Leviticus 20 - Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments
  • Leviticus 20:2-6 open_in_new

    Child Sacrifice To Molech And Involvement In The Occult Is Forbidden To All In The Land (Leviticus 20:2-6).

    Leviticus 20:2-3

    “Moreover, you shall say to the children of Israel, Whoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel, who gives of his seed to Molech, he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I also will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he has given of his seed to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.”

    The horror of what Molech was comes out in the constant mention of him. He was the god of Ammon, but he demanded child sacrifice, and was clearly fairly widely worshipped in Canaan in a day when it was considered that the greater the sacrifice the greater the benefit received. His name was probably Melech (King) but the writers changed the vowels to the vowels used on bosheth (shame) in order to indicate their view of him.

    Anyone, whether Israelite or resident alien, who encouraged the worship of Molech or gave to him their ‘seed' was to be put to death without question. The ‘people of the land' were to stone such a person with stones (see Deuteronomy 13:10; Deuteronomy 21:21). He had defiled ‘the land'. It was to be a people's execution for the removal of evil from among them. The thought is probably that the execution should be carried out immediately on one who was an isolated case, and discovered in the act. The worship of Molech was to be allowed nowhere in the land by anyone. Stoning with stones was later especially the punishment for blasphemy, carried out by the people (Leviticus 20:27; Leviticus 24:23; Numbers 14:10; Numbers 15:35-36; Deuteronomy 8:9; Deuteronomy 13:10; Deuteronomy 17:5; Deuteronomy 21:21; Deuteronomy 22:21; Deuteronomy 22:24; Joshua 7:25; 1 Kings 12:18), and could be carried out immediately (compare Stephen - Acts 7).

    Moreover God Himself would set His face against that man and cut him off from among his people, for by giving his seed to Molech he had defiled Yahweh's Sanctuary, and profaned His holy name. So the people had to act to maintain the purity of the land, God Himself would act to maintain the purity of the Sanctuary.

    The ‘people of the land'. Some see this as a technical description of a group of property owning aristocrats (compare 2 Kings 25:19), others as signifying the whole people acting as one (compare Genesis 42:6). In Genesis it means the indigenous population (Genesis 23:7; Genesis 23:12-13), but not so here. In Exodus 5:5 it refers to a section of the common people in a particular place, which may well be its meaning here.

    Leviticus 20:4-5

    “And if the people of the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he gives of his seed to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that play the harlot after him, to play the harlot with Molech, from among their people.”

    But if the people of the land deliberately ‘hide their eyes' and refrain from doing their duty and the worship becomes more prevalent, then this case is so bad that God Himself will step in to intervene. He will set His face against the man, his family, who will undoubtedly be involved with him in it, and with all others involved in the worship. They will all be cut off. This is because they are ‘playing the harlot'. They are looking to Molech rather than to their ‘husband' Yahweh.

    It is interesting that at this stage Molech is seen as the great enemy they will face in the land. This may be because he was particularly objectionable, or because at this stage they were close to Moab and Ammon where his worship was prevalent.

    Leviticus 20:6

    “And the person who turns to those who have familiar spirits, and to the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.”

    And the same is to apply to the occult. Those who look to familiar spirits or to seekers after the dead, which is again described as ‘playing the harlot' and being unfaithful to Yahweh, will discover that Yahweh sets His face against them and cuts them off from among the people. They will no longer be His. But we also have here again the contrast between life and death, what was ‘clean' and what was ‘unclean'.

    This too would have had special significance if it came at the time when Balaam had been called on to ‘fight' against Israel (Numbers 22-24).

  • Leviticus 20:7,8 open_in_new

    Israel Are To Be Sanctified And Obedient (Leviticus 20:7-8).

    Israel are to sanctify themselves to being holy (Leviticus 20:7) and must be obedient because Yahweh is santifying them (Leviticus 20:8).

    Leviticus 20:7

    “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy; for I am Yahweh your God.”

    So they are rather to set themselves apart totally to Yahweh, and be holy (set apart in what they were as uniquely like Him) as He is holy, by walking in His revealed ways. For He is Yahweh their covenant God. They are to look to none other but Him, and to serve Him only.

    Leviticus 20:8

    “And you shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.”

    And because He is the One Who is continually sanctifying them as His people, making them holy, caring for them, watching over them, shepherding them, they are to keep in their hearts, and do, His statutes, all that He has laid down for them to do. We also may treasure His word, but the question is, do we ‘do' it? See Matthew 21:30. To hear is good, but to obey is what is demanded. Some of those statutes are now outlined.

