Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Leviticus » Chapter 24

Leviticus 24:1-23 King James Version (KJV)

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.

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 showed 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 neighbor; 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.


Leviticus 24:1-23 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

2 Command H6680 the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 that they bring H3947 unto thee pure H2134 oil H8081 olive H2132 beaten H3795 for the light, H3974 to cause the lamps H5216 to burn H5927 continually. H8548

3 Without H2351 the vail H6532 of the testimony, H5715 in the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 shall Aaron H175 order H6186 it from the evening H6153 unto the morning H1242 before H6440 the LORD H3068 continually: H8548 it shall be a statute H2708 for ever H5769 in your generations. H1755

4 He shall order H6186 the lamps H5216 upon the pure H2889 candlestick H4501 before H6440 the LORD H3068 continually. H8548

5 And thou shalt take H3947 fine flour, H5560 and bake H644 twelve H6240 cakes H2471 thereof: two H8147 tenth deals H6241 shall be in one H259 cake. H2471

6 And thou shalt set H7760 them in two H8147 rows, H4634 six H8337 on a row, H4635 upon the pure H2889 table H7979 before H6440 the LORD. H3068

7 And thou shalt put H5414 pure H2134 frankincense H3828 upon each row, H4635 that it may be on the bread H3899 for a memorial, H234 even an offering made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068

8 Every sabbath H7676 he shall set it H3117 in order H6186 before H6440 the LORD H3068 continually, H8548 being taken from the children H1121 of Israel H3478 by an everlasting H5769 covenant. H1285

9 And it shall be Aaron's H175 and his sons'; H1121 and they shall eat H398 it in the holy H6918 place: H4725 for it is most H6944 holy H6944 unto him of the offerings H801 of the LORD H3068 made by fire H801 by a perpetual H5769 statute. H2706

10 And the son H1121 of an Israelitish H3482 woman, H802 whose father H1121 was an Egyptian, H376 H4713 went out H3318 among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 H3481 and this son H1121 of the Israelitish H3482 woman and a man H376 of Israel H3478 strove together H5327 in the camp; H4264

11 And the Israelitish H3482 woman's H802 son H1121 blasphemed H5344 the name H8034 of the LORD, and cursed. H7043 And they brought H935 him unto Moses: H4872 (and his mother's H517 name H8034 was Shelomith, H8019 the daughter H1323 of Dibri, H1704 of the tribe H4294 of Dan:) H1835

12 And they put H3240 him in ward, H4929 that the mind H6310 of the LORD H3068 might be shewed H6567 them.

13 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

14 Bring forth H3318 him that hath cursed H7043 without H2351 the camp; H4264 and let all that heard H8085 him lay H5564 their hands H3027 upon his head, H7218 and let all the congregation H5712 stone H7275 him.

15 And thou shalt speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Whosoever H376 curseth H3588 H7043 his God H430 shall bear H5375 his sin. H2399

16 And he that blasphemeth H5344 the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 he shall surely H4191 be put to death, H4191 and all the congregation H5712 shall certainly H7275 stone H7275 him: as well the stranger, H1616 as he that is born in the land, H249 when he blasphemeth H5344 the name H8034 of the LORD, shall be put to death. H4191

17 And he H376 that killeth H5221 any H5315 man H120 shall surely H4191 be put to death. H4191

18 And he that killeth H5221 a beast H5315 H929 shall make it good; H7999 beast H5315 for beast. H5315

19 And if a man H376 cause H5414 a blemish H3971 in his neighbour; H5997 as he hath done, H6213 so shall it be done H6213 to him;

20 Breach H7667 for breach, H7667 eye H5869 for eye, H5869 tooth H8127 for tooth: H8127 as he hath caused H5414 a blemish H3971 in a man, H120 so shall it be done H5414 to him again.

21 And he that killeth H5221 a beast, H929 he shall restore H7999 it: and he that killeth H5221 a man, H120 he shall be put to death. H4191

22 Ye shall have one H259 manner of law, H4941 as well for the stranger, H1616 as for one of your own country: H249 for I am the LORD H3068 your God. H430

23 And Moses H4872 spake H1696 to the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 that they should bring forth H3318 him that had cursed H7043 out H2351 of the camp, H4264 and stone H7275 him with stones. H68 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872


Leviticus 24:1-23 American Standard (ASV)

1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

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

3 Without the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, shall Aaron keep it in order from evening to morning before Jehovah continually: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.

