Leviticus 24:1-4
If the first two verses sound familiar, they are almost verbatim with Exodus 27:20-21; this was first commanded during the construction of the temple. The oil lamps were sacred and they burned only the finest olive oil in them. The gold lampstand, known as the menorah has six branches, each with a lamp and a center lamp. This is stipulated in Exodus 25:31-40. It is thought to be symbolic of the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. The menorah was placed outside the veil to the left if you were facing it. The Lord's presence among the Israelites in the Exodus was a pillar of fire at night. He is a light in the darkness; it displays His presence and protection. The priests were to keep the lamp burning from evening to morning. This was a perpetual service and duty of keeping temple worship.
In one of Jesus 'I Am' statements he said:
I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (NKJV (Jn 8:12) (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
Leviticus 24:5-9
The bread of the presence was also commanded first back in Exodus 25:23-30. These loaves represent the tribes of Israel. The bread was sacred and preserved for the priests; it was eaten by the them every sabbath, and then new loaves were put in their place before the Lord. Frankincense was used for the sacrificial aroma instead of burning the flour on the altar. See 1 Samuel 21:4-6 to see when King David was starving and ate the bread.
The NKJV calls them 'cakes' but they were really about 8-10" round flat breads. The measurement of two tenths of an ephah can be pictured as a milk gallon 2/3 full of grain. This sounds like a lot more than a 10" cake. The bread is set on the Table of Showbread. In two stacks of six. Frankincense was bitter so this probably wasn't put on the bread. It was burned as a memorial offering, instead of the bread. The bread is symbolic of Yahweh's provision for His people. It was perpetual, forever.
I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. [NKJV (Jn 6:35). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
Give us this day our daily bread. [NKJV (Mt 6:11). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
Leviticus 24:10-16
Inserted in this section detailing the care required to maintain temple worship, we find a historical narrative inserted to detail the point. Verse 16 is the main point; blasphemy is punishable by death. When this young man blasphemed, he was taken into custody, probably to determine the law applied to him since his father was an Egyptian. Moses brought the Lord's word to the community; the law applied to all in the community. Nothing makes the point like real life situation – this serves as a kind of parable in the future.
There was to be no misuse of God's name. This is headlined in the 3rd commandment:
7"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. [NKJV (Ex 20:7). (1982). Thomas Nelson.]
God's reputation is all wrapped up in His name. His name is Holy, sacred, to be honored. There could be no misuse of His name; or an unauthorized curse in God's name. One example of misuse was those who worshiped Molech associated Yahweh's name with the sacrifice of their sons in the fire (Lev 18:21).
The blasphemer was to be removed from the camp. All those who were offended were to take part in the stoning. This method of capital punishment was used for those who sinned against the community. They were to lay their hands on the head prior to stoning. The accused would know his accusers, this was their testimony against him. Then they stoned him to death.
Then the principle is laid down; whoever curses God shall bear his sin. The seriousness of the offense is clearly conveyed. The law applied to all in the community.
The Assyrian texts condemn blasphemers to having their tongues cut out and to being skinned alive.
[Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed., Le 24:10–16). InterVarsity Press.]
Consider Matthew 12:31.
Leviticus 24:17-23
On the heals of this story executing a young man, we are presented with the law showing the importance and sanctity of life. The death penalty had its place, but life is precious in the eyes of God. When men commit murder, they would suffer death also. The comes under the principal of what we call 'an eye for an eye' or lex talionis; the legal concept of retribution. Simply put, the punishment should fit the crime. The law was the same for all in the community. You can't have laws that apply to some more than others. It seems we've not yet learned this. In our progressive mentality, some are to be allowed space outside the law than others (think of the mobs burning cities and looting stores called 'expressing themselves' by the media.)
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