Leviticus 26:3-13

Leviticus 26:3-13

[3] in my statutes,  and keep  my commandments,  and do  [4] Then I will give  you rain  in due season,  and the land  shall yield  her increase,  and the trees  of the field  shall yield  their fruit.  [5] And your threshing  shall reach  unto the vintage,  shall reach  unto the sowing time:  and ye shall eat  your bread  to the full,  and dwell  in your land  safely.  [6] And I will give  peace  in the land,  and ye shall lie down,  and none shall make you afraid:  and I will rid  evil  beasts  out of the land,  neither shall the sword  go  through your land.  [7] And ye shall chase  your enemies,  and they shall fall  before  you by the sword.  [8] And five  of you shall chase  an hundred,  of you shall put ten thousand  to flight:  and your enemies  shall fall  before  you by the sword.  [9] For I will have respect  unto you, and make you fruitful,  and multiply  you, and establish  my covenant  [10] And ye shall eat  old store,  and bring forth  the old  because  of the new.  [11] And I will set  my tabernacle  among  you: and my soul  shall not abhor  [12] And I will walk  among  you, and will be  your God,  and ye shall be  my people.  [13] I am the LORD  your God,  which brought you forth  out of the land  of Egypt,  that ye should not be their bondmen;  and I have broken  the bands  of your yoke,  upright. 

What does Leviticus 26:3-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The benefits of faithful obedience to the law of God would be fruitful harvests ( Leviticus 26:4-5; Leviticus 26:10), and security and peace ( Leviticus 26:6), including victory in battle ( Leviticus 26:7-8) and numerical growth as a nation ( Leviticus 26:9; cf. Genesis 17:7). The obedient would also experience increasing enjoyment of God"s presence and fellowship ( Leviticus 26:11-12).
The Hebrew word translated "dwelling" ( Leviticus 26:11, miskan) is the source of the name "Shekinah." Later Jews described God"s presence in the most holy place as the Shekinah (cf. Exodus 40:34-38). [1]
These blessings were both material ( Leviticus 26:3-10) and spiritual ( Leviticus 26:11-13). Israel enjoyed them in her years in the land to the extent that she remained faithful to the terms of the Mosaic Covenant. They are reminiscent of God"s original blessings in the Garden of Eden (cf. Genesis 1:26; Genesis 1:28-29; Genesis 2:8; Genesis 3:8).
"But how many of the people in the nation had to live obediently, or how much obedience was expected before the blessings were poured out? The only information that we have to go on is the Old Testament itself. For example, in the case of the city of Sodom ( Genesis 18:24-33), God was willing to spare the cities of the area for ten righteous men. We do not know the population involved, but this number suggests that as long as a remnant had an influence for righteousness, judgment would not fall." [2]
"God promises to reward his people with both spiritual and physical blessing if they are faithful to the requirements of the covenant." [3]