Neighbor עָמִית

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today. עָמִית community, association of people, fellow citizen, neighbor. It is used 12 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of neighbor, one who lives or is located near another. It is used 11 out of the 12 times in the book of Leviticus. Leviticus 6:1-2, 5-6 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving בַּעֲמִית֜וֹ his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed עֲמִיתֽוֹ his neighbor … he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt. And he shall bring to the priest as his compensation to the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering. It is interesting that the person in the wrong not only had to make restitution to the person they stole from but also had to offer a guilt offering to God. This reminds us that when we sin against others we are also sinning against God who also loves our neighbor. This is how our word is used 3 times in our chapter today. Leviticus 19:11, 15, 17 You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie בַּעֲמִיתֽוֹ to one another … You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge עֲמִיתֶֽךָ your neighbor … You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with עֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. All of this instruction is simple and practical. When you live near someone there will usually be things that need to be honestly talked through instead of allowing hatred or underhanded behavior toward your neighbor. Jesus gave us an amazing picture of what a neighbor does towards those near them. I’ll close with this great parable. Luke 10:30-37 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”