Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. Five of you will pursue a hundredThis phrase highlights the divine empowerment and protection promised to the Israelites if they obey God's commandments. The disproportionate ratio of five pursuing a hundred signifies supernatural strength and victory granted by God. This echoes the theme of God's people achieving victory against overwhelming odds, as seen in the story of Gideon in Judges 7, where a small army defeats a much larger force. It underscores the principle that success is not dependent on human strength but on God's favor. and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand
The escalation from five to a hundred pursuing ten thousand further emphasizes the miraculous nature of God's intervention. This reflects the covenantal promise of blessings for obedience, as outlined in Leviticus 26. The imagery of a small group overcoming a vastly larger enemy is a recurring biblical motif, symbolizing the power of faith and divine support. This can be connected to Deuteronomy 32:30, which speaks of one chasing a thousand, illustrating the same principle of divine assistance. and your enemies will fall by the sword before you
This phrase assures the Israelites of victory over their adversaries, contingent upon their faithfulness to God. The "sword" symbolizes military might and judgment, often used in the Old Testament to depict God's deliverance of His people. Historically, this promise was fulfilled during the conquest of Canaan, where the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, defeated numerous enemies. Theologically, it points to the ultimate victory over spiritual enemies through Christ, who is depicted as the divine warrior in Revelation 19:11-16, bringing final judgment and peace. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsraelitesThe primary audience of Leviticus, the Israelites are God's chosen people, receiving His laws and promises as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. 2. MosesThe leader of the Israelites and the mediator of God's laws, including the blessings and curses outlined in Leviticus 26. 3. Promised LandThe land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, where the Israelites are to live according to God's commandments. 4. EnemiesThe adversaries of Israel, representing any opposition that stands against God's people and His purposes. 5. GodThe covenant-keeping God who promises protection and victory to His obedient people. Teaching Points Divine EmpowermentGod empowers His people to achieve victories that seem impossible by human standards. Trust in God's strength rather than our own. Obedience and BlessingThe promise of victory is contingent upon obedience to God's commandments. Reflect on areas of life where obedience can lead to spiritual victories. Community StrengthThe multiplication of strength in numbers highlights the importance of unity and community among believers. Engage actively in your faith community. Spiritual WarfareThe enemies mentioned can also represent spiritual battles. Equip yourself with the armor of God to stand firm against spiritual adversaries. Faith in God's PromisesTrust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem daunting. His faithfulness is a constant source of hope and assurance. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the promise in Leviticus 26:8 encourage you in facing challenges today? 2. In what ways can you apply the principle of divine empowerment in your personal life or community? 3. How does the concept of obedience relate to experiencing God's blessings and victories? 4. What are some practical steps you can take to strengthen unity within your faith community? 5. How can the assurance of God's support in Romans 8:31 inspire you to face spiritual battles with confidence? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 32:30This verse echoes the promise of victory over enemies, emphasizing God's power in enabling His people to overcome overwhelming odds. Joshua 23:10Joshua reminds the Israelites of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, including the ability to chase numerous enemies. Psalm 91:7This psalm speaks of God's protection and deliverance, reinforcing the theme of divine assistance against adversaries. Romans 8:31In the New Testament, Paul speaks of God's support for believers, suggesting that if God is for us, no enemy can stand against us. People Egyptians, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, MosesPlaces Mount SinaiTopics Beside, Chase, Death, Enemies, Fall, Fallen, Flight, Hundred, Myriad, Pursue, Pursued, Sword, Swords, Ten, ThousandDictionary of Bible Themes Leviticus 26:8 1656 numbers, combinations Leviticus 26:3-12 6703 peace, divine OT Leviticus 26:3-13 1349 covenant, at Sinai Leviticus 26:6-8 1335 blessing
5572 sword Leviticus 26:7-8 8728 enemies, of Israel and Judah Library Emancipated Slaves
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, and made you go upright.'--LEV. xxvi. 13. The history of Israel is a parable and a prophecy as well as a history. The great central word of the New Testament has been drawn from it, viz. 'redemption,' i.e. a buying out of bondage. The Hebrew slaves in Egypt were 'delivered.' The deliverance made them a nation. God acquired them for Himself, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureLii. Trust in God.
15th Sunday after Trinity. S. Matt. vi. 31. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness." INTRODUCTION.--We read in ancient Roman history that a general named Aemilius Paulus was appointed to the Roman army in a time of war and great apprehension. He found in the army a sad condition of affairs, there were more officers than fighting men, and all these officers wanted to have their advice taken, and the war conducted in accordance with their several opinions. Then Aemilius Paulus …
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent A Reformer's Schooling
'The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet
We shall now, in conclusion, give a survey of the third and closing discourse of the prophet. After an introduction in vi. 1, 2, where the mountains serve only to give greater solemnity to the scene (in the fundamental passages Deut. xxxii. 1, and in Is. 1, 2, "heaven and earth" are mentioned for the same purposes, inasmuch as they are the most venerable parts of creation; "contend with the mountains" by taking them in and applying to [Pg 522] them as hearers), the prophet reminds the people of …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Repentance
Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.' Acts 11: 18. Repentance seems to be a bitter pill to take, but it is to purge out the bad humour of sin. By some Antinomian spirits it is cried down as a legal doctrine; but Christ himself preached it. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent,' &c. Matt 4: 17. In his last farewell, when he was ascending to heaven, he commanded that Repentance should be preached in his name.' Luke 24: 47. Repentance is a pure gospel grace. …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am o jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of then that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.' Exod 20: 4-6. I. Thou shalt not …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Covenanting Provided for in the Everlasting Covenant.
The duty of Covenanting is founded on the law of nature; but it also stands among the arrangements of Divine mercy made from everlasting. The promulgation of the law, enjoining it on man in innocence as a duty, was due to God's necessary dominion over the creatures of his power. The revelation of it as a service obligatory on men in a state of sin, arose from his unmerited grace. In the one display, we contemplate the authority of the righteous moral Governor of the universe; in the other, we see …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
or, Gospel Light Fetched out of the Temple at Jerusalem, to Let us More Easily into the Glory of New Testament Truths. 'Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Isreal;--shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out hereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof.'--Ezekiel 43:10, 11 London: Printed for, and sold by George Larkin, at the Two Swans without Bishopgate, …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Appendix ix. List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied in Ancient Rabbinic Writings
THE following list contains the passages in the Old Testament applied to the Messiah or to Messianic times in the most ancient Jewish writings. They amount in all to 456, thus distributed: 75 from the Pentateuch, 243 from the Prophets, and 138 from the Hagiorgrapha, and supported by more than 558 separate quotations from Rabbinic writings. Despite all labour care, it can scarcely be hoped that the list is quite complete, although, it is hoped, no important passage has been omitted. The Rabbinic references …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Mercy of God
The next attribute is God's goodness or mercy. Mercy is the result and effect of God's goodness. Psa 33:5. So then this is the next attribute, God's goodness or mercy. The most learned of the heathens thought they gave their god Jupiter two golden characters when they styled him good and great. Both these meet in God, goodness and greatness, majesty and mercy. God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psa 119:98. Thou art good, and doest good.' This …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Leviticus 26:8 NIVLeviticus 26:8 NLTLeviticus 26:8 ESVLeviticus 26:8 NASBLeviticus 26:8 KJV
Leviticus 26:8 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
