Leviticus Morality and Ethics Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)

Quote #7

You shall not cheat in measuring length, weight, or quantity. You shall have honest balances, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. (NRSV 19:35-36)

Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. (KJV 19:35-36)

Most people would agree that making fair decisions and using accurate measurements are basic principles of business ethics, but it takes real commitment to extend this to ephahs and hins.

Quote #8

You shall not follow the practices of the nation that I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them. But I have said to you: You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the Lord your God; I have separated you from the peoples. (NRSV 20:23-24)

And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. (KJV 20:23-24)

Zooarchaeologists have only begun to analyze animal-related remains from ancient Israel, but it seems that ancient Israel had far more goats than cows (source). Pig bones, though, are quite rare, which is consistent with keeping kosher or, if you believe the History Channel, the widespread of swine by ancient alien chefs. As for honey, there is as yet no evidence of pottery shaped like little bears.

Quote #9

If any who are dependent on you become so impoverished that they sell themselves to you, you shall not make them serve as slaves. They shall remain with you as hired or bound laborers. They shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee. (NRSV 25:39-40)

And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee. (KJV 25:39-40)

Israelites can have foreigners as slaves. Enslaving a fellow Israelites is a big no-no, though it's easy to get around this law by bringing them on as office tent interns.