Leviticus-Chapter-24

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Leviticus Chapter 24”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction

Leviticus Chapter 24 presents a unique transition within the Torah. It begins with the perpetual maintenance of the Tabernacle’s internal symbols, the light of the Menorah and the Bread of the Presence representing the constant relationship between the Creator and the tribes of Israel. However, the chapter then shifts abruptly to a historical event: the case of the blasphemer. This juxtaposition serves to contrast the “light” of Divine service with the “darkness” of profaning the Divine Name, establishing that the holiness of the community is maintained both through consistent ritual devotion and the rigorous application of justice.

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Let us read Leviticus Chapter 24, verses 1 to 23: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah). Below this chapter you will find my commentary on same.

1 And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke 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 order it from evening to morning before יְהוָה - the LORD continually; it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations. 4 He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before יְהוָה - the LORD 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 in a row, upon the pure table before יְהוָה - the LORD. 7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense with each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial-part, even an offering made by fire unto יְהוָה - the LORD. 8 Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before יְהוָה - the LORD continually; it is from 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 יְהוָה - the LORD made by fire, a perpetual due.' 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 יְהוָה - the LORD’. 13 And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke 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 אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of יְהוָה - the LORD, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him; as well the stranger, as the home-born, when he blasphemeth the Name, 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 maim 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 maimed 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 stranger, as for the home-born; for I am יְהוָה - the LORD your אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’. 23 And Moses spoke 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 יְהוָה - the LORD Commanded Moses.

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Commentary on Leviticus Chapter 24:

Verses 1-4: (The Perpetual Light). The command to bring pure olive oil for the lamps ensures that the light within the Sanctuary never fails. Aaron is charged with ordering the lamps “from evening to morning” before יְהוָה - the LORD. This perpetual light serves as a physical manifestation of the Divine Presence and the constant awareness required of the priesthood. It signifies that the spiritual illumination of the nation must be maintained with the purest of resources and the most diligent care.

Verses 5-9: (The Bread of the Presence). Twelve cakes of fine flour are to be set in two rows upon the pure table. These loaves, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, are replaced every Sabbath and given to the priests to be eaten in a holy place. This “everlasting covenant” symbolized through bread teaches that the sustenance of the nation is tied to its proximity to the Sanctuary. It highlights a reciprocal relationship: the people bring the grain of the land, and it is sanctified in the presence of the Almighty before being returned to His ministers.

Verses 10-16: (The Sin of Blasphemy). The narrative of the son of an Egyptian father and an Israelite mother who “blasphemed the Name” introduces a grave legal precedent. Because there was no prior specific ruling for this crime, the individual was put in ward until the mind of יְהוָה - the LORD could be known. The ruling is absolute: the Name is sacred, and to curse it is to strike at the very foundation of the covenant. The penalty of stoning by the entire congregation ensures that the community collectively removes the “evil” from its midst.

Verses 17-22: (The Standard of Equal Justice). In the context of the blasphemy ruling, the Torah reiterates the laws of personal injury and restitution, the principle of “breach for breach”, “eye for eye”, “tooth for tooth”. Crucially, verse 22 establishes that there shall be “one manner of law” for both the stranger and the home-born. This is a revolutionary concept of justice, ensuring that the legal protections and responsibilities of the Torah apply equally to all who dwell within the camp, regardless of their lineage.

Verse 23: (The Execution of Judgment). The chapter concludes with the physical fulfilment of the Divine command. Moses speaks to the children of Israel, and they carry out the sentence upon the blasphemer. This act of obedience demonstrates that the nation had accepted the responsibility of self-governance under Divine Law, understanding that the preservation of the “Holy Name” was essential to their survival as a people.

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Closing Message

Leviticus 24 teaches us that the preservation of holiness requires both consistency and consequence. The “perpetual” duties of the oil and the bread remind us that our connection to the Creator is built on daily, rhythmic devotion. Simultaneously, the law of the blasphemer reminds us that our words and actions have weight. By establishing a single standard of justice for all, the Torah builds a society rooted in equality and reverence, where the light of truth is protected from the shadows of profanity.

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שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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