XXVI. (1) YE SHALL MAKE YOU NO IDOLS. — The first two verses of this chapter are still a part of the previous section in the Hebrew original. By separating them from their proper position, and making them begin a new chapter, both the logical sequence and the import of these two verses are greatly o... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL KEEP MY SABBATHS... — This is exactly the same precept laid down in chap 19:30, and is here repeated because of the danger of desecrating the Sabbath to which the Israelite is exposed who sells himself to a heathen. The Israelite will effectually guard against idol-worship, by keeping the S... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE WALK IN MY STATUTES. — We have already remarked that this verse begins the section in the Hebrew and ought to have begun the chapter in English. Having set forth the ceremonial and moral injunctions which are necessary for the development and maintenance of holiness and purity in the commonwea... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I WILL GIVE YOU RAIN IN DUE SEASON. — Better, _then I will give you your rains in due season,_ that is, the former and latter rains (Deuteronomy 11:14). In Palestine the proper season for the early rain is from about the middle of October until December, thus preparing the ground for receiving... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOUR THRESHING SHALL REACH UNTO THE VINTAGE. — That is, the corn crop shall be so plentiful that those who shall be employed in threshing about the month of March will not complete it before the vintage, which was about the month of July. THE VINTAGE SHALL REACH UNTO THE SOWING TIME. — The wine... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL GIVE PEACE. — Not only are they to have rich harvests, but the Lord will grant them peace among themselves, so that they shall be able to retire at night without any anxiety, or fear of robbers (Psalms 3:5; Psalms 4:8). I WILL RID EVIL BEASTS OUT OF THE LAND. — The promise to destroy the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL CHASE YOUR ENEMIES. — If, covetous of their prosperity, the enemies should dare to attack them, God will inspire His people with marvellous courage, so that they will not only pursue them, but put them to the sword.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FIVE OF YOU SHALL CHASE AN HUNDRED. — This is a proverbial saying, corresponding to our phrase “A very small number, or a mere handful, shall be more than a match for a whole regiment.” The same phrase, with different proportions to the numbers, occurs in other parts of the Bible (Deuteronomy 32... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I WILL HAVE RESPECT UNTO YOU. — Better, _And I will turn unto you,_ as it is rendered in the Authorised Version in Ezekiel 46:9, the only other passage where this phrase occurs; that is, be merciful to them and bless them. (Comp. 2 Kings 13:23; Psalms 25:16; Psalms 69:17, &c.) AND MULTIPLY YOU,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL EAT OLD STORE. — Better, _old store which hath become old._ Though they will thus multiply, there shall be abundant stores for them, which become old because it will take them so long to consume them. AND BRING FORTH THE OLD BECAUSE OF THE NEW. — Better, _and remove the old on account... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL SET MY TABERNACLE AMONG YOU. — Better, _And I will set my dwelling-place among you._ (See Leviticus 15:31.) Not only will God bless them with these material blessings, but will permanently abide with them in the sanctuary erected in their midst. MY SOUL SHALL NOT ABHOR YOU. — That is, Go... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL WALK AMONG YOU. — This promise is quoted by St. Paul (2 Corinthians 6:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE BROKEN THE BANDS OF YOUR YOKE. — The promises thus made to the Israelites of the extraordinary fertility of their land, of peace within and immunity from war without, and of the Divine presence constantly sojourning amongst them, if they will faithfully obey the commandments of the Lord, now... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF YE WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO ME. — The glowing promises of blessings for obedience are now followed by a catalogue of calamities of the most appalling nature, which will overtake the Israelites if they disobey the Divine commandments. The first degree of punishment with which this verse begins ex... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF YE SHALL DESPISE MY STATUTES. — From passive indifference to the Divine statutes mentioned in the preceding verse, their falling away is sure to follow. Hence what was at first mere listlessness now develops itself into a contemptuous education of God’s ordinances. OR IF YOUR SOUL ABHOR MY J... [ Continue Reading ]
I ALSO WILL DO THIS UNTO YOU. — That is, He will do the same unto them; He will requite them in the same way, and abhor them. I WILL EVEN APPOINT OVER YOU TERROR. — Better, _and I will appoint,_ &c, that is, God will visit them with terrible things, consisting of consumption and burning ague. These... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST YOU. — That is, make them feel his anger. (See Note on Leviticus 17:10.) BE SLAIN BEFORE YOUR ENEMIES. — Better, _be smitten before your enemies,_ as this phrase is rendered in the Authorised Version (Numbers 14:42; Deuteronomy 1:42; Deuteronomy 28:25). SHALL REIGN OV... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF YE WILL NOT YET FOR ALL THIS HEARKEN UNTO ME. — Better, _and if up to these ye will not hearken unto me,_ that is, if they should persist in their disobedience to the very end of those punishments mentioned in Leviticus 26:16. This verse, therefore, introduces the second degree of punishments... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL BREAK THE PRIDE OF YOUR POWER. — That is, the strength which is the cause of your pride, the wealth which they derive from the abundant harvests mentioned in Leviticus 26:4, as is evident from what follows immediately, where the punishment is threatened against the resources of this power... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOUR STRENGTH SHALL BE SPENT IN VAIN. — That is, with the heaven over them as metal, their labour expended in ploughing, digging, and sowing will be perfectly useless. YOUR LAND SHALL NOT YIELD HER INCREASE, as no amount of human labour will make up for the want of rain. In Deuteronomy 11:17, w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF YE WALK CONTRARY UNTO ME. — That is, continue the defiance of the Divine law, and rebel against God’s authority. The third warning, contained in Leviticus 26:21, threatens them with destruction by wild beasts. SEVEN TIMES MORE PLAGUES. — That is, a still greater number. (See Leviticus 26:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL ALSO SEND WILD BEASTS. — Better, _and I will send wild beasts._ Wild beasts, which abounded in Palestine (Exodus 23:29), are used as a punishment for sin (Deuteronomy 32:24; 2 Kings 17:25; Isaiah 13:21; Ezekiel 14:15, &c.).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF YE WILL NOT BE REFORMED. — The fourth warning (Leviticus 26:23) threatens the rebellious Israelites with a more intensified form of the punishment partially mentioned in the first warning. (See _Leviticus 26:17._)... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WILL I ALSO WALK CONTRARY UNTO YOU. — By their increased hostility to God, they simply increase their calamities, since He whom they are defying now also assumes a hostile attitude towards those who are defiant. AND WILL PUNISH YOU YET. — Better, _and I also will smite you._ (See Leviticus 26:... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SHALL AVENGE THE QUARREL OF MY COVENANT. — Better, _that shall avenge my covenant,_ that is, the sword, which shall avenge the breach of the Divine covenant; a war, which will devastate them because of their rebellion against the covenant God. Hence the Chaldee Versions render it, “that shall a... [ Continue Reading ]
(26)AND WHEN I HAVE BROKEN THE STAFF OF YOUR BREAD. — Better, _when I break you the staff of bread,_ that is, when God cuts off their supply of bread, which is the staff of life. “To break the staff of bread” denotes to take away or to destroy the staff or the support which bread is to man. This met... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF HE WILL NOT FOR ALL THIS HEARKEN UNTO ME. — Better, _And if, notwithstanding these, ye will not hearken unto me,_ that is, if in spite of these awful punishments they persist in rebellion against God. With this reiterated formula the fifth warning is introduced (Leviticus 26:27), which threat... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I WILL WALK CONTRARY UNTO YOU ALSO IN FURY. — Whilst in Leviticus 26:24 the persistent rebellion is responded to on the part of the defied God in the simple words, “then will I also work contrary unto you,” we have here the addition “in fury” as the provocation is more intense. AND I, EVEN I,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL EAT THE FLESH OF YOUR SONS. — The harrowing scene here described is also depicted in Deuteronomy 28:53. This prediction actually came to pass at the siege of Samaria by the Syrians (2 Kings 6:28), and at the siege of Jerusalem by the Chaldæans, which Jeremiah thus bewails, “the hands of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL DESTROY YOUR HIGH PLACES. — Though these eminences were also used for the worship of Jehovah (Judges 6:25; Judges 13:16; 1 Samuel 7:10; 1 Kings 3:2; 2 Kings 12:3; 1 Chronicles 21:26, &c.), the context shows that the high places here are such as were dedicated to idolatrous worship (Number... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL MAKE YOUR CITIES WASTE. — Not only will the elevated spots outside the cities with their idols be destroyed, and the carcases of the deluded worshippers be scattered among their remains, but the cities themselves will be converted into ruins and desolations (Jeremiah 4:7; Jeremiah 9:11; Ezeki... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL BRING THE LAND INTO DESOLATION. Better, _And I myself will bring,_ &c. From the ruin of the cities and the sanctuaries the desolation extends to the whole country. Whilst the devastations hitherto were the result of God permitting hostile invasions and conquests, the desolation of the who... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL SCATTER YOU AMONG THE HEATHEN. — They will not even be permitted to tarry among the ruins of their favoured places, but God Himself, who brings about the desolation, will disperse the surviving inhabitants far and wide. AND WILL DRAW OUT A SWORD AFTER YOU. — To show how complete this disp... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL THE LAND ENJOY HER SABBATHS. — The land, which participates both in the happiness and misery of the Israelites (see Leviticus 18:25), and which through their disobedience of the Divine laws would be deprived of her sabbatical rests as long as the rebellious people occupy it, would now at... [ Continue Reading ]
AS LONG AS IT LIETH DESOLATE IT SHALL REST; BECAUSE IT DID NOT REST... — Better, _All the days of its desolation shall it keep that rest which it did not rest,_ &c, that is, the land during its desolation will not be cultivated but will lie fallow, and thus be enabled to make up by its long rest for... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UPON THEM THAT ARE LEFT ALIVE OF YOU. — Better, _And as to those that remain of you,_ as the Authorised Version generally renders this expression. This obviates the insertion of the expression “alive,” which is not in the original, and is not put in the Authorised Version in Leviticus 26:39, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE SHALL PERISH AMONG THE HEATHEN. — Better, _And ye shall be lost among the heathen,_ as the word here rendered “perish” is often translated. (See Deuteronomy 22:3; 1 Samuel 9:3; 1 Samuel 9:20; Jeremiah 1:6; Ezekiel 34:4; Ezekiel 34:16; Psalms 119:176, &c.) The context plainly shows that utter... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT ARE LEFT OF YOU SHALL PINE AWAY IN THEIR INIQUITY. — Better, _But those that remain of you shall pine away because of their iniquity,_ that is, those who will survive the terrible doom described under the five warnings, will pine away with grief, reflecting upon their sins which have b... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEY SHALL CONFESS THEIR INIQUITY. — Better, _And they shall confess,_ that is, when their sufferings have reached this terrible point, the Israelites will realise and confess their iniquities and those of their fathers who have perished in these terrible punishments, on account of their sins, an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT I ALSO HAVE WALKED CONTRARY UNTO THEM. — That is, and they shall also confess that through their walking contrary unto God, He also walked contrary unto them, and brought them into the land of their enemies. IF THEN THEIR UNCIRCUMCISED HEARTS BE HUMBLED. — Better, or rather, _their uncircum... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WILL I REMEMBER. — That is, perform the covenant God made. The expression “remember” frequently denotes “to be mindful,” “to perform,” especially when used with regard to God; as, for instance, “I have remembered my covenant,” &c. (Exodus 6:5); “He remembered for them his covenant” (Psalms 106:... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAND ALSO SHALL BE LEFT OF THEM. — Better, _but the land shall be deserted by them._ The solemn warning is here reiterated, that before God will remember His covenant with the patriarchs, and also be mindful of the land, the land must be depopulated of its rebellious inhabitants, and enjoy the S... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YET FOR ALL THAT. — Better, _And yet even so,_ that is, even if it be so that they remain exiles in foreign lands for a long time, this is no proof that God has finally cast them off, has given them over to destruction, and abrogated His covenant with them. He is always their God, and will keep... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I WILL FOR THEIR SAKES REMEMBER THE COVENANT. — Better, _And will remember unto them the covenant,_ that is, as their God He will execute to them the covenant which He made with their ancestors. This verse is therefore closely connected with the preceding verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ARE THE STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS. — That is, the statutes and judgments contained in Leviticus 25:1 to Leviticus 26:45. IN MOUNT SINAI. — That is, in the mountainous district of Sinai. This group of statutes therefore concludes with the very phrase with which it began (see Leviticus 25:1), thus... [ Continue Reading ]