10 And a son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel and had a fight with a man of Israel by the tents; 11 And the son of the Israelite woman said evil against the holy Name, with curses; and they took him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12 And they kept him shut up, till a decision might be given by the mouth of the Lord. 13 And the Lord said to Moses, 14 Take the curser outside the tent-circle; and let all in whose hearing the words were said put their hands on his head, and let him be stoned by all the people. 15 And say to the children of Israel, As for any man cursing God, his sin will be on his head. 16 And he who says evil against the name of the Lord will certainly be put to death; he will be stoned by all the people; the man who is not of your nation and one who is an Israelite by birth, whoever says evil against the holy Name is to be put to death. 17 And anyone who takes another's life is certainly to be put to death. 18 And anyone wounding a beast and causing its death, will have to make payment for it: a life for a life. 19 And if a man does damage to his neighbour, as he has done, so let it be done to him; 20 Wound for wound, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever damage he has done, so let it be done to him. 21 He who puts a beast to death will have to make payment for it; he who puts a man to death will himself be put to death. 22 You are to have the same law for a man of another nation living among you as for an Israelite; for I am the Lord your God. 23 And Moses said these words to the children of Israel, and they took the man who had been cursing outside the tent-circle and had him stoned. The children of Israel did as the Lord gave orders to Moses.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 24:10-23
Commentary on Leviticus 24:10-23
(Read Leviticus 24:10-23)
This offender was the son of an Egyptian father, and an Israelitish mother. The notice of his parents shows the common ill effect of mixed marriages. A standing law for the stoning of blasphemers was made upon this occasion. Great stress is laid upon this law. It extends to the strangers among them, as well as to those born in the land. Strangers, as well as native Israelites, should be entitled to the benefit of the law, so as not to suffer wrong; and should be liable to the penalty of this law, in case they did wrong. If those who profane the name of God escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgments. What enmity against God must be in the heart of man, when blasphemies against God proceed out of his mouth. If he that despised Moses' law, died without mercy, of what punishment will they be worthy, who despise and abuse the gospel of the Son of God! Let us watch against anger, do no evil, avoid all connexions with wicked people, and reverence that holy name which sinners blaspheme.