Old Testament Commentary - Leviticus 24

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
            CHAPTER 24           

Perpetual fire to burn without the vail in the tabernacle—A blasphemer is put to death by stoning—Israel's law is one of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

  1 AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
  2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olivea beaten for the light, to cause the alamps to burn continuallyb.
  3 Without the vail of the testimony, ain the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron border it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations.
  4 He shall order the alamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.
 2a pure oil olive The oil of the press is that of the olive. It is a symbol of the blood atonement of Jesus Christ, and that he and only he is the light unto the world by which men might come unto God and be saved. The Garden of Gethsemane was an olive garden containing an oil press. This too is in similitude of that bleeding from every pore the press of the atonement did place upon the Lord to suffer for the sins of the world.
 2b the lamps to burn continually Just as the Spirit of Christ is a light unto the world continually shining forth that men might come unto it, the lamp of the tabernacle is also so continuously to burn. What is stated to be a 'candlestick', or more properly the menorah, is actually the lampstand upon which the seven lamps were lite and did burn giving light unto the Holy Place of the tabernacle. That the number of the lamps were seven is significant. Perhaps they represented the seven dispensations of time, the center lamp being raised above the others as a symbol that it is that dispensation of the Son of God's ministry on earth. Before the world was, at that judgment council where Jehovah was honored and Satan condemned, there was a stone laid before Jesus, Jehovah. And that stone had upon it 'seven eyes'. (see Commentary Zechariah 3:9) In the JST Zechariah 4:10, the seven, that is 'the eyes of the Lord', is there translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith as the 'servants of the Lord', 'which run to and fro through the whole earth'. Thus perhaps these symbolisms are to be transfered over unto the menorah and its seven lamps burning continually before the vail of the tabernacle.
 1a Lev. 10:1 (1-2)
 2a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25);
     Heb. 10:19 (19-22)
  b TG Veil
  c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43);
     Ex. 40:34 (34-35);
     D&C 97:16 (15-17);
     D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13);
     Abr. 2:19 (19-20)

  5 ¶ And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve acakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.
  6 And thou shalt aset them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure atable before the LORD.
  7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
 1a Lev. 10:1 (1-2)
 2a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25);
     Heb. 10:19 (19-22)
  b TG Veil
  c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43);
     Ex. 40:34 (34-35);
     D&C 97:16 (15-17);
     D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13);
     Abr. 2:19 (19-20)

  8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
  9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall aeat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.
 1a Lev. 10:1 (1-2)
 2a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25);
     Heb. 10:19 (19-22)
  b TG Veil
  c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43);
     Ex. 40:34 (34-35);
     D&C 97:16 (15-17);
     D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13);
     Abr. 2:19 (19-20)

  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 campa;
  11 And the Israelitish woman's son ablasphemed 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:)
  12 And they put him ain ward, that the bmind of the LORD might be shewed them.
 10a this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp Now as to the matter and the result, one might consider the parallel event in the Book of Mormon where in Alma chapter 1 Nehor also so 'blasphemed' God in unbelief and did 'strive' against an elderly Gideon, and did slay him in the course of the contention. Perhaps this is more to the point of what occured here, for immediately following this law of blasphemy come the law of killing another man.
  13 And the LORD spake 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 acurseth his God shall bear his sin.
  16 And he that ablasphemeth 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.
  17 ¶ And he that akilleth any man shall surely be put to bdeath.
  18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; abeast for beast.
  19 And if a man cause a ablemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
  20 Breach for breach, aeye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
  21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall arestore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.
  22 Ye shall have one manner of alaw, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.
  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.