Chapter 1

1-9 - God gives detailed instructions for performing ritualistic animal sacrifices. such bloody rituals must be important to God, judging from the number of times that he repeats their instructions. Indeed the entire first nine chapters of Leviticus can be summarized as follows: Get an animal, kill it, sprinkle the blood around, cut the dead animal into pieces, and burn it for a "sweet savor unto the Lord."

* God had the Israelites offer Him an animal sacrifice for their sins.  This was the way of atonement.  Furthermore, God is orderly and wanted them to do it a specific way.  Incidentally, there was foreshadowing and symbolism in this covenant.

1:3, 10 - Only unblemished males are to be killed and offered to God. Females don't even make good burnt offerings.

* In these verses, God doesn't mention anything about sacrificing a female.  The male animal that dies for their sins foreshadows Jesus Christ's sacrifice.

Chapter 3

3:16 - When you are making your animal sacrifices, be sure to remember that "all the fat is the Lord's." God loves blood and guts, but most especially fat. And he doesn't like to share!

* God simply indicated that the fat wasn't to be eaten.

Chapter 4

4:2, 13, 22, 27 - "If a soul shall sin through ignorance...." But how can someone "sin through ignorance?" Don't your have to at least know that an act is wrong before it can be sinful?

* The phrase "sin through ignorance" can also be translated "sin unintentionally."

4:20, 26, 31, 35 - In Leviticus we are repeatedly told that sins are forgiven by offering bloody sacrifices to God. But in Hebrews (10:4, 11) this is explicitly denied.

* This entire chapter of Hebrews indicates how the animal sacrifices only temporarily removed sins.  The author is indicating how Jesus Christ permanently takes away our sins.  Hebrews 10:3 and 4 read, "But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins."

4:22-28 - When a king sins only the best sacrifice will do -- he must offer a male goat to God. But if a commoner sins, a female will do.

* This is correct.  This is what God commanded.  Incidentally, verse 22 indicates "when a ruler has sinned" and not simply a "king."

Chapter 5

5:2-3 - If you touch any unclean thing (like a dead cow or a bug) or the "uncleanness of man" (?), then you'll be both unclean and guilty.

* God is giving His people some guidelines for cleanliness.

5:8-9 - Wringing off the heads of pigeons for God.

* This was part of a sin sacrifice that pleased God.

5:10, 16, 17 - These verses say that God will forgive our sins if we offer him bloody sacrifices. But this is denied in Heb.10:4, 11.

* This entire chapter of Hebrews indicates how the animal sacrifices only temporarily removed sins.  The author is indicating how Jesus Christ permanently takes away our sins.  Hebrews 10:3 and 4 read, "But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins."

5:15, 17 - According to these verses it's possible to sin without even knowing that you've done something wrong.

* The phrase "sin through ignorance" can also be translated "sin unintentionally."

Chapter 6

6:7 - Does God forgive sins if he is offered the burnt bodies of dead animals? This verse says that he does: Hebrews (10:4, 11) says that he doesn't.

* This entire chapter of Hebrews indicates how the animal sacrifices only temporarily removed sins.  The author is indicating how Jesus Christ permanently takes away our sins.  Hebrews 10:3 and 4 read, "But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins."

6:25-27 - Whatever touches the dead body of a burnt offering becomes holy.

* These verses don't indicate that a person becomes holy by touching the burnt offering.  They indicate that the one who touches the burnt offering should already be holy.  One translation reads, "Everyone who touches its flesh must be holy."

Chapter 7

7:1-6 - The holy law of trespass offering: Find an animal; kill it; sprinkle the blood around; offer God the fat, rump, kidneys, and caul; burn and eat it in the holy place, for "it is most holy."

* God gives instructions for the trespass offering.

7:18-27 - Be careful what you eat during these animal sacrifices. Don't eat fat or blood -- these are for God. (And he doesn't like to share!)

* God simply indicated that the fat and blood weren't to be eaten.