4 He shall keep in order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before Jehovah continually.

5 And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth parts `of an ephah' shall be in one cake.

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

7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.

8 Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before Jehovah continually; it is on the behalf of the children of Israel, an everlasting covenant.

9 And it shall be for Aaron and his sons; and they shall eat it in a holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of Jehovah 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 the son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp:

11 and the son of the Israelitish woman blasphemed the Name, 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 it might be declared unto them at the mouth of Jehovah.

13 And Jehovah 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 Jehovah, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the sojourner, as the home-born, when he blasphemeth the name `of Jehovah', shall be put to death.

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

18 And he that smiteth a beast mortally shall make it good, life for life.

19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; 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 rendered unto him.

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

22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the sojourner, as for the home-born: for I am Jehovah your God.

23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel; and they brought forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. And the children of Israel did as Jehovah commanded Moses.


Leviticus 24:1-23 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

2 `Command the sons of Israel, and they bring unto thee pure olive oil, beaten, for the lamp, to cause a light to go up continually;

3 at the outside of the vail of the testimony in the tent of meeting doth Aaron arrange it from evening till morning before Jehovah continually -- a statute age-during to your generations;

4 by the pure candlestick he doth arrange the lights before Jehovah continually.

5 `And thou hast taken flour, and hast baked twelve cakes with it, two tenth deals are in the one cake,

6 and thou hast set them two ranks (six in the rank) on the pure table before Jehovah,

7 and thou hast put on the rank pure frankincense, and it hath been to the bread for a memorial, a fire-offering to Jehovah.

8 `On each sabbath-day he arrangeth it before Jehovah continually, from the sons of Israel -- a covenant age-during;

9 and it hath been to Aaron, and to his sons, and they have eaten it in the holy place, for it `is' most holy to him, from the fire-offerings of Jehovah -- a statute age-during.'

10 And a son of an Israelitish woman goeth out (and he `is' son of an Egyptian man), in the midst of the sons of Israel, and strive in the camp do the son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel,

11 and the son of the Israelitish woman execrateth the Name, and revileth; and they bring him in unto Moses; and his mother's name `is' Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan;

12 and he causeth him to rest in charge -- to explain to them by the mouth of Jehovah.

13 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

14 `Bring out the reviler unto the outside of the camp; and all those hearing have laid their hands on his head, and all the company have stoned him.

15 `And unto the sons of Israel thou dost speak, saying, When any man revileth his God -- then he hath borne his sin;

16 and he who is execrating the name of Jehovah is certainly put to death; all the company do certainly cast stones at him; as a sojourner so a native, in his execrating the Name, is put to death.

17 `And when a man smiteth any soul of man, he is certainly put to death.

18 `And he who smiteth a beast repayeth it, body for body.

19 `And when a man putteth a blemish in his fellow, as he hath done so it is done to him;

20 breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he putteth a blemish in a man so it is done in him.

21 `And he who smiteth a beast repayeth it, and he who smiteth `the life of' man is put to death;

22 one judgment is to you; as a sojourner so is a native; for I `am' Jehovah your God.'

23 And Moses speaketh unto the sons of Israel, and they bring out the reviler unto the outside of the camp, and stone him with stones; and the sons of Israel have done as Jehovah hath commanded Moses.


Leviticus 24:1-23 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

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

3 Outside the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, shall Aaron dress it from evening to morning before Jehovah continually: [it is] an everlasting statute throughout your generations.

4 Upon the pure candlestick shall he arrange the lamps before Jehovah continually.

5 And thou shalt take fine wheaten flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof; each cake shall be of two tenths.

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

7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row; and it shall be a bread of remembrance, an offering by fire to Jehovah.

8 Every sabbath day he shall arrange it before Jehovah continually, on the part of the children of Israel: [it is] an everlasting covenant.

9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy unto him of Jehovah's offerings by fire: [it is] an everlasting statute.

10 And the son of an Israelitish woman -- but withal the son of an Egyptian, -- went out among the children of Israel; and this son of the Israelitess and a man of Israel strove together in the camp;

11 and the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. And his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.

12 And they confined him, that they might decide at the mouth of Jehovah.

13 And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

14 Lead the reviler outside the camp; and all that heard [him] shall lay their hands upon his head, and the whole assembly shall stone him.

