Say to the Israelites: anyone who curses their God will be held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death. The blasphemy law stated as a general principle: anyone who curses their God is held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the divine name is put to death. The whether foreigner or native-born formula communicates the equal application of the blasphemy law across the covenant community's membership: the divine name is protected from violation regardless of the violator's ethnic identity.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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