Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 24

Verses 1-23

As this chapter is read, it seems at first to be out of place or out of order. Yet undoubtedly it is not so. The fact that we may not be able clearly to see the connection does not warrant its omission or give us any ground for placing it elsewhere.

In it provision was made concerning the oil and the shewbread. It would seem that the ingathering of harvest being complete and the feast thereof arranged for, in the giving of the laws they were thus reminded of the claims. of God on their produce, especially in the two matters which indicated their responsibility of light bearing and their privilege of communion.

Here also we have a fragment of history. It is the story of the blasphemer upon whom punishment fell. It may be that it was inserted here because of its occurrence during the period of the promulgation of the laws.

In any case, the point emphasized is that if for any reason a stranger take up his abode within the circle of the divine government, he is amenable to the laws thereof. Among the people under the Kingship of Jehovah taking His name in vain was a most heinous offense, and the man guilty thereof suffered the extreme penalty.