15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Every one when he revileth his God shall bear his sin.

16 And he that blasphemeth the name of Jehovah shall certainly be put to death; all the assembly shall certainly stone him; as well the stranger as he that is home-born, when he blasphemeth the Name, shall be put to death.

17 And if any one smiteth any man mortally, he shall certainly be put to death.

18 And he that smiteth a beast mortally shall make it good, life for life.

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.

21 He that smiteth a beast [mortally] shall make it good; and he that smiteth a man [mortally] shall be put to death.

22 Ye shall have one law: as the stranger, so the home-born; for I am Jehovah your God.

23 And Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they led the reviler outside the camp and stoned him with stones. And the children of Israel did as Jehovah had commanded Moses.


Leviticus 24:1-23 World English Bible (WEB)

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.

3 Outside of the veil of the Testimony, in the Tent of Meeting, shall Aaron keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh continually: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

4 He shall keep in order the lamps on the pure gold lampstand before Yahweh continually.

5 "You shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it: two tenth parts of an ephah shall be in one cake.

6 You shall set them in two rows, six on a row, on the pure gold table before Yahweh.

7 You shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

8 Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before Yahweh continually. It is on the behalf of the children of Israel an everlasting covenant.

9 It shall be for Aaron and his sons; and they shall eat it in a holy place: for it is most holy to him of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire by a perpetual statute."

10 The son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelite woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp.

11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.

12 They put him in custody, until the will of Yahweh should be declared to them.

13 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

14 "Bring out of the camp him who cursed; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him.

15 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin.

16 He who blasphemes the name of Yahweh, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: the foreigner as well as the native-born, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.

17 "'He who strikes any man mortally shall surely be put to death.

18 He who strikes a animal mortally shall make it good, life for life.

19 If anyone injures his neighbor; as he has done, so shall it be done to him:

20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has injured someone, so shall it be done to him.

21 He who kills an animal shall make it good; and he who kills a man shall be put to death.

22 You shall have one kind of law, for the foreigner as well as the native-born: for I am Yahweh your God.'"

23 Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they brought forth him who had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. The children of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses.


Leviticus 24:1-23 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And the Lord said to Moses,

2 Give orders to the children of Israel to give you clean olive oil for the light, so that a light may be burning at all times,

3 Outside the veil of the ark in the Tent of meeting; let Aaron see that it is burning from evening till morning at all times before the Lord: it is a rule for ever through all your generations.

4 Let Aaron put the lights in order on the support before the Lord at all times.

5 And take the best meal and make twelve cakes of it, a fifth part of an ephah in every cake.

6 And put them in two lines, six in a line, on the holy table before the Lord.

7 And on the lines of cakes put clean sweet-smelling spices, for a sign on the bread, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

8 Every Sabbath day regularly, the priest is to put it in order before the Lord: it is offered for the children of Israel, an agreement made for ever.

9 And it will be for Aaron and his sons; they are to take it for food in a holy place: it is the most holy of all the offerings made by fire to the Lord, a rule for ever.

10 And a son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel and had a fight with a man of Israel by the tents;

11 And the son of the Israelite woman said evil against the holy Name, with curses; and they took him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.

12 And they kept him shut up, till a decision might be given by the mouth of the Lord.

13 And the Lord said to Moses,

14 Take the curser outside the tent-circle; and let all in whose hearing the words were said put their hands on his head, and let him be stoned by all the people.

15 And say to the children of Israel, As for any man cursing God, his sin will be on his head.

16 And he who says evil against the name of the Lord will certainly be put to death; he will be stoned by all the people; the man who is not of your nation and one who is an Israelite by birth, whoever says evil against the holy Name is to be put to death.

17 And anyone who takes another's life is certainly to be put to death.

18 And anyone wounding a beast and causing its death, will have to make payment for it: a life for a life.

19 And if a man does damage to his neighbour, as he has done, so let it be done to him;

20 Wound for wound, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever damage he has done, so let it be done to him.

21 He who puts a beast to death will have to make payment for it; he who puts a man to death will himself be put to death.

22 You are to have the same law for a man of another nation living among you as for an Israelite; for I am the Lord your God.