7:30-36 - God gives instructions for "wave offerings" and "heave offerings." He says these offerings are to be made perpetually "by a statute for ever." Have you made your heave offering today?

* This instructions were for the ancient Israelites and not for us.  God instructed them about the wave and heave offerings.

* God indicated that Aaron and his descendants were responsible to give these offerings.  This Hebrew word for "forever" is also translated "the vanishing point is concealed."  God put an end to these sacrifices after Jesus came, died, and rose from the dead.

Chapter 8

8:7-8 - Moses dresses up his brother Aaron with "the curious girdle of the ephod."

* The phrase "curious girdle" can also be translated "intricate belt."

8:14-32 - Moses does it all for God. First he kills an animal; wipes the blood on Aaron's ears, thumbs, and big toes. Then he sprinkles blood round about and waves the guts before the Lord. Finally he burns the whole mess for "a sweet savour before the Lord."

* This is correct.  Putting the sacrifice's blood on these body parts was surely symbolic.  It indicated consecration to God.  The ears were to hear Him.  The hands were to do His work.  The feet were to walk in His ways.

Chapter 9

9:8-21 - More killing, sprinkling of blood, waiving animal parts, and burning carcasses "before the Lord."

* These verse refer to several, different sacrifices that are explained in detail.

Chapter 10

10:1-3 - Two of the sons of Aaron "offered strange fire before the Lord" and "there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.... And Aaron held his peace." So Aaron just watched as his sons were burnt to death by God.

* Nadab and Abihu were disobeying God.  They were trying to offer Him something different.  God had already given them specific instructions on the offerings.  God's fire would consume them.  However, they offered their own fire and were judged for it.  Although Aaron was surely sad, He knew and understood that they were guilty and Divine justice was the result.

10:6 - If priests misbehave by uncovering their heads or tearing their clothes, then God will kill them and "all the people."

* They were forbidden to perform these, symbolic acts of mourning.

10:15 - God commands the Israelites to keep doing these wave and heave offerings "by a statute forever."

* This Hebrew word for "forever" is also translated "the vanishing point is concealed."  God put an end to these sacrifices after Jesus came, died, and rose from the dead.

Chapter 11

11:2-4 - Which kind of animals may we eat?

* New Testament believers can eat any meat they wish.  The scriptures put no limits on them.  Paul only mentions putting limits on the things you eat when you are making another brother or sister stumble and sin.

* In the Old Testament, there were two, general commands regarding eating meat.  First, in Genesis 1:29, God told Adam and Eve to eat vegetables.  They weren't supposed to kill and eat meat.

* After the flood, God told Noah and his descendants to eat meat.  However, He did give His people specific instructions on which animals to eat and which animals not to eat.  These are recorded in Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

* Isaiah 7:14 and 15 simply indicate the Messiah would eat butter and honey.  No other foods, abstinences or commands are mentioned.

* Daniel 1:8 indicates that Daniel decided to abstain from the pagan king's food because it was too fatty and unhealthy for his diet.

11:5-6 - The bible says that hares and coneys are unclean because they "chew the cud" but do not part the hoof. But hares and coneys are not ruminants and they do not "chew the cud."

* In the 21st century, we consider "chewing the cud" regurgitating partially digested materials and chewing on it (like cows do).  This is called "rumination."  However, this isn't necessarily the same meaning and definition of this Hebrew word ("gerah") that the ancient Israelites had.

* Rabbits practice "refection."  They chew on their dung which consists of partially digested food and partially undigested food.  Therefore, there is a similarity even between our current understanding of "chewing the cud" and an ancient understanding of it.  They both chew undigested food.  At any rate, the Israelites didn't use different words for rumination and refection, so "cud" had to suffice.

11:10-12 - Clams, oysters, crabs and lobsters are abominations to God.

* The Israelites were forbidden to eat oysters, clams, crabs, and lobsters.

11:13, 19 - Bats are birds to the biblical God.

* As far as eating laws were concerned, the bat was considered an unclean bird.

