Chapter XXVI
Ver. I, 2. Of Idoi>atry. 1. Y'e shall make you no Idols—Idolatry had been previously forbidden (Kxodus
Is applicable to the year of Jubilee as well as the Sal)batic year. (See allusions to this extraordinary provision in 2 Kings 19. 29 ; Isaiah 37. 30.) None but a legislator who was conscious of acting under Divine authority would have st>aked his character on so singular an enactment as that of the Sabbatic year ; and none l)ut a people wlio hail witnessed the fulfilment of the Divine jiromise would tiave been induced to suspend their agricultural prepamtions on a recurrence of a periodical .jul)ilc(?. a3-ri8. Tlie land
20. 4, 5), but the law was repeated here with refei-enco to some particular forms of it that were very prevalent among the neighbouring nations, a standing image—
t. c, upright pillar, the image of stone— i. c, an obelisk, inscribe<l with hleroglyphical and superstitious cliar.ac-
ters. The former denoting the common and smaller pillars of the Syrians or Canaanites; the latter, pointing to the large and elaborate obelisks which the Egyptians worshipped as guardian divinities, or used as stones ol adoration to stimulate religious worship. The Israelites were enjoined to beware of them. 'I. Ye sltall keep my Sabl)ntl»s, and reverence my sanctuary—Very frequently, in this book of the L.aw, the Sabl)alli and the sanctuary are mentioned as antidotes to idolatry.
glial 1 not be gold for ever—or, "be quite cut oil," as llie margin better renders it. The land was (Joil's, and, in prosecution of an important design. In; gave it to flu; people of his choice, dividing it ninongst their tril)es and families—who, however, held it of Him merely as tenants at will, and had no right or power of disposing of it to strangers. In necessitous circrumstances, individuals might effect a temporary sale, liut they possessed the
3-13. A liLESSiN(} TO THE OBi;niENT. 3. If ye walk ill my statutes—In that covenant into which (Jod graciously enteredwith the people of Israel, He promised to bestow upon them a variety of blessings, so long as they continued obedient to Htm as their .\lmiglity Ruler; and in their suhse(|Uont history that people found every promise amply fultille<l, in the enjoyment of plenty, (leace, a populous country, and victory over a 1 eiu niies. 'I. I will give you rain In due season, niul the lain! shall yield her Increase—Haih seldom fell in Judea except at two seasons—the former rain at the end of autumn, the seedtime; and the latter rain in spring, before the beginning of harvest. (Jeremiah 5. 21.) Ct. Yojir tJireshlng sliall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the Howiiig-tlme, iVc—The barley harvest in Judea was about the middle of April ; the wheat harvest about six weeks after, or In the beginning of .lune. .\fter the harvest comes the vintage, and fruit gathering toward? the latter end of July. Moses led tli(> Hel)rews to believe, that, providiMl they were laitliful to Ood, there would be no Idle time between the harvest and vintage, so gn-at would bo the Increase. (See Amos 9. IS.) This promiso would be very animating to a peov>le who had come from a country where, for three months, tluy wore pent up
riglit of redeeming it, at <i>iij time, on payment of an ailequate compensation to the present holder; and by the enactments of tlie.Iubilee they recovered it free—so that the land was rendered inalienable. (See an exception to this law, ch. 27. 20.) atl-.H. If a man sell a divelllngIiouse in a walled eily, then he may redeem it » Itliiiik a wliole year after it is 8old—All sales of liouses were
Bul).|ect to the same condition. Ihit there was a diderenco between the houses of villages, which, being conuec'ted
witli agriculture, were treated an parts of the land; and houses possessed by trading i)eopl(! or foiclguers in walled towns, whicli could only be redeemed witliin tlie year after tli(! sale; if not then redeemed, tliesedid not, revert to the former owner at the Jubilee. 3'i-:il. NotwitliStandlng, tlic cities of tlic Levltes, iSit:—The Levites, having no possessions but their tt)wns and their houses, the law conlerred on them the sanu? jjrlvileges that were granted to thfi lands of the other Israelites. A certain portion of the ands surrounding the Levltlcal cities was appropriated to them for the pasturage of their catt U> and
flocks. (Numljers 35. 4, 5.) This was a pernument enilowmont for the support of the ministry, and could not bo alienated foi anv time The Lii.'Vlles, however, were ut y2
A Curae to the Disobedient. LEVITICUS XXVII. Concerning Vows.
without being able to walk abroad, from the fields being under water. 10. Ye sliall eat old stoz-c—Their stock of old corn would be still unexhausted and large when the next harvest brouglit a new supply. 13. I have l»rolten
their land of its appointed season of rest. The number of those Sabbatic years seems to b.ave been seventy, as determined by the duration of the captivity. This early prediction is very remarkal)le, considering that the usual policy of the Assyrian conquerors was to send colonies to cultivate and inhabit their newly-acquired provinces. 38. The lanfl of your enemies sliall eat you up, <Sc.—On the removal of the ten tribes into captivity, they never returded, and all traces of them were lost. 40-45. If they shall confess their iniquity, &c.—This passage holds out the gracious promise of Divine forgiveness and favour on their repentance, and their happy restoration to their land. In memory of the covenant made with their fathers (Romans 2). 46. These are the statutes and judgment* and laws—It has been thought by some that the last chapter was originally placed after the twenty-fifth [Adam Clarke], while others consider that the next chapter was added as an appendix, in consequence of many people being Influenced by the promises and threats of the preceding one, to resolve that they would dedicate themselves and their possessions to the service of God. [Calmet.]
tlie bands of yowiyoUe, and made you go iiprlglxt—
metaphorical expression to denote their emancipation from Egj-ptian slavery.
14-39. A Curse to the Disobedient. But If ye will not Iiearkrit unto me, &c.—In proportion to the great and manifold privileges bestowed upon the Israelites, would be the extent of their national criminality and the severity of their national punishmei^s if they disobeyed. 10. I will even appoint over yon terror the falling sickness. [Patrick.] consumption and tlic burning ague—Some consider these as symptoms of the same disease; con.sumption followed by the shivering, burning, and sweating fits that are the usual concomitants of that malady. According to the Septuagint, ague is "the jaundice," which disorders the eyes and produces great depression of spirits. Others, however, consider the word as referring to a scorching wind ;—no certain explanation can be given. 18. If ye ivlll not yet for all tUis hearlcen unto me, then I tT'lll punish yon seven times more i. e., with far more severe and protracted calamities. 19. Will mnlce your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass—No figures could' have been employed to convey a better idea of severe and long-continued famine. 33. I will send wild beasts among you—This was one of the four judgments threatf>ned (Ezekiel 14. 21 ; see also 2 Kings