1 And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,
2 Command the children of Israel, that they bring vnto thee pure oyle Oliue, beaten, for the light, to cause the lampes to burne continually.
3 Without the Uaile of the Testimonie, in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, shal Aaron order it from the euening vnto the morning, before the Lord continually: It shall be a Statute for euer in your generations.
4 He shall order the lampes vpon the pure Candlesticke before the Lord continually.
5 ¶ And thou shalt take fine flowre, and bake twelue cakes thereof: two tenth deales shall be in one cake.
6 And thou shalt set them in two rowes, sixe on a row vpon the pure Table, before the Lord.
7 And thou shalt put pure frankincense vpon ech row, that it may bee on the bread for a memorial, euen an offering made by fire vnto the Lord.
8 Euery Sabbath he shall set it in order before the Lord continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an euerlasting couenant.
9 And it shall be Aarons and his sonnes, and they shall eate it in the holy place: for it is most holy vnto him, of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, by a perpetuall statute.
10 ¶ And the sonne of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this sonne of the Israelitish woman, and a man of Israel stroue together in the campe.
11 And the Israelitish womans sonne blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed, and they brought him vnto Moses: and his mothers name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.
12 And they put him in ward, that the minde of the Lord might bee shewed them.
13 And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,
14 Bring forth him that hath cursed, without the Campe, and let all that heard him, lay their hands vpon his head, and let all the Congregation stone him.
15 And thou shalt speake vnto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoeuer curseth his God, shall beare his sinne.
16 And hee that blasphemeth the Name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the Congregation shall certainely stone him: Aswell the stranger, as he that is borne in the land, when he blasphemeth the Name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
17 ¶ And he that killeth any man, shall surely be put to death.
18 And he that killeth a beast, shall make it good; beast for beast.
19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shal it be done to him:
20 Breach, for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him againe.
21 And hee that killeth a beast, hee shall restore it: and hee that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.
22 Ye shall haue one maner of law, aswell for the stranger, as for one of your owne countrey: for I am the Lord your God.
23 ¶ And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring foorth him that had cursed, out of the Campe, and stone him with stones: and the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses.
Oil for the lamps, The shew-bread. (1-9) The law of blasphemy, blasphemer is stoned. (10-23)1-9 The loaves of bread typify Christ as the Bread of life, and the food of the souls of his people. He is the Light of his church, the Light of the world; in and through his word this light shines. By this light we discern the food prepared for our souls; and we should daily, but especially from sabbath to sabbath, feed thereon in our hearts with thanksgiving. And as the loaves were left in the sanctuary, so should we abide with God till he dismiss us.
10-23 This offender was the son of an Egyptian father, and an Israelitish mother. The notice of his parents shows the common ill effect of mixed marriages. A standing law for the stoning of blasphemers was made upon this occasion. Great stress is laid upon this law. It extends to the strangers among them, as well as to those born in the land. Strangers, as well as native Israelites, should be entitled to the benefit of the law, so as not to suffer wrong; and should be liable to the penalty of this law, in case they did wrong. If those who profane the name of God escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgments. What enmity against God must be in the heart of man, when blasphemies against God proceed out of his mouth. If he that despised Moses' law, died without mercy, of what punishment will they be worthy, who despise and abuse the gospel of the Son of God! Let us watch against anger, do no evil, avoid all connexions with wicked people, and reverence that holy name which sinners blaspheme.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.