Leviticus 26
This chapter outlines the benefits of living by God's law - Peace, plenty, rest, amazing military prowess, nobody would attack Israel and the people would be safe in their houses.
The downside of ignoring and not living by gods law seem to go on a lot longer - terror, disease, invasion first, then drought, then dangerous wild animals so bad that roads will be deserted.
At this stage God promises to become hostile! and the sword will pass thorugh, when refuge is taken in cities plague will break out, supplies will be so low that hunger will be a continuous problem.
Things will be so bad that cannibalism will become common .
Eventually they will be dragged from the land and ruled by foreign powers.
However God promises that his hostility will not be permanent and he promises to remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Leviticus ends with a chapter about buying things back from God.
If you promise God something God will allow buy back or equivalent value.- for example if you promise somebody to God the promise can be fulfilled with money, the value is set in this case by age and gender.
There is some discretion here - if somebody cannot afford the full price, the priest may set a lower price the person can afford.
If I may point out another one of the questions to Dr Laura What is a good price if I sell my daughter into slavery? - The Bible does give a price for redeeming a female - 10 Shekels if she is under 20 but over 5. Younger - 3 Shekels, older 30 shekels. Though I will repeat that slavery is illegal and abhorrent, but the guy did ask!
Sacrificial animals cannot be exchanged - when promised they become holy, but if it is unclean it can be bought back.
Priests also get to act as estate agents if you promise your house.
Anything that God has a prior claim to can be bought back (such as the first of the crops and animals)
Also any body who has been sentenced under law - their sentence stands.
Phew - that is the end of Leviticus - there is a lot of stuff here, quite a lot of it seems draconian these days,
Tune in next for Numbers
This chapter outlines the benefits of living by God's law - Peace, plenty, rest, amazing military prowess, nobody would attack Israel and the people would be safe in their houses.
The downside of ignoring and not living by gods law seem to go on a lot longer - terror, disease, invasion first, then drought, then dangerous wild animals so bad that roads will be deserted.
At this stage God promises to become hostile! and the sword will pass thorugh, when refuge is taken in cities plague will break out, supplies will be so low that hunger will be a continuous problem.
Things will be so bad that cannibalism will become common .
Eventually they will be dragged from the land and ruled by foreign powers.
However God promises that his hostility will not be permanent and he promises to remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Leviticus ends with a chapter about buying things back from God.
If you promise God something God will allow buy back or equivalent value.- for example if you promise somebody to God the promise can be fulfilled with money, the value is set in this case by age and gender.
There is some discretion here - if somebody cannot afford the full price, the priest may set a lower price the person can afford.
If I may point out another one of the questions to Dr Laura What is a good price if I sell my daughter into slavery? - The Bible does give a price for redeeming a female - 10 Shekels if she is under 20 but over 5. Younger - 3 Shekels, older 30 shekels. Though I will repeat that slavery is illegal and abhorrent, but the guy did ask!
Sacrificial animals cannot be exchanged - when promised they become holy, but if it is unclean it can be bought back.
Priests also get to act as estate agents if you promise your house.
Anything that God has a prior claim to can be bought back (such as the first of the crops and animals)
Also any body who has been sentenced under law - their sentence stands.
Phew - that is the end of Leviticus - there is a lot of stuff here, quite a lot of it seems draconian these days,
Tune in next for Numbers
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