11:21-23 - Which flying creeping things may we eat?

* Leviticus 11 corresponds with Deuteronomy 14. In both chapters, we see God giving the Israelites instructions regarding their diet. However, in Deuteronomy we have an omission regarding the provision to eat a couple of insects like grasshoppers. Since they are stated in Leviticus and since we know the Israelites followed this provision, we understand that these passages harmonize.

11:23 - Be sure to watch out for those "other flying creeping things which have four feet." (I wish God wouldn't get so technical!) I guess he must mean four-legged insects. You'd think that since God made the insects, and so many of them (at least several million species), that he would know how many legs they have!

* This is indicating that every creeping thing that flies was unclean for them.  This would indicate some insects.

* Leviticus 11:21 indicates that jumping insects, locusts, crickets and grasshoppers could be eaten.  These are not swarming insects.

Chapter 12

12:1-8 - Women are dirty and sinful after childbirth, so God prescribes rituals for their purification. If a boy is born, the mother is unclean for 7 days and must be purified for 33 days; but if a girl is born, the mother is unclean for 14 days and be purified for 66 days. This is because, in the eyes of God, girls are twice as dirty as boys.

* God gave the ancient Israelites instructions regarding childbirth.  He never indicated that girls were twice as dirty as boys.

* Since these laws are thousands of years old and directed to the ancient Israelites, we do not know or understand all of the reasons for them.  However, there was surely some spiritual significance to God's laws.

Chapter 14

14:2-32 - God's treatment for leprosy: Get two birds. Kill one. Dip the live bird in the blood of the dead one. Sprinkle the blood on the leper seven times, and then let the blood-soaked bird fly off. Next find a lamb and kill it. Wipe some of its blood on the patient's right ear, thumb, and big toe. Sprinkle seven times with oil and wipe some of the oil on his right ear, thumb and big toe. Repeat. Finally kill a couple doves and offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

* God gave specific commands about leprosy.  He didn't want His people to be destroyed by this fatal and contagious disease.

Chapter 15

15:2-15 - Long, tiresome, and disgusting instructions regarding the treatment of men who have a "running issue" out of their "flesh." Very enlightening. "And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean ..."

* God gives instructions regarding contagious diseases.

15:16-18, 32 - This passage tells you what to do if you get your "seed of copulation" on yourself, your clothes, or your partner. Thank God this is in the Bible.

* God cared about every aspect of His people's lives (and He still cares, today).

15:19-30, 33 - God lays down the law on menstruating women. Such women are to God both filthy and sinful, and anyone who comes near them is contaminated by them.

* God tells His people that menstruating women are unclean for one week.  He also gives other details and laws such as their method of purification.  Menstruating women were deemed ceremonially unclean.

15:24 - A man who has sex with a menstruating woman "shall be unclean seven days." But in Lev.20:18 God says that such a man and his menstruating partner "shall be cut off from among their people." Which of these nasty laws are we supposed to enforce?

* Leviticus 15:24 refers to accidentally having sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman.  Leviticus 20:18 refers to deliberately doing it.

Chapter 16

16:6-28 - God explains the use of scapegoats. It goes like this: Get two goats. Kill one. Wipe, smear, and sprinkle the blood around seven times. Then take the other goat, give it the sins of all the people, and send it off into the wilderness.

* God gives instructions for Aaron to follow before entering the Holy Place.

Chapter 17

17:1-5 - Who may offer sacrifices to God?

* The Levites were commanded to offer the sacrifices to God.  They were set apart for this reason.

* In 1 Samuel 7:9, Samuel offers the sacrifices because the Ark and the Tabernacle were not present.  Incidentally, it is possible that Samuel ordered Eleazar the Priest to perform the sacrifice and the scriptures simply indicate Samuel did it because it was by his decree.

* 1 Chronicles 6:16-30 indicates that Samuel is a Levite and descended from Elkanah.  In 1 Samuel 1, Elkanah is called an Ephraimite because his family lived in a Levitical city in the boundaries of Ephraim.

