Leviticus 26:14-33

Leviticus 26:14-33

[14] But if ye will not hearken  unto me, and will not do  all these commandments;  [15] And if ye shall despise  my statutes,  or if your soul  abhor  my judgments,  so that ye will not do  all my commandments,  but that ye break  my covenant:  [16] I also will do  this unto you; I will even appoint  over you terror,  consumption,  and the burning ague,  that shall consume  the eyes,  and cause sorrow  of heart:  and ye shall sow  your seed  in vain,  for your enemies  shall eat  it. [17] And I will set  my face  against you, and ye shall be slain  before  your enemies:  they that hate  you shall reign  over you; and ye shall flee  when none pursueth  you. [18] And if ye will not yet  for all this hearken  unto me, then I will punish  you seven times  more  for your sins.  [19] And I will break  the pride  of your power;  and I will make  your heaven  as iron,  and your earth  as brass:  [20] And your strength  shall be spent  in vain:  for your land  shall not yield  her increase,  neither shall the trees  of the land  yield  their fruits.  [21] contrary  unto me, and will  not hearken  seven times  more  plagues  upon you according to your sins.  [22] I will also send  wild  beasts  among you, which shall rob you of your children,  and destroy  your cattle,  and make you few in number;  and your high ways  shall be desolate.  [23] And if ye will not be reformed  by me by these things, but will walk  contrary  unto me; [24] Then will I also walk  contrary  unto you, and will punish  you yet  seven times  for your sins.  [25] And I will bring  a sword  upon you, that shall avenge  the quarrel  of my covenant:  and when ye are gathered together  within  your cities,  I will send  the pestilence  among  you; and ye shall be delivered  into the hand  of the enemy.  [26] And when I have broken  the staff  of your bread,  ten  women  shall bake  your bread  in one  oven,  you your bread  again  by weight:  and ye shall eat,  and not be satisfied.  [27] And if ye will not for all this  hearken  unto me, but walk  contrary  unto me; [28] Then I will walk  contrary  unto you also in fury;  and I, even  I, will chastise  you seven times  for your sins.  [29] And ye shall eat  the flesh  of your sons,  and the flesh  of your daughters  shall ye eat.  [30] And I will destroy  your high places,  and cut down  your images,  and cast  your carcases  of your idols,  and my soul  shall abhor  [31] And I will make  your cities  waste,  your sanctuaries  unto desolation,  and I will not smell  the savour  of your sweet odours.  [32] the land  into desolation:  and your enemies  which dwell  therein shall be astonished  at it. [33] And I will scatter  you among the heathen,  and will draw out  a sword  after  you: and your land  shall be desolate,  and your cities  waste. 

What does Leviticus 26:14-33 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

These punishments would come on the Israelites not for individual errors and sins but for a settled contempt for the whole covenant. They manifested such contempt in presumptuous and obstinate rebellion against the law ( Leviticus 26:14-15).
"In the curses the converse of the blessings is spelled out. It was usual in legal texts for the curses to be much fuller and longer than the blessings section (cf. Deuteronomy 28 ...). But this disproportion has a positive didactic purpose as well. It is very easy to take the blessings of rain, peace, and even God"s presence for granted. It is salutary to be reminded in detail of what life is like when his providential gifts are removed." [1]
Moses revealed five levels or waves of punishment. If Israel did not turn back to God after the first penalties, God would bring the second on them, and so on.