  • Leviticus 20:9-18 open_in_new

    Crimes Which Deserve The Death Penalty (Leviticus 20:9-18).

    Leviticus 20:9

    “For every one who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother. His blood shall be on him.”

    The first such crime is that of a man cursing his father or mother. This does not mean that he just swears about something they have done, or at them because they have annoyed or frustrated him. It refers rather to a man who seeks to put his father and mother under a specific curse. He calls on Yahweh to do the very opposite of what Yahweh has declared He will do. The man is not only dishonouring them, he is seeking to do them real harm, and dishonouring Yahweh.

    The use of curses was widespread. A multitude of examples have been found in Egypt, and many could be bought and sold. The purpose of a curse was to use ‘occult' means to do someone harm. It would especially appeal to the weak who had no other means of vengeance.

    In a patriarchal society where the father figure was the supreme authority this would have been a deliberate attempt to undermine tribal authority, and even to take over power for himself. It was a blow at the family structure, and if successful could have undermined the society in which he lived. The one who attempts something like this must be put to death. Such a person with such aims to carry out in such an evil way cannot be allowed to live, because of the harm he will do in destabilising society. And he has brought his blood on his own head. There will be no guilt on any who put him to death. The guilt will be on him.

    Leviticus 20:10

    “And the man who commits adultery with another man's wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”

    The next crime is adultery, where a man takes his neighbour's wife. In this case both he and the adulteress were to be put to death. Again it was a blow at the family which was the very basis of society.

    Leviticus 20:11

    “And the man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness. Both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be on them.”

    The third such crime was when a man lay with his father's wife, that is, had sexual relations with her. Both he and she were to be put to death. For it would be as if he has publicly stripped his father naked. A man's wife is one flesh with him (Genesis 2:24). To make her naked would be to make her husband naked. They have brought their blood on their own heads. Anyone who executes them is guiltless.

    Leviticus 20:12

    “And if a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have wrought confusion. Their blood shall be on them.”

    The same principle applied between a man and his daughter-in-law. If they had sexual relations, both were to be put to death. They would have mixed up the generations, causing ‘confusion', (for the son could become brother to his wife's son), and the man would have exposed his son to shame and ridicule. Again those who put them to death will bear no guilt. The guilt is on their own heads. In all these examples the destruction of family relationships is central.

    Leviticus 20:13

    “And if a man lies with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be on them.”

    For a man to have sexual relations with another man is an abomination. No other relationship is always described specifically as an abomination in this way, so it is clearly particularly hateful to God. And being in the midst of a passage dealing with sexual matters this refers to any practising homosexual relationship, not just to cultic practise. It is saying that there is no such thing as a Christian practising homosexual. This has nothing to do with whether a man has homosexual tendencies, it is speaking of a deliberate giving way to those tendencies. Those who do so shall ‘surely be put to death'. Again they have brought their blood on their own heads.

    Leviticus 20:14

    “And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is sexual wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there be no wickedness among you.”

    Equally guilty would be a man who had sexual relations with both his wife and her mother. This would be sexual wickedness. They are all three to be burned with fire. The burning may indicate a death of particular shame as devoted to destruction (as Achan was - Joshua 7). Or perhaps the thought is that they deserve the same thing as happened to worshippers of Molech. They have shown themselves worthy only of Molech.

    Leviticus 20:15

    “And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall slay the beast.”

    The same principle applies to a man who has sexual relations with a dumb animal. Both he and the beast must be put to death. But it is not quite as abhorrent as a man who beds mother and daughter for the punishment is less horrific.

    Leviticus 20:16

    “And if a woman approach any beast, and lie down with it, you shall kill the woman, and the beast. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be on them.”

    A woman is no different. If she allows a beast to have sexual relations with her, both she and the beast must die. They shall surely be put to death. Their actions have brought their blood on themselves. There will be no bloodguilt for those who slay them. (The beast, if previously a clean one, is clearly not to be offered as a sacrifice).

    Leviticus 20:17

    “And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness, it is a shameful thing. And they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered his sister's nakedness. He shall bear his iniquity.”

    No man shall have sexual relations with a sister or half-sister by blood. It is a shameful thing and means that they must be cut off ‘in the sight of the children of Israel', presumably this indicates stoning. He must take the punishment for the evil he has done.

    Leviticus 20:18

    “And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness, he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood, and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.”