17:11 - According to this verse, God ordained animal sacrifice to atone for human sin. But Hebrews (10:4, 11) says "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."

* This entire chapter of Hebrews indicates how the animal sacrifices only temporarily removed sins.  The author is indicating how Jesus Christ permanently takes away our sins.  Hebrews 10:3 and 4 read, "But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins."

Chapter 18

18:6-18, 20 - Don't "uncover the nakedness" of any of your relatives or neighbors. Just ask them to keep their clothes on while you are around.

* The phrase "uncover their nakedness" is also translated "have sexual relations."  God is forbidding His people to have sexual relations with a list of different types of relatives.

18:19 - "Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is apart for her uncleanness," Don't even look at a menstruating woman.

* This verse never indicates a person was forbidden to look at a menstruating woman.  However, it does indicate that a man shouldn't have sex with one.

18:21,23 - Don't let your "seed" pass through the fire or "lie with any beast." You probably weren't planning on doing these things, but now you know just in case you get the urge sometime.

* These were some more, specific laws that helped God's people be successful.

18:22 - Homosexual acts are an abomination to God.

* This is absolutely true.

18:25 - If you do any of these things, God will cause the land to vomit you out.

* God is indicating they would be thrown out (vomited out) of the land.

18:29, 19:8 - "Whosoever shall commit any of these abominations ... shall be cut off from among their people." I'm not sure what being "cut off" means exactly, but I bet it isn't any fun.

* God expected His people to follow His rules.

Chapter 19

19:11 - This verse says not to steal or lie. Elsewhere, however, the bible encourages stealing and lying.

* God told His people not to steal from others.  The scriptures in Exodus that show the Israelites plundering the Egyptians reveal that they simply retrieved their things.  They had been enslaved and oppressed, so after God judged the Egyptians, they retrieved their things.  This isn't stealing because it was Divine retribution.

19:13 - In this verse God says: "Thou shalt not defraud your neighbor, neither rob him." but in Exodus (Ex.3:22, 12:35-36) God encourages the Israelites to rob their neighbors.

* God told His people not to steal from others.  The scriptures in Exodus that show the Israelites plundering the Egyptians reveal that they simply retrieved their things.  They had been enslaved and oppressed, so after God judged the Egyptians, they retrieved their things.  This isn't stealing because it was Divine retribution.

19:13 - And what about slaves? Must they also be paid their wages promptly, as this verse says?

* This verse doesn't mention anything about slaves.

19:14 - In this verse we are given the kind command: "Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind." But later, God's hero, David, says that "whoever kills the lame and the blind "that are hated of David's soul" shall be made "chief and captain." (2 Sam.5:8)

* 2 Samuel 5:8 reads, "Now David said on that day, 'Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), he shall be chief and captain.'  Therefore they say, 'The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.'"  David isn't referring to people that were literally blind and lame.  He was referring to the Jebusite army.

19:15 - Is it okay to judge others?

* Yes, we are told to make wise judgments. 

* In Matthew 7:1 and Luke 6:37, this word for "judge" is better translated "condemn."  We are told to judge all things, but we are not to condemn people.  God is the only one who can condemn.

19:18 - "Love thy neighbor as thyself." This is by far the best verse in Leviticus, and one of the best in the entire bible. It seems out of place here, however, since in the next chapter God orders us to kill wizards (20:6), children who are disrespectful toward their parents (20:9), adulterers (20:10), and homosexuals (20:13). And throughout the Old Testament, God encourages the Israelites to kill their neighbors every chance they get. (See Numbers 31 and 1 Samuel 15 for just two of many examples.)

* God told His people to love their neighbors.  However, some sins still deserved capital punishment.  Love doesn't mean injustice.

* God gave the Israelites some land.  However, there were some pagans living on it.  God chose to judge these unrepentant and wicked sinners with death.  The Creator holds the right to judge His creation.

19:18 - And if we are to love out neighbor as ourselves, then is it okay to own slaves?

