1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up [any] image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I [am] the LORD your God.
2 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I [am] the LORD.
3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
4 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.
5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make [you] afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.
10 And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.
11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
13 I [am] the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.
14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, [but] that ye break my covenant:
16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.
18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.
19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:
20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.
21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your [high] ways shall be desolate.
23 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;
24 Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.
25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of [my] covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
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.
27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;
28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.
30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.
32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.
33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.
34 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.
35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.
36 And upon them that are left [alive] of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.
37 And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
38 And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.
39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.
40 If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;
41 And [that] I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.
44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I [am] the LORD their God.
45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I [am] the LORD.
46 These [are] the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.
Overview of Leviticus Chapter 26
Leviticus Chapter 26 serves as a pivotal section within the Book of Leviticus, detailing the blessings for obedience and the consequences of disobedience for the Israelites. It emphasizes the covenant relationship between God and His people, highlighting the importance of following His commandments to receive His favor and protection.
Structure of the Chapter
The chapter can be divided into two main sections:
- Blessings for Obedience (Verses 1-13)
- Consequences of Disobedience (Verses 14-46)
Blessings for Obedience (Verses 1-13)
This section outlines the rewards that the Israelites will receive if they adhere to God’s commandments:
- Prohibition of Idolatry: The chapter begins by instructing the Israelites to avoid idols and graven images, emphasizing the importance of worshiping God alone.
- Promise of Abundant Blessings: God promises to bless the land, ensuring fruitful harvests and peace within the community.
- Divine Protection: The Israelites will experience safety from their enemies, with assurance that they will be victorious in battles.
- Presence of God: God expresses His desire to dwell among His people, establishing a close relationship with them.
- Fulfillment of Covenant: The blessings serve as a reminder of the covenant made with the patriarchs, reinforcing the continuity of God’s promises.
Consequences of Disobedience (Verses 14-46)
This section starkly contrasts the blessings by detailing the dire consequences that will follow if the Israelites turn away from God:
- Rejection of God’s Commandments: The chapter begins with a warning that disobedience will lead to severe repercussions.
- Progressive Punishments: The consequences are outlined in a series of escalating punishments, including:
- Fear and panic among the people.
- Famine and scarcity of food.
- Defeat by enemies and loss of security.
- Desolation of the land.
- Call to Repentance: Despite the severity of the punishments, God offers a path to restoration through repentance and acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
- Remnant of Hope: The chapter concludes with the assurance that even after punishment, God will remember His covenant and restore His people if they return to Him.
Theological Implications
Leviticus 26 highlights several key theological themes:
- Covenant Relationship: The chapter reinforces the concept of a covenant, where blessings are contingent upon obedience.
- Divine Justice and Mercy: It illustrates the balance between God’s justice in punishing sin and His mercy in offering forgiveness and restoration.
- Call to Holiness: The chapter emphasizes the need for the Israelites to live in a manner that reflects their unique relationship with God.
Conclusion
Leviticus Chapter 26 serves as a powerful reminder of the blessings associated with faithfulness and the serious consequences of turning away from God. It encapsulates the essence of the covenant relationship, urging the Israelites to remain obedient to God’s commandments to enjoy His favor and protection.
