Bible Commentaries
Leviticus 26

Verses 1-46

Leviticus 26:1-46 The Law of Blessings and Curses - Numbers 26:1-46 discusses the law of blessings and curses. This passage is similar to Deuteronomy 28:0, in that they both list the blessings and the curses.

Note how this passage on divine judgment mentions that God will judge His people seven times for their sins (Leviticus 26:18; Leviticus 26:21; Leviticus 26:24; Leviticus 26:28). This seven-fold judgment is found throughout the Holy Scriptures.

Genesis 4:15, “And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold . And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.”

Leviticus 4:6, “And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD , before the vail of the sanctuary.”

Deuteronomy 28:25, “The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them : and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.”

Psalms 79:12, “And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.”

Daniel 3:19, “Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated .”

Also, seven of Saul's sons died for the sins of one man:

2 Samuel 21:6, “ Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us , and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.”

In the New Testament, Jesus said that a man who backslides would have seven more demons enter him after being delivered from one demon.

Matthew 12:45, “Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself , and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

Peter sought an answer from Jesus for forgiveness, in the place of judgment. Peter suggested seven times:

Matthew 18:21-22, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times ? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

God uses seven years to judge nations and kings of major sins:

Genesis 41:30, “And there shall arise after them seven years of famine ; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;”

2 Samuel 24:13, “So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land ? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.”

King Nebuchadnezzar was judged for seven years:

Daniel 4:16, “Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him .”

God uses seven days to judge individuals of minor sins and uncleanness in the Scriptures.

Leviticus 12:2, “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days ; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.”

Leviticus 15:24, “And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days ; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.”

God's judgment on the earth in the book of Revelation comes in sevens:

Revelation 15:8, “And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled .”

Therefore, the children of Israel always recognized divine judgment when it came in a period of seven years.

Leviticus 26:12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Leviticus 26:12 Old Testament Quotes in the New Testament - Numbers 26:12 is mentioned in 2 Corinthians 6:16, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people .”

Leviticus 26:26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

Leviticus 26:26 “ and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied” Comments - Maureen Kennedy Salaman, a well-known author on health issues today, says that when the Sabbath Rest is not given to the land, the minerals will eventually become depleted from the soil. Therefore, the crops that are grown in this type of soil lack the proper minerals for good health. When we eat such foods, our bodies digest the meal, but our hunger is not satisfied because the body is still craving the proper minerals and vitamins. Therefore, we may eat, but not be satisfied, as this verse describes. [31]

[31] Maureen Kennedy Salaman, interviewed by Benny Hinn, This is Your Day (Irving, Texas), on Trinity Broadcasting Network (Santa Ana, California), television program. Refer to her book All Your Health Questions Answered Naturally (Mountain View, California: Bay to Bay Distribution, 1998)

Note the content of this chapter, which begins by saying that the children of Israel are to keep the Lord’s Sabbaths so that the land will yield its increase.

Leviticus 26:2-4, “Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.”

God will use His judgment to bring about the Sabbath rest for the land.

Leviticus 26:34-35, “Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.”

Leviticus 26:29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

Leviticus 26:29 Comments - This same judgment is prophesied forty years later by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 28:53, “And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:”

This prophecy came to pass years later during the siege of Samaria when Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria came against Jehoram (Joram), king of Israel (853-841 B.C.).

2 Kings 6:28-29, “And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.”

Leviticus 26:40-42 Scripture References - Note a New Testament passage on confessing sins:

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”