23 And Moses said these words to the children of Israel, and they took the man who had been cursing outside the tent-circle and had him stoned. The children of Israel did as the Lord gave orders to Moses.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Leviticus 24

Commentary on Leviticus 24 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 24

In this chapter we have,

  • I. A repetition of the laws concerning the lamps and the show-bread (v. 1-9).
  • II. A violation of the law against blasphemy, with the imprisonment, trial, condemnation, and execution, of the blasphemer (v. 10-14, with v. 23).
  • III. The law against blasphemy reinforced (v. 15, 16), with sundry other laws (v. 17, etc.).

Lev 24:1-9

Care is here taken, and orders are given, for the decent furnishing of the candlestick and table in God's house.

  • I. The lamps must always be kept burning. The law for this we had before, Ex. 27:20, 21. It is here repeated, probably because it now began to be put in execution, when other things were settled.
    • 1. The people were to provide oil (v. 2), and this, as every thing else that was to be used in God's service, must be of the best, pure olive-oil, beaten, probably it was double-strained. This was to cause the lamps to burn; all our English copies read it lamps, but in the original it is singular in v. 2-to cause the lamp to burn; but plural in v. 4-he shall order the lamps. The seven lamps made all one lamp, in allusion to which the blessed Spirit of grace is represented by seven lamps of fire before the throne (Rev. 4:5), for there are diversities of gifts, but one Spirit, 1 Co. 12:4. Ministers are as burning and shining lights in Christ's church, but it is the duty of people to provide comfortably for them, as Israel for the lamps. Scandalous maintenance makes a scandalous ministry.
    • 2. The priests were to tend the lamps; they must snuff them, clean the candlestick, and supply them with oil, morning and evening, v. 3, 4. Thus it is the work of the ministers of the gospel to hold forth that word of life, not to set up new lights, but, by expounding and preaching the word, to make the light of it more clear and extensive. This was the ordinary way of keeping the lamps burning; but, when the church was poor and in distress, we find its lamps fed constantly with oil from the good olives immediately, without the ministry of priest or people (Zec. 4:2, 3); for, though God has tied us to means, he has not tied himself to them, but will take effectual care that his lamp never go out in the world for want of oil.
  • II. The table must always be kept spread. This was appointed before, Ex. 25:30. And here also,
    • 1. The table was furnished with bread; not dainties nor varieties to gratify a luxurious palate, but twelve loaves or cakes of bread, v. 5, 6. Where there is plenty of bread there is no famine; and where bread is not there is no feast. There was a loaf for every tribe, for in our Father's house there is bread enough. They were all provided for by the divine bounty, and were all welcome to the divine grace. Even after the revolt of the ten tribes this number of loaves was continued (2 Chr. 13:11), for the sake of those few of each tribe that retained their affection to the temple and continued their attendance on it.
    • 2. A handful of frankincense was put in a golden saucer, upon or by each row, v. 7. When the bread was removed, and given to the priests, this frankincense was burnt upon the golden altar (I suppose) over and above the daily incense: and this was for a memorial instead of the bread, an offering made by fire, as the handful of the meat-offering which was burnt upon the altar is called the memorial thereof, ch. 2:2. Thus a little was accepted as a humble acknowledgment, and all the loaves were consigned to the priests. All God's spiritual Israel, typified by the twelve loaves, are made through Christ a sweet savour to him, and their prayers are said to come up before God for a memorial, Acts 10:4. The word is borrowed from the ceremonial law.
    • 3. Every sabbath it was renewed. When the loaves had stood there a week, the priests had them to eat with other holy things that were to be eaten in the holy place (v. 9), and new ones were provided at the public charge, and put in the room of them, v. 8. The Jews say, "The hands of those priests that put on were mixed with theirs that took off, that the table might be never empty, but the bread might be before the Lord continually.' God is never unprovided for the entertainment of those that visit him, as men often are, Lu. 11:5. Every one of those cakes contained two tenth-deals, that is, two omers of fine flour; just so much manna every Israelite gathered on the sixth day for the sabbath, Ex. 16:22. Hence some infer that this show-bread, which was set on the table on the sabbath, was intended as a memorial of the manna wherewith they were fed in the wilderness. Christ's ministers should provide new bread for his house every sabbath day, the production of their fresh studies in the scripture, that their proficiency may appear to all, 1 Tim. 4:1, 5.

Lev 24:10-23

Evil manners, we say, beget good laws. We have here an account of the evil manners of a certain nameless mongrel Israelite, and the good laws occasioned thereby.

