Lev 24:17 | KingComments | STEP | After having seen in the sanctuary what the people are before God, this event shows in picture what the external condition of the whole people is. Through her connection with an Egyptian man, an Israelite woman has given birth to a blaspheming son. The woman married this Egyptian during the time that she was still in slavery with the people in Egypt. Her husband and son belong to the “mixed multitude” who went up from Egypt with the Israelites ( ). But the son proves that his heart has remained connected with Egypt. There is no respect whatsoever for the LORD. He even defies Him by blaspheming “the Name” in a struggle with an Israelite. The ‘Name’ refers to the whole of God’s being, not a particular presentation of God as shown separately in each Name. The man does not only speak evil of it, but ‘curses’ the Name. He accuses that name of evil things against his better judgment. This is a picture of the spiritual state of the people of Israel, of which Jerusalem is the model par excellence. What is true for Israel, is what is said of Jerusalem: “The great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified” ( ). Israel’s greatest sin is the blaspheming of the Lord Jesus. They killed Him. That is the picture that emerges in . That is why the people have been put to death, which means that God has rejected them. It is now “Lo-ammi”, which means “not My people” ( ). The woman is from the tribe of Dan. This tribe has an unfavorable sound and meaning among the tribes of Israel ( ; ). It is noteworthy that this case of blasphemy is connected to this tribe. As for the case itself, it is not clear what should happen to the son. Therefore he is put in custody until there is a statement of the LORD about the punishment to be applied. This is one of the four cases where Moses has to wait for a Divine answer in a situation where it is not clear how to act ( ). The LORD determines that the man must be stoned. But first, all who have heard the blaspheme must put their hands on his head. The putting on of hands means the identification with the object on which the hands are put on. In this case, they put the guilt of the crime they witnessed on the head of the offender. They thus relieve themselves. This blasphemer of the Name is the first to be subjected to the death penalty under the law of Moses. Later this law is abused by ungodly judges to condemn the Lord Jesus to death ( ). Stephen will be the first martyr for the Name of the Lord Jesus by abuse of this law by the same criminal judges ( ). The provisions for retaliation for injury or manslaughter already apply to Israel at that time ( ). The case of the son of the Egyptian is the reason to declare these rules of retaliation also applicable to the stranger ( ). The “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” principle indicates that the penalty should be in line with the crime, not higher and not lower. It is a righteous punishment. The two sections in this chapter are not in chronological order. In the history of the people it will be that first Israel will be rejected because of their sin and then the night will come for the people, the night in which the high priest keeps the light on. It is the grace of God that He has reversed that order. He knows the stubbornness of His people, but he acts according to his own purpose. This purpose will be carried out because of the service of the Lord Jesus now in the sanctuary.

‏ Leviticus 24:17

Blasphemy and the Punishment for It

After having seen in the sanctuary what the people are before God, this event shows in picture what the external condition of the whole people is. Through her connection with an Egyptian man, an Israelite woman has given birth to a blaspheming son. The woman married this Egyptian during the time that she was still in slavery with the people in Egypt.

Her husband and son belong to the “mixed multitude” who went up from Egypt with the Israelites (Exo 12:38). But the son proves that his heart has remained connected with Egypt. There is no respect whatsoever for the LORD. He even defies Him by blaspheming “the Name” in a struggle with an Israelite.

The ‘Name’ refers to the whole of God’s being, not a particular presentation of God as shown separately in each Name. The man does not only speak evil of it, but ‘curses’ the Name. He accuses that name of evil things against his better judgment.

This is a picture of the spiritual state of the people of Israel, of which Jerusalem is the model par excellence. What is true for Israel, is what is said of Jerusalem: “The great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified” (Rev 11:8).

Israel’s greatest sin is the blaspheming of the Lord Jesus. They killed Him. That is the picture that emerges in Lev 24:17. That is why the people have been put to death, which means that God has rejected them. It is now “Lo-ammi”, which means “not My people” (Hos 1:9). The woman is from the tribe of Dan. This tribe has an unfavorable sound and meaning among the tribes of Israel (Gen 49:16-17; Jdg 17:1-13 ; Jdg 18:1-31). It is noteworthy that this case of blasphemy is connected to this tribe.

As for the case itself, it is not clear what should happen to the son. Therefore he is put in custody until there is a statement of the LORD about the punishment to be applied. This is one of the four cases where Moses has to wait for a Divine answer in a situation where it is not clear how to act (Num 9:6-14 ; Num 15:32-36 ; Num 27:1-11).

The LORD determines that the man must be stoned. But first, all who have heard the blaspheme must put their hands on his head. The putting on of hands means the identification with the object on which the hands are put on. In this case, they put the guilt of the crime they witnessed on the head of the offender. They thus relieve themselves.

This blasphemer of the Name is the first to be subjected to the death penalty under the law of Moses. Later this law is abused by ungodly judges to condemn the Lord Jesus to death (Mt 26:65b-66). Stephen will be the first martyr for the Name of the Lord Jesus by abuse of this law by the same criminal judges (Acts 6:11).

The provisions for retaliation for injury or manslaughter already apply to Israel at that time (Exo 21:12-36). The case of the son of the Egyptian is the reason to declare these rules of retaliation also applicable to the stranger (Lev 24:22). The “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” principle indicates that the penalty should be in line with the crime, not higher and not lower. It is a righteous punishment.

The two sections in this chapter are not in chronological order. In the history of the people it will be that first Israel will be rejected because of their sin and then the night will come for the people, the night in which the high priest keeps the light on. It is the grace of God that He has reversed that order. He knows the stubbornness of His people, but he acts according to his own purpose. This purpose will be carried out because of the service of the Lord Jesus now in the sanctuary.