Today started with discussing the Lamps. The Lord commanded Moses to have all the people bring pure oil from beaten olives for the lamps so a light may be kept burning. Aaron was in charge of keeping it burning every night without interruption. It did not burn throughout the day.
The bread for the Tabernacle was next. They were to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it. They were set in two piles, six in a pile on the golden table before the Lord. Pure frankincense was put on each pile, to go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord. Aaron was in charge of arranging this every Sabbath day, from the people of Israel as a covenant forever. Aaron and his sons were to eat it in a holy place.
Punishment for blasphemy was explained, saying, “Whoever curses his God shall bear a sin. Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him.”
An eye for an eye or tooth for a tooth had the principle being that the penalty should fit the crime, not exceed it. An actual eye or tooth was not to be required, nor is there evidence that such a penalty was ever exacted.
-Whoever takes a human life shall be put to death.
-Whoever takes an animals life shall make it good, life for life.
-If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done shall be done to him; fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.
The Sabbath Year
The Sabbath year was used to let the land rest from harvest. For six years they could sow the field, prune the vineyards, and gather the fruit. But, in the seventh year, there shall be a Sabbath with no sowing or pruning to let the land rest. They could not plant crops or reap what grew of itself in the seventh year. The Sabbath of the land shall provide food for all the people and animals.
The Year of Jubilee
Every fifty years is the Year of Jubilee where people’s debts are cancelled, slaves and indentured servants are liberated, and lands returned to family owners. It was used to help the poor and stabilize society.
Trumpets were blown at the close of the Day of Atonement to inaugurate the Year of Jubilee.
Lands were returned to the original owners, meaning the sale of the land was but a lease until the Year of Jubilee. Or, they had the right to purchase back the land.
It also spoke of kindness for poor brothers and redeeming a poor man. All of this was similar to that of the previous, meaning it was there to help the poor.
You were required to support your brother if he became poor and let him live with you. You could not take any interest from him or profit in anyway, when lending him money. The main idea was not to forbid all interest, but to help the poor. The law did not forbid lending so much as it encouraged giving.
If your brother became poor and sold himself to you, you could not make him a slave, but he would be a hired servant; and would serve you until the Year of Jubilee.
If your brother was poor and sold himself to someone else, you were able to redeem him from them; or if he became rich he could redeem himself. The price would be calculated based on when he sold himself and the Year of Jubilee.
The Lord stated that, “For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”
[…] Day 40, Leviticus 24-25 […]