  • I. The offender was the son of an Egyptian father and an Israelitish mother (v. 10); his mother was of the tribe of Dan, v. 11. Neither he nor his father is named, but his mother only, who was an Israelite. This notice is taken of his parentage either,
    • 1. To intimate what occasioned the quarrel he was engaged in. The Jews say, "He offered to set up his tent among the Danites in the right of his mother, but was justly opposed by some or other of that tribe, and informed that his father being an Egyptian he had no part nor lot in the matter, but must look upon himself as a stranger.' Or,
    • 2. To show the common ill effect of such mixed marriages. When a daughter of Israel would marry an idolatrous malignant Egyptian, what could be the fruit of such a marriage but a blasphemer? For the children will be apt to take after the worse side, whichsoever it is, and will sooner learn of an Egyptian father to blaspheme than of an Israelitish mother to pray and praise.
  • II. The occasion of the offence was contention: He strove with a man of Israel. The mixed multitude of Egyptians that came up with Israel (Ex. 12:38) were in many ways hurtful to them, and this was one, they were often the authors of strife. The way to preserve the peace of the church is to preserve the purity of it. In this strife he broke out into ill language. Note, When quarrels begin we know not what mischief they will make before they end, nor how treat a matter a little fire may kindle. When men's passion is up they are apt to forget both their reason and their religion, which is a good reason why we should not be apt either to give or to resent provocation, but leave off strife before it be meddled with, because the beginning of it is as the letting forth of water.
  • III. The offence itself was blasphemy and cursing, v. 11. It is supposed that his cause came to be heard before the judges, who determined that he had no right to the privileges of an Israelite, his father being an Egyptian, and that, being enraged at the sentence,
    • 1. He blasphemed the name of the Lord. He blasphemed the name, that is, he blasphemed God, who is known by his name only, not by his nature, or any similitude. Not as if God were a mere name, but his is a name above every name. The translators add of the Lord, which is implied, but not expressed, in the original, for the greater reverence of the divine Majesty: it is a shame that it should be found on record that the very name of Jehovah should be blasphemed; tell it not in Gath. It is a fond conceit of the superstitious Jews that his blasphemy was in pronouncing the name of Jehovah, which they call ineffable: he that made himself known by that name never forbade the calling of him by that name. It is probable that finding himself aggrieved by the divine appointment, which separated between the Israelites and strangers, he impudently reproached both the law and the Law-maker, and set him at defiance.
    • 2. He cursed either God himself (and then his cursing was the same with blaspheming) or the person with whom he strove. Imprecations of mischief are the hellish language of hasty passion, as well as of rooted malice. Or perhaps he cursed the judges that gave sentence against him; he flew in the face of the court, and ridiculed the processes of it; thus he added sin to sin.
  • IV. The caution with which he was proceeded against for this sin. The witnesses or inferior judges brought him and his case (which was somewhat extraordinary) unto Moses (v. 11), according to the order settled (Ex. 18:22), and Moses himself would not give judgment hastily, but committed the offender into custody, till he had consulted the oracle in this case. Note, Judges must deliberate; both those that give the verdict and those that give the sentence must consider diligently what they do, and do nothing rashly, for the judgment is God's (Deu. 1:17), and before him there will be a rehearing of the cause. They waited to know what was the mind of the Lord, whether he was to be put to death by the hand of the magistrate or to be left to the judgment of God: or, rather, they wanted to know whether he should be stoned, as those were to be that only cursed their parents (ch. 20:9), or whether, the crime being so much greater, some sorer punishment should be inflicted on him. Note, Those that sit in judgment should sincerely desire, and by prayer and the use of all good means should endeavour to know the mind of the Lord, because they judge for him (2 Chr. 19:6) and to him they are accountable.
  • V. Sentence passed upon this offender by the righteous Judge of heaven and earth himself: Let all the congregation stone him, v. 14. God could have cut him off by an immediate stroke from heaven, but he would put this honour upon the institution of magistracy to make use of it for the supporting and vindicating of his own glory in the world. Observe,
    • 1. The place of execution appointed: Bring him forth without the camp. To signify their detestation of the crime, they must thus cast out the criminal as an abominable branch, and separate him from them as an unclean thing and unworthy a place in the camp of Israel.
