1.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
spake. See note on Leviticus 5:14 .
2.
Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.
Command. Only twice, here and in Leviticus 6:9 , is the word "command" used for communicating.
children. Hebrew sons.
the light = the light-bearer or lamp-stand. Compare Exodus 27:20 , Exodus 27:21 .
3.
Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations.
of. Genitive of relation. = the vail relating to the testimony or ark of the covenant, i.e. the vail that is before it.
tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. 'ohel. App-40 .
Aaron. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch and Targum of Onkelos, add "and his sons", as in Leviticus 24:9 .
statute for ever. See Leviticus 23:14 , and note on Leviticus 3:17 .
4.
He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.
candlestick = light-holder as Leviticus 24:2 above, and Genesis 1:14 , &c. The word "pure" here = purified or ceremonially cleansed: i.e. not for common uses.
5.
And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.
two. Only one required for the ordinary meal offering (Exodus 29:40 . Numbers 15:4 ; Numbers 28:9 , Numbers 28:13 , &c).
tenth deals. See App-51 .
6.
And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.
rows = piles.
row = pile.
pure = purified or ceremonially cleansed. Compare Leviticus 24:4 .
before the LORD: i.e. in the holy place. Hence called "the table of the presence" (Numbers 4:7 ), and the cakes called "the bread of the presence" (Exodus 25:30 ; Exodus 35:13 ; Exodus 39:36 ). The word "shewbread" taken from the Vulgate, and Luther, does not correctly represent the Hebrew name. The use of this word quite hides the Hebrew expression "bread of ordering" (set in order), "the sets of bread", "the table set in order", in 1 Chronicles 9:32 ; 1Ch 23:29 . 2 Chronicles 13:11 .Nehemiah 10:33 ; and the table in 2 Chronicles 29:18 . These Hebrew expressions are based on and derived from this verse.
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.
offering. Hebrew. 'ishsheh. App-43 .
8.
Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.
Every sabbath. Hebrew "on the day of the sabbath, on the day of the sabbath", Figure of speech Epizeuxis. App-6 . = on the holy sabbath day. Compare 1 Chronicles 9:32 .
9.
And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat 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.
eat it in the holy place. Eight things were thus consumed by the priests. See note on Leviticus 7:9 .
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
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;
a man of Israel. Hebrew a man (' i s h , App-14 .) an Israelite. Jewish tradition says he was a Danite.
strove together. Compare Exodus 2:13 . The Chaldee version says the semi-Egyptian strove to encamp in the tribe of Dan.
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:)
blasphemed, &c. Compare Genesis 4:24 . Hence the use of "the name" instead of "Jehovah".
the name , or supply Ellipsis ( App-6 . a) from Leviticus 24:16 . Dan, another sad blot on this tribe.
12.
And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.
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.
lay their hands upon. Done only in the case of a blasphemer.
stone him. Nine persons stoned (see App-10 ): The blasphemer, Leviticus 24:14 . The sabbath-breaker, Numbers 15:36 . Achan, Joshua 7:25 . Abimelech, Judges 9:53 . Adoram, 1 Kings 12:18 (2 Chronicles 10:18 ). Naboth, 1 Kings 21:13 . Zec 2 Chronicles 24:21 . Stephen, Acts 7:58 . Paul, Acts 14:19 (2 Corinthians 11:25 ).
15.
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
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.
bear his sin. Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Cause). App-6 "sin" ( chat'a, App-44 .) being put for its penalty.
17.
And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
any man = the soul (Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 ) of a man. Hebrew. 'adam.
18.
And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.
a beast = the soul (Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 ).
beast for beast = soul for soul (Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 ).
19.
And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
as = according as.
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.
21.
And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.
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.
manner of law = rule or regulation. Hebrew. mishpat = judgment.
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.