The Skeptics Annotated Bible (116 page)

4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.

5 And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will.

6 It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if ought remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire.

7 And
if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable
; it shall not be accepted.

8 Therefore
every one that eateth it
shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul
shall be cut off from among his people.

(19.7-8)
“If it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable … every one that eateth it … shall be cut off from among his people.”
Don’t eat sacrifices on the third day or God will cut you off from among your people.

9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.

(19.10-18) Some good stuff for a change. (And some contradictions.)

10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt
leave them for the poor and stranger
: I am the LORD your God.

(19.10)
“Leave them for the poor and stranger.”
Leave some grapes on the vine for travelers and the poor. Now that is a nice idea.

11
Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.

(19.11)
“Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.”
Don’t steal or lie.
91 Is it wrong to steal?
86 Is it OK to lie?

12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.

13
Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired
shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

(19.13)
“Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired.”

14
Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind
, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.

(19.14)
“Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind.”
Be kind to the deaf and blind.

15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but
in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.

(19.15)
“In righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.”
126 To judge or not to judge.

16
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people
: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

(19.16)
“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.”
Don’t gossip.

17
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart:
thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

(19.17)
“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart.”
127 Should we love or hate others?

18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself
: I am the LORD.

(19.18)
“Love thy neighbor as thyself.”
This is by far the best verse in Leviticus, and one of the best in the entire Bible.
127 Should we love or hate others?
128 How should nonbelievers be treated?

19 Ye shall keep my statutes.
Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.

(19.19)
“Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.”
Don’t let cows interbreed, sow with mixed seed, or mix linen and wool in the same garment.

20 And
whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband
, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her;
she shall be scourged
; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.