Leviticus 26:27-33 - Exposition

Punishment in the fifth degree. Ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. We find that this threat was fulfilled in Samaria ( 2 Kings 6:28 ), and in Jerusalem at the time both of the earlier siege by the Chaldaeans, and of the later siege by the Romans. And I will destroy your high places. By high places is meant the tops of hills or eminences chosen for worship, whether of Jehovah (see 6:26 ; 1 Kings 3:2 ; 2 Kings 12:3 ; 1 Chronicles 21:26 ), or of false gods. The high places intended hero are the spots where the "sun-images" were erected (see 2 Chronicles 14:5 ; Isaiah 17:8 ; Ezekiel 6:4 )— and cut down your images, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols —that is, they should roll in the dust together. And I will make your cities waste —as Samaria and Jerusalem— and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, —by the sanctuaries, which are to be desolated, is meant all the consecrated things: the holy of holies, the holy place, the court, the ark, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt sacrifice— and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours —so in Jeremiah 6:20 , "To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet" (cf. Isaiah 1:11-15 ). And I will bring the land into desolation (cf. Jeremiah 9:11 ): and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it (cf. Ezekiel 5:15 ). And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you. See Jeremiah 9:16 , "I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them."