Lev. 24: Oh, Bread; Stone Him!

Well, I did not know that the oil from pressed olives was flammable. Apparently it is. The Israelites were commanded to bring this oil to Moses so that Aaron could keep the lamps burning continually through the night. Why? Who came to the Tent of Meeting at night? What was the significance of keeping these lamps lit? So if anyone came, they could see, or be seen? Aaron was working the third shift every night to keep these lamps lit. Had to be a lonely job. Were sacrifices being brought in the middle of the night?

Also, every sabbath, there were to be twelve loaves of bread set out on the table before the LORD. This must be the bread of the Presence spoken of in Exodus 35 in the context of the materials for the temple. They were to be made from the two-tenths of an ephah brought as offerings all the time. This is food for the priests.

Then, we have an abrupt change of pace.

Some dude with an Israelite mom (Shelomith the Danite) and an Egyptian dad got in a fight and blasphemed the Name with a curse (Ex. 22:28). The Name, referring to God. Presumably. Not only was blaspheming God an issue here, but what about when God told people not to marry outside of their nation? Anyway, everyone who heard this curse was to put their hands on the head of the blasphemer. Probably to purify themselves of the curse, in the way they put their hands on the head of the scapegoat. The assembly was to stone hime, as the blasphemer was held responsible.

Restitution is a part of justice in this passage. Here we find the famous "Eye for an eye, Tooth for a tooth" passage (Lev. 24:20). It is Biblical! This in essence means that if anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him.

I wonder if there was any joy in this stoning. Whenever I envision stoning, I picture a bunch of zealots reveling in the chance to do another person in. He probably had close friends and family in the assembly. What a horrible undertaking to have to do this to someone. What does it take to prepare oneself emotionally and spiritually to take a life? And was this assembly a group of leaders, or was it just some Israelite citizens? I'll have to ponder that passage a little more.