    • 2. The executioners: Let all the congregation do it, to show their zeal for the honour of God's name. Every man should have a stone to throw at him that blasphemes God, reckoning himself nearly concerned in the reproaches cast on God, Ps. 69:9. Thus also the greater terror would be cast upon the congregation; those that once helped to stone a blasphemer would ever after dread every thing that bordered upon blasphemy, that looked like it or looked towards it.
    • 3. The solemnity of the execution; before the congregation stoned him, the witnesses were to lay their hands upon his head. The Jews say that this was used in the execution of no criminals but blasphemers; and that it was done with words to this purport, "Thy blood be upon thy own head, for thou thyself hast occasioned it. Let no blame be laid on the law, judges, juries, or witnesses; if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.'
  • VI. A standing law made upon this occasion for the stoning of blasphemers, v. 15, 16. Magistrates are the guardians of both tables, and ought to be as jealous for the honour of God against those that speak contemptuously of his being and government as for the public peace and safety against the disturbers of them.
    • 1. A great stress is laid upon this law, as in no case to be dispensed with: He shall surely be put to death; they shall certainly stone him. Those that lightly esteemed God's honour might think it hard to make a man an offender for a word (words are but wind); but God would let them know that they must not make light of such words as these, which come from malice against God in the heart of him that speaks, and must occasion either great guilt or great grief to those that hear.
    • 2. It is made to extend to the strangers that sojourned among them, as well as those that were born in the land. God never made any law to compel strangers to be circumcised and embrace the Jewish religion (proselytes made by force would be no honour to the God of Israel), but he made a law to restrain strangers from speaking evil of the God of Israel.
    • 3. He that was put to death for blasphemy is said to bear his sin, in the punishment of it; no sacrifice being appointed, on the head of which the sin might be transferred, he himself was to bear it upon his own head, as a sacrifice to divine justice. So his own tongue fell upon him (Ps. 64:8), and the tongue of a blasphemer will fall heavily.
  • VII. A repetition of some other laws annexed to this new law.
    • 1. That murder should be punished with death (v. 17, and again v. 21), according to an ancient law in Noah's time (Gen. 9:6), and the very law of nature, Gen. 4:10.
    • 2. That maimers should in like manner be punished by the law of retaliation, v. 19, 20. Not that men might in these cases be their own avengers, but they might appeal to the civil magistrate, who should award suffering to the injurious and satisfaction to the injured as should be thought fit in proportion to the hurt done. This law we had before, Ex. 22:4, 5. And it was more agreeable to that dispensation, in which were revealed the rigour of the law and what sin deserved, than to the dispensation we are under, in which are revealed the grace of the gospel and the remission of sins: and therefore our Saviour has set aside this law (Mt. 5:38, 39), not to restrain magistrates from executing public justice, but to restrain us all from returning personal injuries and to oblige us to forgive as we are and hope to be forgiven.
    • 3. That hurt done wilfully to a neighbour's cattle should be punished by making good the damage, v. 18, 21. Thus the divine law took not only their lives, but their goods also under its protection. Those beasts which belonged to no particular person, but were, as our law speaks, ferae naturae-of a wild nature, it was lawful for them to kill; but not those which any man had a property in. Does God take care for oxen? Yes; for our sakes he does.
    • 4. That strangers, as well as native Israelites, should be both entitled to the benefit of this law, so as not to suffer wrong, and liable to the penalty of this law in case they did wrong. And, it should seem, this is it that brings in these laws here, to show how equitable it was that strangers as well as Israelites should be punished for blasphemy, because strangers as well as Israelites were punishable for other crimes. And there may be this further reason for the recognition of these laws here, God would hereby show what provision he had made for man's safety, in punishing those that were injurious to him, which should be an argument with magistrates to be jealous for his honour, and to punish those that blasphemed his name. If God took care for their comfort, they ought to take care for his glory.
  • VIII. The execution of the blasphemer. Moses did, as it were, sign the warrant or it: He spoke unto the children of Israel to do it, and they did as the Lord commanded Moses, v. 23. This teaches that death is the wages of sin, and that blasphemy in particular is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. But, if those who thus profane the name of God escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgments. This blasphemer was the first that died by the law of Moses. Stephen, the first that died for the gospel, died by the abuse of this law; the martyr and the malefactor suffered the same death: but how vast the difference between them!