Leviticus 24

King James Version

Full text for Leviticus Chapter 24

1¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.

3Without 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.

4He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.

5And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.

6And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.

7And 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.

8Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, [being taken] from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.

9And 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;

11And 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:)

12And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.

13And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

14Bring 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.

15And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.

16And 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.

17And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.

18And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.

19And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;

20Breach 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].

21And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.

22Ye 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.

23And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with divine instructions concerning the tabernacle's sacred provisions. The children of Israel are commanded to provide pure olive oil for the lamps, which Aaron is to keep burning continually before the LORD. Additionally, twelve cakes of fine flour, known as shewbread, are to be baked and arranged in two rows upon the pure table, with frankincense placed upon them as a memorial offering, to be replaced every Sabbath and eaten by the priests in the holy place. The chapter then shifts to a legal case involving the son of an Israelitish woman and an Egyptian father, who blasphemed the LORD's name during a dispute. After being held in custody, the LORD commanded that he be stoned to death by the congregation outside the camp. This incident prompts a broader declaration of law, establishing capital punishment for blasphemy against the LORD's name, whether committed by a native Israelite or a stranger. Furthermore, the principle of "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" is decreed for personal injuries, and a uniform law is declared for all, emphasizing the LORD's justice.

Long Summary

Leviticus 24 opens with the LORD's instructions to Moses regarding the perpetual service within the tabernacle. The children of Israel are commanded to bring pure olive oil, beaten for the light, to ensure the lamps burn continually from evening until morning before the LORD, a statute for all generations. Aaron is responsible for ordering these lamps upon the pure candlestick. Following this, Moses is instructed to take fine flour and bake twelve cakes, each consisting of two tenth deals, to be set in two rows of six upon the pure table before the LORD. Pure frankincense is to be placed upon each row as a memorial and an offering made by fire. This shewbread is to be set in order every Sabbath, taken from the children of Israel as part of an everlasting covenant, and is designated as most holy for Aaron and his sons to eat in the holy place. The chapter then transitions abruptly to a significant legal incident. The son of an Israelitish woman and an Egyptian father engaged in a dispute with a man of Israel and blasphemed the name of the LORD. He was brought to Moses and held in ward until the LORD's will could be revealed. The LORD then commanded that the blasphemer be brought forth outside the camp, and all who heard him were to lay their hands upon his head before the entire congregation stoned him to death. This specific case leads to a general pronouncement of law: anyone who curses his God shall bear his sin, and whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD, whether native or stranger, shall surely be put to death by stoning. Further laws are then established, including capital punishment for killing a man, restitution for killing a beast, and the strict principle of "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" for causing a blemish or injury to a neighbour. The chapter concludes by reiterating that there shall be one manner of law for both the stranger and the native, underscoring the LORD's impartial justice, and records the execution of the blasphemer as commanded.

Core Concepts

  • Perpetual LampThe continuous burning of lamps in the tabernacle, fueled by pure olive oil, signifying the constant presence and light of God among His people.
  • ShewbreadTwelve cakes of fine flour, arranged in two rows with frankincense, placed upon the pure table every Sabbath as a memorial offering and eaten by the priests in the holy place.
  • BlasphemyThe act of cursing or reviling the name of the LORD, which is presented as a capital offense punishable by stoning for both native Israelites and strangers.
  • Lex TalionisThe principle of "eye for eye, tooth for tooth," where punishment for an injury or blemish inflicted upon another is to be equivalent to the harm caused.
  • Uniform LawThe divine decree that the same laws and judgments apply equally to both the native-born Israelites and the strangers dwelling among them, emphasizing impartiality.
  • Holiness of the TabernacleThe detailed instructions for the sacred items and rituals within the tabernacle, such as the lamps and shewbread, underscore the sanctity of God's dwelling place.
  • Divine JusticeThe LORD's direct intervention in the case of the blasphemer and the subsequent establishment of clear, severe penalties for specific transgressions, demonstrating His righteous judgment.