Leviticus 24 - Introduction

Leviticus 24:1-23. Regulations, Ceremonial and Moral (H and P)

The separation of materials derived from different sources in this ch. is fairly simple. P as in ch. 23, takes a prominent place. Leviticus 24:1 clearly belong to the Priestly Code. Their tone is that of P throughout, and the passage contains various words characteristic of that source, e.g. Leviticus 24:5 - esrônîm, the tenth part (of an ephah, occurring in H only in Leviticus 23:17), Leviticus 24:9 most holy, lit. holiness of holinesses. Leviticus 24:10; Leviticus 24:23owe their present form to P.To mark, as is here done, the connexion between laws and the actual events of life is, as Dillm. remarks, quite in P's manner (cp. Leviticus 10:16 ff.; Numbers 9:6 ff; Numbers 15:32-36), while Leviticus 24:15 unmistakably have their origin in H, while showing indications of modification from the later source. See on Leviticus 24:16; Leviticus 24:22.

It is not easy to account for the combination with one another of the subjects in this ch. and at least as difficult to suggest a reason for their incorporation at this point in the Law of Holiness. The conjecture might be hazarded that Leviticus 24:1 follow on the sacrificial duties of the priesthood as set forth in ch. 23 in order to add an account of the continuousservice demanded of them from day to day. But, then, should we not have expected as well the regulation concerning the daily Burnt-Offering (Exodus 29:38 ff.) and Incense-Offering (Exodus 30:7 ff.)? Or the connexion may be the application of the results of the ingathering and harvest (such as corn and olives), dealt with in ch. 23, to the purposes here mentioned. It may be, however, that there has been at some stage a shifting in position of the material of the ch. such as cannot now be traced. The contents may be thus sub-divided:

(1) Leviticus 24:1, the care of the Tabernacle lamps; (2) Leviticus 24:5, the ordering of the shewbread; (3) Leviticus 24:10, the incident of the blasphemer, and laws arising out of, or suggested by, that circumstance.