Leviticus 18:19-23

PROHIBITION OF SEXUAL CRIMES 18:19-23
TEXT 18:19-23

19

And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.

20

And thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbor's wife, to defile thyself with her.

21

And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to make them pass through the fire to Molech; neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am Jehovah.

22

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

23

And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 18:19-23

404.

Is Leviticus 18:19 a discussion of prohibited marriage relationship?

405.

What is meant by lying carnally? as in Leviticus 18:20?

406.

Who was Molech? Just what was involved here?

407.

Does Leviticus 18:22 condemn homosexuality? Discuss.

408.

Why would anyone stoop so low as to desire sex relations with beasts?

PARAPHRASE 18:19-23

There must be no sexual relationship with a woman who is menstruating; nor with anyone else's wife, to defile yourself with her. You shall not give any of your children to Molech, burning them upon his altar; never profane the name of your God, for I am Jehovah. Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin. A man shall have no sexual intercourse with any female animal, thus defiling himself; and a woman must never give herself to a male animal, to mate with it; this is a terrible perversion.

COMMENT 18:19-23

Leviticus 18:19-23 It will be helpful to consider this outline of these verses: (1) adultery19, 20; (2) infant sacrifice21; (3) sodomy22; (4) beastiality23. We shall discuss these verses under these headings.

(1) Adultery. Leviticus 18:19-20 Leviticus 18:19 speaks against intercourse with a woman during her period of menstruation and also in the time immediately after childbirth. In Leviticus 15:19-24 we discussed this act by a man who did not know of the condition of the woman; for such an act he was unclean seven days. In both cases fornication or adultery is involved. When the act is presumptuous, both he and the woman are to be put to death. Cf. Leviticus 20:18; Ezekiel 18:16; Ezekiel 22:10.

Leviticus 18:20 is a straight-forward description and condemnation of adultery. Both persons involved were to be put to death. Cf. Deuteronomy 22:22; Ezekiel 16:38; Ezekiel 16:40; John 8:5Cf. Leviticus 20:10 of Lev.) The use of the expression, lie carnally well describes the motivethe lust of the flesh for such God has the death penalty. So called modern man might legalize it between consenting adultsGod condemns them both under the penalty of death.

(2) Infant sacrifice. Leviticus 18:21 This is related to the worship of the god of Molech. Those involved in the uncleanness described earlier would be easy prey to the god Molech. C. D. Ginsburg has supplied us with a very graphic description of this form of idolatry:

Pass through the fire to Molech.Literally, to let it pass to Molech, that is, to put the child into the hands of the figure of Molech, when it fell into the fire which was kindled in the hollow statue of this idol. Molech, also called Milcom, which denotes king, is described as the hideous idol, or the abomination of the Ammonites (1 Kings 11:5; 1 Kings 11:11). The following graphic description has been handed down traditionally of this idol and its worship:Our sages of blessed memory say that whilst all other idols had temples in Jerusalem, Molech had his temple outside Jerusalem, in a place by itself. It was a brass and hollow image, bull-headed, with arms stretched out like a human being who opens his hands to receive something from his neighbour. Its temple had seven compartments, into which the offerers went according to their respective gifts. If one offered a fowl, he went into the first compartment; if a sheep, into the second; if a lamb, into the third; if a ram, into the fourth; if a bullock, into the fifth; if an ox, into the sixth; and if he offered his son, he was conducted into the seventh compartment. He first kissed the image, as it is written, -let the sacrificers of men kiss the calf (Hosea 13:2), whereupon a fire was kindled in Molech till its arms became red hot; the child was then put into its hands, and drums were beaten to produce tremendous noises so as to prevent the shrieks of the child reaching the father's ears, lest he should be moved with pity towards his offspring. It was to this idol that Solomon erected a temple on the southern side of Mount Olivet (2 Kings 23:13). This idolatrous worship was punished with death by stoning. (See chap. Leviticus 20:2)

(3) Sodomy. Leviticus 18:22 We know of this sin under the name homosexuality. Is the Bible very clear on God's estimate of this act? Indeed it is! This was the sin of Sodom (Genesis 19:5) for which God burned them up. The death penalty was given for it in Leviticus 20:13. Israel was involved in this sin and suffered for it. (Judges 19:22; 1 Kings 14:24) The apostle Paul described it as being a sin upon which the wrath of God was revealed from heaven. (Romans 1:27) He condemned it in no uncertain terms. (1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19; 1 Timothy 1:10) Men have beenand are now delivered from such a bondage. We have nothing but concern and compassion for such persons on a human levelbut there must be motivation from God, not man to deliver such persons.

(4) Beastiality. Leviticus 18:23 We are shocked (or should be) at the thought of such an act. At the same time we are not unaware of such practices for every generation since Moses. Keil is exceedingly clear on this practice. He says: Into no beast shalt thou give thine emission of seed,. and a woman shall not place herself before a beast to lie down thereto. -To lie,-' is the term used particularly to denote a crime of this description (Cf. Leviticus 20:13; Leviticus 20:15-16; Exodus 22:18). Lying with animals was connected in Egypt with the worship of the goat; at Mendes especially, where the women lay down before he-goats (Herodotus, 2, 46; Strabo, 17, p. 802) Aelian relates an account of the crime being also committed with a dog in Rome; and according to Sonnini in modern Egypt men are said to lie even with female crocodiles.

FACT QUESTIONS 18:19-23

413. Does Leviticus 18:19 forbid sexual relations for all during the menstruation of a woman? Discuss.

414.

How does God consider adultery?

415.

Why would anyone degrade themselves to the extent of burning their children?

416.

Discuss the Bible teaching on homosexuality and how to help such persons.

417.

What possible reason could there be for beastiality? Discuss.