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Category: Bechukotai

The Gospel in Leviticus

Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:3-27:34 | Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 16:19-17:14

In the Haftarah for Bechukotai, the prophet Jeremiah draws on imagery from several other biblical sources. For example, Psalm one and “the tree planted by streams of water” lies behind the imagery of Jeremiah 16:7-8. Other allusions to the Psalms and Proverbs can be detected. It is the covenant curses and blessings of Leviticus 26, however, which seem to exert the greatest influence over the passage.

The book of Leviticus ends with a section of blessings for obedience to the covenant and curses for disobedience. Therein the Lord warns His people that if they turn away from Him and do not repent, “I will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols; for My soul shall abhor you.

I will lay waste your cities as well, and will make your sanctuaries desolate; and I will not smell your soothing aromas. And I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it shall be appalled over it. You, however, I will scatter among the nations and will draw out a sword after you, as your land becomes desolate and your cities become waste.” (Leviticus 26:30-33).

The prophet Jeremiah in the Haftarah reading echoes this passage. He exclaims, “O mountain of Mine in the countryside, I will give over your wealth and all your treasures for booty, Your high places for sin throughout your borders. And you will, even of yourself, let go of your inheritance That I gave you; And I will make you serve your enemies in the land which you do not know.…” (Jeremiah 17:2-4). The synonymy between the warning in the Torah and the prophecy of Jeremiah made this passage a suitable candidate for the Haftarah reading.

But neither Jeremiah nor Moses are just prophets of doom. Along with the bitter message of exile and destruction comes a message of hope and restoration. The curses of the covenant are not irrevocable. In ...

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© 2009 First Fruits of Zion. All rights reserved. We encourage you to share this material with your friends for further personal study. However, This material may not be republished, in print, electronically, or any other form without our prior permission.

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