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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Leviticus 20:10 - 20:21
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
For Unlawful Marriages
v. 10. And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, who, according to Lev_18:20, is restricted to her husband, so far as sexual relations are concerned, 1Co_7:4-5, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
v. 11. And the man that lieth with his father's wife, with his stepmother,hath uncovered his father's nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be up on them.
v. 12. And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death; they have wrought confusion, become guilty of a revolting defilement;their blood shall be up on them.
v. 13. If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, in the sin of pederasty, both of them have committed an abomination, a bestial crime, contrary to nature, a horror; they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
v. 14. And if a man take a wife and her mother, in revolting incest, it is wickedness, a most horrible act, an unheard-of deed of shame; they shall be burned with fire, both he and they, after they have been stoned, for thus the abnormality of their crime was emphasized; that there be no wickedness among you. In all these cases, both persons are alike guilty, because even the passive part consented to the act, permitted the seduction to take place. In the case of rape the Lord's judgment is different. Deu_22:26-27.
v. 15. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death; and ye shall slay the beast.
v. 16. And if a woman approach unto any beast and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman and the beast; they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. "With the beastly human being the beast itself was also to be destroyed. " (Lange. )
v. 17. And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter or his mother's daughter, his (older) half-sister, and see her nakedness and she see his nakedness, it is a wicked thing, a disgraceful act; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people; he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity, his misdeed.
v. 18. And if a man lie with a woman having her sickness, her menstrual period, and shall uncover her nakedness, knowingly and intentionally, he hath discovered her fountain, exposed her life-spring, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood; and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. For the penalty of the unintentional offense, see Lev_15:24.
v. 19. And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister nor of thy father's sister; for he uncovereth his near kin; they shall bear their iniquity. This transgression was not punished with death by the government, but the Lord Himself would take their case in hand.
v. 20. And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, his aunt by marriage, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness; they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. While the marriage was not annulled, the Lord's punishment was very severe, for childlessness was classed with bereavement in the estimation of the Jews.
v. 21. And if a man shall take his brother's wife, in any case but that of the levirate marriage, it is an unclean thing, calling forth God's curse of the first degree; he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless. The aim of all these provisions was to purify sexual life among the Hebrews, since the entire nation was consecrated to the Lord as a royal priesthood, Exo_19:6. Christians will keep in mind at all times that marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled, Heb_13:4.