Leviticus 20

1 locutusque est Dominus ad Mosen dicens

2 haec loqueris filiis Israhel homo de filiis Israhel et de advenis qui habitant in Israhel si quis dederit de semine suo idolo Moloch morte moriatur populus terrae lapidabit eum

3 et ego ponam faciem meam contra illum succidamque eum de medio populi sui eo quod dederit de semine suo Moloch et contaminaverit sanctuarium meum ac polluerit nomen sanctum meum

4 quod si neglegens populus terrae et quasi parvipendens imperium meum dimiserit hominem qui dederit de semine suo Moloch nec voluerit eum occidere

5 ponam faciem meam super hominem illum et cognationem eius succidamque et ipsum et omnes qui consenserunt ei ut fornicarentur cum Moloch de medio populi sui

6 anima quae declinaverit ad magos et ariolos et fornicata fuerit cum eis ponam faciem meam contra eam et interficiam illam de medio populi sui

7 sanctificamini et estote sancti quia ego Dominus Deus vester

8 custodite praecepta mea et facite ea ego Dominus qui sanctifico vos

9 qui maledixerit patri suo et matri morte moriatur patri matrique maledixit sanguis eius sit super eum

10 si moechatus quis fuerit cum uxore alterius et adulterium perpetrarit cum coniuge proximi sui morte moriantur et moechus et adultera

11 qui dormierit cum noverca sua et revelaverit ignominiam patris sui morte moriantur ambo sanguis eorum sit super eos

12 si quis dormierit cum nuru sua uterque moriantur quia scelus operati sunt sanguis eorum sit super eos

13 qui dormierit cum masculo coitu femineo uterque operati sunt nefas morte moriantur sit sanguis eorum super eos

14 qui supra uxorem filiam duxerit matrem eius scelus operatus est vivus ardebit cum eis nec permanebit tantum nefas in medio vestri

15 qui cum iumento et pecore coierit morte moriatur pecus quoque occidite

16 mulier quae subcubuerit cuilibet iumento simul interficietur cum eo sanguis eorum sit super eos

17 qui acceperit sororem suam filiam patris sui vel filiam matris suae et viderit turpitudinem eius illaque conspexerit fratris ignominiam nefariam rem operati sunt occidentur in conspectu populi sui eo quod turpitudinem suam mutuo revelarint et portabunt iniquitatem suam

18 qui coierit cum muliere in fluxu menstruo et revelaverit turpitudinem eius ipsaque aperuerit fontem sanguinis sui interficientur ambo de medio populi sui

19 turpitudinem materterae tuae et amitae tuae non discoperies qui hoc fecerit ignominiam carnis suae nudavit portabunt ambo iniquitatem suam

20 qui coierit cum uxore patrui vel avunculi sui et revelaverit ignominiam cognationis suae portabunt ambo peccatum suum absque liberis morientur

21 qui duxerit uxorem fratris sui rem facit inlicitam turpitudinem fratris sui revelavit absque filiis erunt

22 custodite leges meas atque iudicia et facite ea ne et vos evomat terra quam intraturi estis et habitaturi

23 nolite ambulare in legitimis nationum quas ego expulsurus sum ante vos omnia enim haec fecerunt et abominatus sum eos

24 vobis autem loquor possidete terram eorum quam dabo vobis in hereditatem terram fluentem lacte et melle ego Dominus Deus vester qui separavi vos a ceteris populis

25 separate ergo et vos iumentum mundum ab inmundo et avem mundam ab inmunda ne polluatis animas vestras in pecore et in avibus et cunctis quae moventur in terra et quae vobis ostendi esse polluta

26 eritis sancti mihi quia sanctus ego sum Dominus et separavi vos a ceteris populis ut essetis mei

27 vir sive mulier in quibus pythonicus vel divinationis fuerit spiritus morte moriantur lapidibus obruent eos sanguis eorum sit super illos

Leviticus 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

Law against sacrificing children to Moloch, Of children that curse their parents. (1-9) Laws repeated, Holiness enjoined. (10-27)

Verses 1-9 Are we shocked at the unnatural cruelty of the ancient idolaters in sacrificing their children? We may justly be so. But are there not very many parents, who, by bad teaching and wicked examples, and by the mysteries of iniquity which they show their children, devote them to the service of Satan, and forward their everlasting ruin, in a manner even more to be lamented? What an account must such parents render to God, and what a meeting will they have with their children at the day of judgment! On the other hand, let children remember that he who cursed father or mother was surely put to death. This law Christ confirmed. Laws which were made before are repeated, and penalties annexed to them. If men will not avoid evil practices, because the law has made these practices sin, and it is right that we go on that principle, surely they should avoid them when the law has made them death, from a principle of self-preservation. In the midst of these laws comes in a general charge, Sanctify yourselves, and be ye holy. It is the Lord that sanctifies, and his work will be done, though it be difficult. Yet his grace is so far from doing away our endeavours, that it strongly encourages them. Work out your salvation, for it is God that worketh in you.

Verses 10-27 These verses repeat what had been said before, but it was needful there should be line upon line. What praises we owe to God that he has taught the evil of sin, and the sure way of deliverance from it! May we have grace to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things; may we have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness, but reprove them.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 20

In this chapter several laws are, repeated, enforced with a penalty annexed to them, and the breach them made capital, to deter from it, as giving seed to Molech, Le 20:1-5; going after such that have familiar spirits, or are wizards, Le 20:6; by shunning which, and other sins, a regard would be shown to holiness, Le 20:7,8; such as cursing parents, Le 20:9; committing adultery, Le 20:10; incestuous copulations, and marriages, and beastly actions, Le 20:11-21; all which it became the Israelites to avoid, lest, when come into the land of Canaan, they should be cast out of it, as the old inhabitants were for the same things, Le 20:22-24; and therefore, that they might appear to be a distinct people from others, they were to put a difference between clean and unclean creatures, Le 20:25,26; and the chapter is closed with a law, making it death for any person to have a familiar spirit, or to be a wizard, Le 19:27.