Lev 26:1 | TNotes | STEP | 26:1 Israel was to make no idols or carved images to worship (see Exod 20:4-6 ). Creating an image to worship would blaspheme God by confining him to time and space and by manufacturing a lifeless image to take the place of the living God. • Early in Israel’s history, stones were set on end as memorials to various events (Gen 28:18 ; Exod 24:4 ). However, pillars and sculptured stones were associated with pagan worship (2 Kgs 3:2 ; 10:26 , 27 ), especially when the carved image of a god rested on them. Some sculpture was clearly allowed (e.g., 1 Kgs 7:25 ); the focus here is on objects that might be worshiped and thereby become idolatrous.

a26:1►

bExod 20:4-6►

cGen 28:18►

dExod 24:4►

e2 Kgs 3:2►

f10:26►

g27►

h1 Kgs 7:25►

‏ Leviticus 26:1

26:1 ^a Israel was to make no idols or carved images to worship (see Exod 20:4-6 ^b). Creating an image to worship would blaspheme God by confining him to time and space and by manufacturing a lifeless image to take the place of the living God.

• Early in Israel’s history, stones were set on end as memorials to various events (Gen 28:18 ^c; Exod 24:4 ^d). However, pillars and sculptured stones were associated with pagan worship (2 Kgs 3:2 ^e; 10:26 ^f, 27 ^g), especially when the carved image of a god rested on them. Some sculpture was clearly allowed (e.g., 1 Kgs 7:25 ^h); the focus here is on objects that might be worshiped and thereby become idolatrous.