Leviticus 26:40-45

Confession and Restoration. The order of thought is confession by the exiles of the sin of their own and of previous generations, Yahweh's memory of His ancient covenant, and His (implied) deliverance of His people. The order is simplified if Leviticus 26:41 is regarded as an insertion; if (Leviticus 26:41), which should be translated or, suggests this. The double mention of the covenant (note the order of the names in Leviticus 26:42), and the reference to the respite of the land (cf. Leviticus 26:34 f.), are arresting, but not related to the rest of the section. On confession, cf. Leviticus 5:5, Leviticus 16:21. Here the confession is of the whole nation's disobedience, past and present; until this is called forth by suffering, God's wrath remains. In Ezekiel's section on restoration, confession is replaced by self-loathing (after, not before, the return; Ezekiel 36:31). Ezekiel expressly denies the motive for their sakes, and the ancient covenant (Leviticus 26:45, contrast Ezekiel 36:22) and the influence of the past on the present, both for evil and good, is unmentioned by him.