread (and thus the people) by God.

Verse 8

The weekly replacement of the bread on the Sabbath reinforced the perpetual nature of the covenant and sanctified the day of rest through priestly service.

Verse 9

As “most holy” (*qodesh qodashim*), this bread was restricted to the priests for consumption within the Tabernacle courtyard, maintaining ritual purity.

Verse 10

This incident, involving the son of an Egyptian father and Israelite mother, serves as a narrative introduction to the subsequent laws concerning blasphemy and equal justice for all residents.

Verse 11

To blaspheme “the Name” (likely YHWH) was considered a direct capital offense because it attacked the very honor and sovereignty of God himself.

Verse 12

Putting him “in ward” demonstrates that the people waited for divine clarification from Moses before executing judgment, establishing legal precedent through revelation.

Verse 14

Witnesses laying hands on the condemned man symbolized their affirmation of the truth of the charges and the corporate transfer of guilt onto the individual being punished.

Verse 16

This verse formalizes the law: blasphemy against YHWH is a capital offense. The principle of equal justice is stressed, applying the law equally to “the stranger” and the native-born.

Verse 17

This marks a transition from theological offenses to general civil and criminal law, emphasizing that the sanctity of human life demands the highest penalty.

Verse 19

The principle of *lex talionis* (the law of retaliation: “eye for eye”) was meant not to encourage personal vengeance, but to establish strict limits on punishment, ensuring justice was proportionate to the injury inflicted.

Verse 22

This reiterates the crucial theological principle that God's law must be applied impartially and equally to all persons living in the community, reflecting God's own righteousness.

Verse 23

The execution serves as the narrative conclusion to the incident, confirming that the new divine ruling on capital offenses was immediately implemented by the community.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options