* This verse doesn't mention anything about slaves. Nonetheless, the Bible never condones owning slaves. It only gives laws to curtail it and eventually end it. See 1 Corinthians 13 for God's will regarding the ethical treatment of other humans.

19:19 - "Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with a mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee." I'm glad God told me about this, I was just about to do some of these awful things.

* Animals that plow are much happier and more efficient when they are yoked with the same kind of animal.  Yoking a weak animal with a strong animal wasn't right.

* Linen represented man's deeds because it was a man-made material.  Wool represented God's grace because He made it grow.  Therefore, mixing the two would be mixing man's deeds and God's grace and confusing the picture of redemption and salvation.  God wanted to keep these two, fabrics separate, so the Israelites would understand that His grace transcended their works.

19:20-22 - Rape of a slave woman is to be punished by scourging the victim (the slave woman) -- but the rapist's sins "shall be forgiven him."

* This Hebrew word for "scourged" can also be translated "examined."  Her and the man will be examined in court.  The man will have to make a trespass offering.  Incidentally, rape is not mentioned or implied.  The phrase "lieth carnally" refers to consensual sex.

19:23 - God tells the Israelites that the fruit from fruit trees is "uncircumcised" for three years after the trees are planted.

* This is correct.  They are not to be eaten for three years.

19:26 - Does the Bible condemn astrology?

* Astrology involves manipulating God by predicting things without His supervision or blessing. We don't see this condoned anywhere in the Bible.

* In Leviticus 19:26, there is a warning about enchantment.

19:26-28 - Don't eat anything with blood, observe times, round the corners of your head, mar the corners of your beard, make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, or print any marks on you.

* The phrase "observe times" is referring to witchcraft and divination.  God forbade the Israelites to participate in those things.

* In Genesis 1:14, this Hebrew word for "signs" is also translated "mark" or "signal."  God is simply indicating that a calendar system could be developed from the stars.  God surely never gave an indication that divination or witchcraft were approved.

* In Judges 5:20, this word for "stars" is referring to angels.

* Matthew 2:1 and 2 record an awesome event.  The "Magi" that Daniel had installed many years ago, in a pagan nation, had passed on this tradition of watching and waiting for this sign of the Messiah's coming.  This sign is very different than fortune telling or witchcraft, though.

* Luke 21:25 indicates that in the last days, there will be strange events in the skies.  These things will be indicators of Christ's return.  However, they are not for fortune telling or witchcraft.

19:31 - Stay away from wizards and people with familiar spirits.

* This is wise advice.

19:33-34 - Be kind to strangers. But is it okay to enslave them?

* This verse doesn't mention anything about slaves. Nonetheless, the Bible never condones owning slaves. It only gives laws to curtail it and eventually end it. See 1 Corinthians 13 for God's will regarding the ethical treatment of other humans.

Chapter 20

20:2-5 - Kill anyone who "gives his seed" to Molech. If you refuse, God will cut you and your family off.

* Molech was a false god and the Creator warned His people to stay away from him and the pagan practices of idol and deity worship.

20:5 - And don't "go a whoring" after Molech or "commit adultery with him." (Don't you love it when God talks dirty?)

* Since God deserves our full attention and devotion, chasing after other gods is akin to whoredom and adultery.

20:6 - Stay away from people with familiar spirits and don't "go a whoring" after them either.

* This is excellent advice, too.

20:9 - "For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death." Couldn't we try spanking first?

* God decided that a child who curses his father of mother deserved capital punishment.  He obviously valued obedience and had intolerance for sin.

20:10 - Both parties in adultery shall be executed.

* This was another sin that God decided to punish with capital punishment.

20:11 - "And the man that lieth with his father's wife ... both of them shall be put to death." Which? The man and his father? The father and his wife? Or the man and his father's wife? Oh heck, just kill all three.

* The man his father's wife were to be put to death.

20:12 - If a man "lies" with his daughter-in-law, then both must be killed.

* This is another act of wickedness that God decided to punish with capital punishment.

