by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom.
After the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and the following Simchat Torah, Israel made its retaliatory response to the October 1 ballistic missile attack by Iran. The attack involved 100 warplanes and hit several Shiite militia areas in Syria and Iraq as well, aside from different military sites in Iran. The world hopes that this will not cause more escalation of the existing conflict.
Meanwhile, hostage exchange and ceasefire talks have quietly resumed since the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Let us continue to pray for the release of all the remaining 101 Israeli hostages (alive or dead) and for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Let us continue to stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9).
After the past discussion of the Sabbath Year and Jubilee Year and the redemption of property and individuals in Leviticus 25, it would seem that all the holiness legislation has been specified for the Hebrews. The next chapter, Leviticus 26, now has the LORD reiterating promises for obedience and covenant loyalty and threats against disobedience and disloyalty. Later on, Deuteronomy would again show these aspects of what scholars say are the usual features of ancient Near East treaty stipulations of a suzerain to his vassals. Generally, they are called “blessings and curses” although they are not called this way in Leviticus 26. They are more like rewards to be expected for compliance versus the negative results of noncompliance. But first of all, Leviticus 26:1-2 of the LORD’s reminds the people of the general holiness legislation given to them (Hebrew verses read right to left, top down):
לֹֽא־תַעֲשׂ֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֱלִילִ֗ם וּפֶ֤סֶל וּמַצֵּבָה֙ לֹֽא־תָקִ֣ימוּ לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶ֣בֶן מַשְׂכִּ֗ית לֹ֤א תִתְּנוּ֙ בְּאַרְצְכֶ֔ם לְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֖ת עָלֶ֑יהָ כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֣י תִּשְׁמֹ֔רוּ וּמִקְדָּשִׁ֖י תִּירָ֑אוּ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה׃
The English Standard Version (ESV) translation follows:
1“You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God.
2You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
In the next verses, the LORD then reiterates the conditional promises of blessings when his people follow and carefully obey the given statutes and commandments. The covenant promises referencing the productivity of the land are immediately found in Leviticus 26:4-6 (Hebrew verses read right to left, top down):
וְנָתַתִּ֥י גִשְׁמֵיכֶ֖ם בְּעִתָּ֑ם וְנָתְנָ֤ה הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ יְבוּלָ֔הּ וְעֵ֥ץ הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה יִתֵּ֥ן פִּרְיֹֽו׃
וְהִשִּׂ֨יג לָכֶ֥ם דַּ֙יִשׁ֙ אֶת־בָּצִ֔יר וּבָצִ֖יר יַשִּׂ֣יג אֶת־זָ֑רַע וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם לַחְמְכֶם֙ לָשֹׂ֔בַע וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֥ם לָבֶ֖טַח בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם׃
וְנָתַתִּ֤י שָׁלֹום֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ וּשְׁכַבְתֶּ֖ם וְאֵ֣ין מַחֲרִ֑יד וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֞י חַיָּ֤ה רָעָה֙ מִן־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְחֶ֖רֶב לֹא־תַעֲבֹ֥ר בְּאַרְצְכֶֽם׃
The English Standard Version (ESV) translations are given below:
4then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
5Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely.
6 I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.
As previously seen, the Hebrew word בֶֽטַח “betach” meaning security, may also mean safety. Note that שָׁלֹום֙ (“shalom”) is promised to the land. Aside from “peace,” the semantic range of the Hebrew word includes completeness, welfare, soundness, prosperity, wholeness; among others, depending on context. The immediate context of these Leviticus verses can certainly accommodate these meanings; with “peace” being the translation used by all the English Bibles at https://biblehub.com/leviticus/26-6.htm for verse 6. Indeed, it is a holistic peace that only God can supernaturally provide to his people.
Verses 7 and 8 promise victory over enemies, even if they are numerically superior to God’s people. Then in Leviticus 26:9-10, the LORD promises to favor his people, make them fruitful, multiply them, confirm the covenant with them and greatly enhance their land’s productivity.
The next few verses round out the promises of the LORD to his people for their covenantal compliance and loyalty. Leviticus 26:11-13 are very gracious words. Verse 11 has God promising to set up his מִשְׁכָּן “mishkan” (tabernacle or dwelling place, residence; not a temporary booth) among them and be with them. In verse 12, the LORD promises to walk among his people, be their God and in turn, they shall be his people. The Hebrew for this clause is translated as “and you shall be my people.” Finally, in Leviticus 26:13 the LORD reminds the people of their redemption from slavery with these words (from the JPS Tanakh Translation):
“I the LORD am your God who brought you out from the land of the Egyptians to be their slaves no more, who broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”
We will continue next time.
God bless us all.