Leviticus 26

Leviticus 26:1

Ye refers to any Israelites sold to heathen masters, who hence were in danger of being tempted to idolatry, while in this servitude.

idols = non-entities. Heb, ’elilim = clay or terra cotta “gods”. Compare 1 Corinthians 8:4. Occurs only once more in Pentateuch, Leviticus 19:4.

graven image. Hebrew. pesel, an idol of wood or stone.

standing image. Hebrew. Mazzebah, a sacred pillar. In Genitive always “pillar”. Compare Leviticus 26:30.

image of stone. Hebrew. maskith, a sculptured or painted stone. Compare Leviticus 26:30.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Leviticus 26:3

If. Then. Note the four occurrences of “If” and “Then” in this chapter.

Leviticus 26:4

Then. See note on “If”, Leviticus 26:3 above.

rain. Hebrew rains: i.e. the early and latter rains. Deuteronomy 11:14; Deuteronomy 28:12. Jeremiah 14:22. Deuteronomy 32:2. Psalms 72:6.

increase = produce, sustenance. Heb yebul. See notes on Leviticus 25:7; Leviticus 25:36.

Leviticus 26:6

peace, or prosperity.

rid evil beasts. Compare Ezekiel 34:25, Ezekiel 34:28.

Leviticus 26:7

enemies = foes. First occurrence in Leviticus.

Leviticus 26:8

five. See App-10, this promise enlarged in Deuteronomy 32:30. Joshua 23:10. Compare 2 Samuel 23:8, 2 Samuel 23:18. 1 Chronicles 11:11, 1 Chronicles 11:18. Isaiah 30:17.

Leviticus 26:9

have respect = turn unto you, as rendered in Ezekiel 46:9; the only other place where this form occurs.

Leviticus 26:11

tabernacle = habitation. Hebrew. mishkan. App-40.

My soul = Myself, or I. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

Leviticus 26:12

walk. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia, App-6; or, literally, as in Eden. See Genesis 3:8. App-4. Quoted 2 Corinthians 6:16.

Leviticus 26:13

broken broken in pieces. Hebrew. shabar, as in verses: Leviticus 26:19, Leviticus 26:26; not parar, as in verses: Leviticus 26:15, Leviticus 26:24.

upright. The yoke makes the wearer stoop. The above structure shows God’s fivefold threatening for disobedience. We have the fivefold execution in Isaiah 5:25; Isaiah 9:12, Isaiah 9:17, Isaiah 9:21; Isaiah 10:4; and His fivefold lamentation in Amos 4:6-12.

Leviticus 26:15

your soul = you (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

break = violate. Hebrew. parar, break asunder, as in Leviticus 26:46; not shabar, as in verses: Leviticus 26:13, Leviticus 26:19, Leviticus 26:26.

Leviticus 26:16

burning ague. Probably = fever.

consume the eyes = causing the sight to fail.

heart = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

Leviticus 26:17

face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

reign = rule.

Leviticus 26:18

sins. Hebrew, plural of ’avon. App-44.

Leviticus 26:19

of. Genitive of cause, the power being the cause of the pride = your great pride. Compare Ezekiel 30:6. So Ezekiel 24:21, where the sense is lost in Authorized Version by the rendering “the excellency of your strength”.

Leviticus 26:20

of the land. Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint, read “of the field”.

Leviticus 26:21

contrary. First occurrence, and only in this chapter (seven times).

Leviticus 26:22

wild beasts. These abounded in Palestine. (Deuteronomy 32:24. 2 Kings 17:25. Isaiah 13:21, Isaiah 13:22. Ezekiel 14:10, &c.)

Leviticus 26:25

And I = I also.

gathered together = withdrawn or escaped to (compare Jeremiah 21:6-9. Ezekiel 5:12; Ezekiel 7:15).

Leviticus 26:26

broken the staff of your bread. Figure of speech Metalepsis (App-6), bread being put for the support it gives, and staff which it is; and the breaking of the staff put for the cutting off the supply. Compare Isaiah 3:1. Ezekiel 4:16; Ezekiel 5:16; Ezekiel 14:13. Psalms 105:16.

ten. Supply Ellipsis (App-6) by supplying the word “then” = then ten: i.e. one oven shall be sufficient for ten families. Compare 2 Kings 6:28, 2 Kings 6:29.

Leviticus 26:30

high places: used for idolatrous worship (Numbers 22:41; Numbers 33:52. Deuteronomy 12:2. Joshua 13:17 (margin). Thus showing the helplessness of the gods worshipped.

images. Hebrew. hammanim, sun-idols. Compare Leviticus 26:1. 2 Chronicles 34:4. This was prophetic.

carcases. Figure of speech Catachresis. App-6. Another prophecy, See 2 Kings 23:20. 2 Chronicles 34:5.

idols = logs of wood. Hebrew. gallulim, trunks, blocks, used in derision for idols. Also derived from galal = dung, or detestable thing. First occurrence; frequently in Ezekiel.

My soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6. This is the converse of verse Leviticus 26:11.

Leviticus 26:31

sanctuaries, or holy places. Some codices, with one printed edition, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Syriac, read the singular “sanctuary”.

smell. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

odours. Compare Isaiah 11:3 (margin).

Leviticus 26:32

I. Emphatic = I myself.

Leviticus 26:33

heathen = nations.

Leviticus 26:34

enjoy. Figure of speech Prosopopatheia. App-6. Compare Leviticus 18:25.

Leviticus 26:35

rest. Figure of speech Prosopopatheia. App-6. Compare Jeremiah 34:17. 2 Chronicles 36:21.

Leviticus 26:39

iniquity = perversity. Hebrew “avah, App-44.

Leviticus 26:40

If they shall confess. This is the one abiding condition for national blessing and restoration.

trespass . . . trespassed. Hebrew. maal. App-44.

Leviticus 26:41

walked. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

Leviticus 26:42

Jacob. This is the only place where the order of the three Patriarchs is inverted.

Leviticus 26:43

their soul = they. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

Leviticus 26:44

when, &c. Compare Deuteronomy 4:31. 2 Kings 13:23. Romans 11:1, Romans 11:2, Romans 11:28, Romans 11:29.

I am the LORD. Compare Psalms 144:15; Psalms 33:12.

Leviticus 26:46

children. Hebrew sons.

in mount Sinai: thus concluding with the words with which this section began in Leviticus 25:1.