20:13 - According to the Bible, all homosexuals must be executed.

* According to this verse, if an ancient Israelite was a male homosexual who had sexual relations with another man, they were supposed to be put to death.

20:14 - If you "lie" with your wife and your mother-in-law (now that sounds fun!), then all three of you must be burned to death.

* This is another act of wickedness that God decided to punish with capital punishment.

20:15-16 - If a man or woman "lie with a beast" both the person and the poor animal are to be killed.

* This is another act of wickedness that God decided to punish with capital punishment.

20:17, 19-21 - Don't have sex with your sister, uncle's wife, or your brother's wife -- and tell them to wear clothes whenever you're around.

* Sex between these people was prohibited.

20:18 - If a man has sex with a menstruating woman, they both "shall be cut off from among their people." But Lev.15:24 says that such a man "shall be unclean seven days." I wonder which is the correct punishment.

* Leviticus 15:24 refers to accidentally having sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman.  Leviticus 20:18 refers to deliberately doing it.

* God had spiritual and practical reasons for His commands.  In this case, He wanted His people to stay away from blood.  The ancient Israelites didn't have advanced medical knowledge, advanced medicine, immunization shots, etc.  Therefore, it was simply easier to avoid blood.

* God's people were not to eat blood.  They were also to respect animal sacrifices that were required by God.  Therefore, we also see some more reasons why blood was to be avoided.

* God wanted His people to multiply and fill the Earth.  It has been well documented that women do not get pregnant while having intercourse during menstruation.  Therefore, this command was also, likely a way to get the Israelites to populate the Earth.

20:23 - Does God love everyone?

* God loves all people. However, we also see that He can hate sinners. This doesn't mean that they are outside His grace. It simply means that He hates sin and those that reject Him and choose to hurt themselves and others by sinning can conjure His wrath.

20:27 - People with "familiar spirits" (witches, fortune tellers, etc.) are to be stoned to death.

* This is another act of wickedness that God decided to punish with capital punishment.

Chapter 21

21:5 - Priests must not "make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard."

* Ancient, pagan priests (like Egyptians, Babylonians, etc.) shaved their heads (and some shaved their entire bodies).  God told His priests that they were not to emulate them.

21:7 - Priests can't marry "whores", "profane", or divorced women. Why? Because "he is holy unto his God" and they would defile him.

* God had high and specific standards for His priests.

21:9 - A priest's daughter who "plays the whore" is to be burned to death.

* This is another act of wickedness that God decided to punish with capital punishment.

21:11 - The high priest shall not "go in unto any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother."

* God's priests were not to approach dead bodies; not even his mother's or father's.

21:13-14 - A priest can only marry a virgin. No harlots, widows, or divorced women will do. (God really likes virgins.)

* God had high and specific standards for His priests.

21:15 - "Neither shall he [the priest] profane his seed among his people." (His seed is holy.)

* The word "seed" can also be translated "offspring."  The priest was to avoid profaning his offspring by marrying a non-virgin.

21:16 - Slavery is approved by God, and those who steal slaves must be killed.

* This passage never mentions slavery. When the phrase "steal a man" is used, it is referring to kidnapping an Israelite.

21:16-23 - Handicapped people cannot approach the altar of God. They would "profane" it.

* God had high and specific standards for His priests.

21:18 - Anyone with a "flat nose, or any thing superfluous" must stay away from the altar of God.

* God had high and specific standards for His priests.

21:20 - A man with damaged testicles must not "come nigh to offer the bread of his God."

* God had high and specific standards for His priests.

Chapter 22

22:3-5 - A man who is unclean, or is a leper, or has a "running issue", or "whose seed goeth from him", or who touches any dead or "creeping thing" ... "shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean."

* God wanted His people to choose purity and stay pure.

22:11 - "But if the priest buy any soul with his money ..." It must be OK to buy slaves; even priests do it.

* God didn't promote slavery.  However, He did give rules regarding people who were bought by priests.  They were allowed to eat the holy bread.

