In the ancient Israelite community, the treatment and expectations of "strangers" or "foreigners" (Hebrew: גֵּר, ger) were clearly delineated within the Mosaic Law. These laws were designed to maintain the sanctity and order of the community while also extending a measure of protection and inclusion to those who were not native Israelites. Among these laws was the prohibition against blaspheming God, a command that applied equally to both Israelites and foreigners residing among them.

The prohibition against blasphemy is explicitly stated in Leviticus 24:16: "Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death. The whole congregation must stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or a native. If he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death" . This verse underscores the seriousness with which the name of God was to be revered and the equal application of this law to both Israelites and foreigners. The inclusion of foreigners in this command highlights the expectation that all who lived within the community were to adhere to its core religious values.

The context of this law is found in the broader narrative of Leviticus 24, where an incident involving a man of mixed heritage—an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father—blasphemes the Name and is brought before Moses. The LORD instructs Moses to have the community stone the man, establishing a precedent for handling such offenses. This narrative illustrates the principle that the holiness of God's name was to be upheld by all, regardless of their ethnic or national background.

The command against blasphemy is part of a larger framework of laws that governed the conduct of both Israelites and foreigners. These laws were intended to create a cohesive society that honored God and upheld His statutes. In Exodus 12:49, it is stated, "The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you" . This principle of legal equality ensured that foreigners were not only subject to the same laws but also afforded the same protections and responsibilities.

The expectation that foreigners would not blaspheme God reflects the broader theological understanding that the God of Israel was the one true God, deserving of reverence and worship from all peoples. This is consistent with the biblical narrative that anticipates the inclusion of the nations in the worship of Yahweh, as seen in prophetic texts like Isaiah 56:6-7, which speaks of foreigners who join themselves to the LORD and love His name.

In summary, the law against blaspheming God was a critical component of the legal and religious framework of ancient Israel, applying equally to both Israelites and foreigners. It served to uphold the sanctity of God's name and ensure that all members of the community, regardless of origin, adhered to the core values that defined the covenant relationship between God and His people.Leviticus 24:16
And he that blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemes the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness ...
... condemned by the whole world, even by strangers whom they ... examples of the kings of
Judah and Israel, whom the ... of the world, and have admirable laws and statutes ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/third sunday after trinity humility.htm

Another Wonderful Record of 25.
... I am with you always,' would desert them among strangers. ... and tyrannical woman, whose
laws were as ... me to pray thus unconditionally respecting temporal concerns ...
/.../various/the wonders of prayer/another wonderful record of 25 00.htm

Christ a Complete Saviour:
... sometimes it saith, we are saved, as respecting our being ... When Moses prayed for the
people of Israel, thus he ... that God loves not, may be utter strangers as to ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christ a complete saviour .htm

part i
... Let it be as I will, and not as thou wilt." Such is the mighty voice of God, which
our ... or your sin will torment you as a deviation from My laws." And only ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm

part ii
... Do not value God's Sacraments at the price of gold and silver. ... And therefore let
not God's grace, with which Our Lady is filled, be fruitless for us. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, have not ... come, and carnal
sense, are such strangers one to ... By laws and ordinances you will not be saved ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

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