Leviticus 20 - Introduction
_OF GIVING THEIR OFFSPRING TO MOLECH: OF WIZARDS: OF CURSING PARENTS: OF INCESTUOUS AND UNNATURAL MIXTURES,_ &C. _Before Christ 1490._... [ Continue Reading ]
_OF GIVING THEIR OFFSPRING TO MOLECH: OF WIZARDS: OF CURSING PARENTS: OF INCESTUOUS AND UNNATURAL MIXTURES,_ &C. _Before Christ 1490._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE, &C.— In ch. Leviticus 18:21 this dedication of children to Molech, is forbidden in more general terms. It is there said, _thou shalt not let any of thy offspring pass through the fire to Molech:_ where the reader will observe, that the words, _the fire,_ are in Italics, and, cons... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL STONE HIM, &C.— Compare Deuteronomy 7:2; Deuteronomy 7:26. Who, upon the face of these laws, could ever attempt to support so absurd a notion, as that idolatry was tolerated among the Jews? Yet such is the hypothesis of the _admirable_ Voltaire! Bishop Warburton upon this law observes, that th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERY ONE— Our old version here is, _If there be any that curseth,_ &c. The particle כי _ki,_ rendered _for,_ is not always causal; but frequently signifies _moreover, further, when,_ &c.; see Noldius, Leviticus 9:22 : &c. REFLECTIONS.—The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The former laws are he... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MAN THAT COMMITTETH ADULTERY— The Hebrew word may signify all kinds of uncleanness; yet here it does, and must, properly, signify _adultery;_ a crime held so detestable by all nations, that there were few in ancient times that did not reckon it capital. Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans held it alik... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR BLOOD SHALL BE UPON THEM— Compare Deuteronomy 19:10. The plain meaning of the phrase is, _their blood shall be chargeable upon themselves:_ the punishment of them shall acquit the land from guilt; see Matthew 27:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN TAKE A WIFE, &C.—_THEY SHALL BE BURNT WITH FIRE_— Some have thought it very extraordinary, that this crime should be punished with burning alive; when simple death only is assigned as a punishment for a more monstrous crime: (Leviticus 20:15.) and, therefore, they have thought that _burning... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL BE CUT OFF IN THE SIGHT OF THEIR PEOPLE— Some, again, believe that this punishment implies that they _shall be separated_ from the communion and covenant of Israel; and not, that they should be put to death. They think, that the punishments assigned in the other verses seem to prove this.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL DIE CHILDLESS— Whatever be the precise mode in which this curse was to be executed, whether by the entire withholding of children, or the speedy cutting them off when born; it affords us a striking proof of the Divinity of the Jewish law: for, to give or withhold children being in the pow... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN TAKE HIS BROTHER'S WIFE— Except that brother die childless. Compare Genesis 38:8. Deuteronomy 25:5. REFLECTIONS.—Nothing needs severer restraints than the lusts which naturally reign in our mortal bodies: no sins have severer punishments denounced on their indulgence. To instance only one—... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL NOT WALK IN THE MANNERS OF THE NATIONS, &C.— See Genesis 9:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL THEREFORE PUT DIFFERENCE— The _therefore_ in this verse plainly proves, that the principal reason, as we have observed on ch. 11: of the distinction between clean beasts, &c. is that given in the preceding verse, _I am the Lord—who have_ separated _you._... [ Continue Reading ]