Chapter 23

23:12-14, 18 - God gives us more instructions on killing and burning animals. I guess the first nine chapters of Leviticus wasn't enough. He says we must do this because he really likes the smell -- it is "a sweet savour unto the Lord."

* These instructions were for the ancient Israelites and not for us.

23:14, 21, 31, 41 - God tells Moses that his law shall be "a statute forever." But Rom.7:6 says that God's law is "dead."

* This Hebrew word that is translated "forever" literally means "the vanishing point is concealed."  The vanishing point was after Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead.

23:29-30 - Don't do any work on the day of atonement or God will destroy you.

* God took the Day of Atonement very seriously and had specific, non-negotiable rules for it.

Chapter 24

24:14-23 - Anyone who blasphemes or curses shall be stoned to death by the entire community.

* These are more acts of wickedness that God decided to punish with capital punishment.

24:20 - An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. If we apply this rule then we'll all wind up toothless and blind.

* God installed the "like for like" law of retribution.  Incidentally, this has been mimicked by many other nations and cultures.

Chapter 25

25:10 - "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." Even to the slaves?

* This verse doesn't mention anything about slaves. Nonetheless, the Bible never condones owning slaves. It only gives laws to curtail it and eventually end it. See 1 Corinthians 13 for God's will regarding the ethical treatment of other humans.

25:17 - Should we fear God?

* Yes, we should fear God.

* 2 Timothy 2:17 states that God hasn't given us the spirit to fear other humans.

* 1 John 4:18 simply indicates that there is "no fear in love . . . he who fears has not been made perfect in love."  This is also referring to fearing other humans.

25:39 - God's instructions for buying your brother for a slave.

* Leviticus 25:39 and 40 read, "And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave.  As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee."

25:44-46 - God tells the Israelites to make slaves out of their neighbors. The "heathens" and "strangers" are to be their possessions forever.

* These verses use the words "bondmen" and "bondwomen."  They are indicating how these pagans should be treated.

Chapter 26

26:7-8 - God tells the Israelites to "chase" their enemies and make them "fall before you by the sword." He figures five of the Israelites will be able to "chase" a hundred of their enemies, and a hundred will be able to "put ten thousand to flight."

* God is telling them that they will be going to war, soon.  He also indicates that there will be times when they are severely outnumbered, but will win, anyway.

26:9 - God says he "will have respect unto you." But this contradicts many Bible verses claiming that God has respect for no one.

* God is not a "respecter of persons."  This means that He isn't impressed by earthly titles, wealth, social status, etc.  He does respect people, though.

26:16-39 - God describes torments that he has planned for those who displease him. The usual stuff: plagues, burning fevers that will consume the eyes, etc. but he reserves the worst for the little children. He says "ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it", "I will send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children", and "ye shall eat the flesh of your sons .. daughters."

* These verses simply explain the blessings for obedience and the punishments for disobedience.

26:41 - "If then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled ..." How can a heart be "uncircumcised"?

* The phrase "uncircumcised heart" can also be translated "evil heart."

26:46 - Where did Moses receive the Ten Commandments? On Mount Sinai.

* This verse indicates that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.

Chapter 27

27:2, 10 - Does God approve of oaths? According to these verses he does.

* According to the scriptures, God allows people to take oaths.

* Matthew 5:34 and James 5:12 simply indicate that we should be trustworthy people.  If a person is trustworthy, then they will have no reason to take an oath.  Their acknowledgement will be sufficient.

27:3-7 - God estimates the value of human life in dollars and cents. Of course, to God, females are worth considerably less than males -- but neither are worth much.

* These verses are referring to vows and giving money to God.  They aren't talking about the monetary worth of human life.

27:28-29 - All "devoted" things (both man and beast) "shall surely be put to death."

* This verse is indicating that nobody sentenced to death by the Israelite courts may pay a fine and escape it.

27:34 - Where did Moses receive the Ten Commandments? On Mount Sinai.

* This verse indicates that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai.