LEVITICUS 58
We will begin this lesson in Leviticus 24:10 "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;" Leviticus 24:11 "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:)"
God warned His people, over and over, not to marry those who were
not Israelites. This man was not allowed to be one of the
congregation, because his father was not an Israelite. The regulation
was in effect until the third generation. This set this young man
aside as an outcast from the beginning. You could easily see how he
would get into an argument with this man of Israel. There is, however,
no excuse for him blaspheming the name of the LORD and cursing. We
possibly can see here, that he did not believe in the God of Israel.
It is good to notice that blaspheming and cursing were two different
things. To blaspheme God, is possibly the worst sin a person could
commit. At the time that this happened, the law had not been given
concerning this, and Moses did not know exactly what the punishment
for this crime should be. Just because his mother was of the tribe of
Dan, would not save him. The Scripture does not say whether this man
was taught in the ways of God, or not. If he were not taught in the
ways of God, part of the blame for this sin would be his mother's. We
do know that she displeased God, when she married a man from Egypt.
God did not want His people mixing and marrying with worldly people.
Leviticus 24:12 "And they put him in ward, that the mind of the
LORD might be shewed them."
Moses knew that this was a terrible sin, but he did not know just
how God wanted him punished. He had them to hold him under arrest,
until he could hear from God. Moses never presumed things pertaining
to God. He waited, so that the punishment of this man would be
pleasing unto God.
Leviticus 24:13 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Leviticus 24:14 "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."
These that heard him curse and blaspheme God are eye witnesses.
The reason they are to lay their hands on his head, is to place the
blame upon him. This stoning by the entire congregation shows their
utter disapproval of what he has done. The punishment for this crime
was not set by Moses, or the witnesses, or the congregation, but by
God Himself.
Leviticus 24:15 "And thou shalt speak unto the children of
Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin."
Since there had not been a law given concerning this, the law was
given right here to clarify the punishment for this offence. Notice,
{whosoever} which covers strangers, as well as Israelites. Notice,
that verse 15 is separate in that the sin there was cursing God. In
the next verse, we see the penalty for blaspheming god.
Leviticus 24:16 "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."
For someone not to stone the person committing this terrible sin,
would be as if they were condoning the sin. God leaves no doubt at all
that this is to cover everyone, even those who were not Hebrews among
them. This was done to remove those who would cause a falling away
from God. God requires total obedience. Matthew 22:37 "Jesus said unto
him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind." Matthew 22:38 "This is the first
and great commandment."
Leviticus 24:17 "And he that killeth any man shall surely be put
to death."
We see in this that a person who thought someone had blasphemed
could not just go out and kill him. The killing of the blasphemer by
stoning was after several persons had been eyewitnesses and it was a
punishment carried out by the entire congregation, not just by one
person. We see in this repeating of this law that killing or murder
was punishable by death. A life for a life.
Leviticus 24:18 "And he that killeth a beast shall make it good;
beast for beast."
This is speaking of another's beast. When you kill someone else's
animal, it must be restored.
Leviticus 24:19 "And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour;
as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;" Leviticus 24:20 "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]."
These sins are less than murder. The punishment is made to fit
the crime.
Leviticus 24:21 "And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore
it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death."
The difference in the death of an animal and the death of a man
is evident in the punishment. Man was made in the image of God. There
is no way you can pay for a man's life. The animal is property, or
wealth, of a man. The main thing here would be to restore the loss he
felt in the death of the animal.
Leviticus 24:22 "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."
We see from this, that just because they were God's people did
not give the Israelite any special privileges when he sinned.
The punishment was the same for the stranger as it was for the
Israelite. God is God of all. The law was given at this time just to
the Israelites, but God is God of all.
Leviticus 24:23 "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."
As soon as the punishment for blaspheming and cursing God was
given to Moses by God, Moses had the punishment carried out. Remember,
the reason Moses had waited was because no law had been given to cover
this situation. Moses waited until God told him what the punishment
should be. We could learn a lesson from this. We should not rush
ahead, to decide the outcome of something, before we hear from God.
Questions 58
1. What nationality was the father of the son of the Israelitish
woman?
2. What 2 sins did the son commit, while he was striving with the man
of Israel?
3. Who did they take the man to, for sentencing?
4. From what tribe of Israel was the mother of this son who sinned?
5. Why was this man not allowed to be part of the congregation?
6. Are blaspheming and cursing different sins?
7. What is possibly the worst sin a person can commit?
8. Who was possibly partly to blame for the man's sin?
9. Why did Moses not pass sentence on the man immediately?
10. Why was it important for the ones who heard him curse to put their
hands on his head?
11. Who was to stone him to death?
12. Who was to be killed for cursing God?
13. Quote Matthew chapter 22 verse 37.
14. What was the punishment for killing a man?
15. What was the punishment for killing a beast?
16. What was the punishment for injuring others?
17. Why was there a difference between killing a man and killing a
beast?
18. How did the law differ for a stranger?
19. When did they kill the man for blaspheming?
20. What lesson can we learn from all of this?
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