    The one who deliberately lies with a woman during menstruation, while the blood is on her, shall be cut off from among the people, as shall also the woman, he because he has exposed her bleeding, she because she has uncovered her bleeding. Her bleeding is an uncleanness and related to death. It speaks of sin and death. It should be hidden and not exposed. To expose it is to deserve the death of which it speaks.

    It is, however, possible that this does not refer to husband and wife, but to where a man forces a woman who is not his wife during her menstruation. By shaming her like this it is as if he had committed adultery.

    These then (from Leviticus 20:2-18) are the major crimes which in God's eyes are worthy of death. They are so evil that they override the concept of the sacredness of life. Those who do them have forfeited the right to life.

  • Leviticus 20:19-21 open_in_new

    Lesser Penalties (Leviticus 20:19-21).

    Three examples are now given of slightly lesser crimes, still forbidden but not punishable with death.

    Leviticus 20:19

    “And you shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, nor of your father's sister, for he has made naked his near kin. They shall bear their iniquity.”

    Men must not have sexual relations with aunts or uncles of the blood whether in marriage or out of marriage. That will be to make naked their near kin, and that is displeasing to God. In that case they must receive whatever punishment the courts or God decide.

    Leviticus 20:20

    “And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness. They shall bear their sin. They shall die childless.”

    For a man to have sexual relations with his uncle's wife is unseemly, for she is one flesh with his uncle. They are not to marry. This too may be judged by the courts, but they are also warned that they will go childless.

    Leviticus 20:21

    “And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is impurity. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness. They shall be childless.”

    For a man to take his brother's wife is impurity. It is unseemly. He will have uncovered his brother's nakedness and exposed his brother to shame. The punishment will be childlessness. But this was not to stop him from raising up seed to his brother under a levirate marriage. That would be a different matter. The consummation was then probably more discreetly arranged.

  • Leviticus 20:22-27 open_in_new

    Israel Are Inheriting A Land Flowing With Milk And Honey And Must Not Defile It But Must Be Holy To Yahweh (Leviticus 20:22-27).

    Leviticus 20:22

    “You shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and do them; that the land, to which I bring you for you to dwell in it, does not vomit you out.”

    So they must be careful to keep all God's statutes and all His ordinances, and do them, obeying all regulations and all commands. Then once they have arrived in the land they will not be vomited out, as the nations in the land are about to be vomited out. Rather will they continue to dwell in it and prosper, which is God's real purpose for them.

    Leviticus 20:23

    “And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I cast out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.”

    They are to be careful not to behave like the nations who are already there, whom God will drive out before them. They in fact did all these things that he has forbidden to Israel. That is why God hated them, that is, had an aversion towards them because of their sinfulness.

    Leviticus 20:24

    “But I have said to you, You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am Yahweh your God, who has separated you from the peoples.”

    For God's purpose for His people is that they might inherit the land and receive it as a gift from God, as their own possession. An inheritance is something freely given and undeserved. Thus He is giving it to them freely. It is a land flowing with milk and honey, having plenteous sustenance and sweetness. And He, Yahweh their God, has separated them from the peoples that they might be holy to Him and live in holiness in the land that He has cleansed. They are His and must reveal that they are His separated ones by the way that they live and the way they behave.

    Leviticus 20:25

    “You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean, and you shall not make yourselves abominable by beast, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean.”

    And one clear way in which they will do this is by only eating what is clean, as described in Leviticus 11. They may eat all that is clean and must avoid all that is unclean, especially that which lives in the ground. They must especially avoid all abominable things.

    Leviticus 20:26

    “And you shall be holy to me, for I, Yahweh, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine.”

    So He re-emphasises, they must be holy because Yahweh, their God is holy. He has set them apart from all peoples, in order that they might be His, and live as he has directed both ritually and morally, and that they reveal Him in their lives. Then they will be His own separated off possession.

    “Set you apart.” The verb is strong. ‘Severed.' He has used His mighty arm to separate them from Egypt and from all who have come against them, and will also sever them from the Canaanites.

    Leviticus 20:27

    “A man also or a woman who has a familiar spirit, or who is a wizard, shall surely be put to death. They shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be on them.”

    And especially they must avoid anyone who has anything to do with the occult or with the dead. If they find among them any indulging in contact with familiar spirits or with the dead they are to stone them with stones. Their blood will be on their own heads. There will be no guilt on Israel. This constant stress on avoiding the occult must be seen as a strong condemnation of such practises as much today as then.

    So does God stress the seriousness of those things concerning which He has charged His people, and warn us that we must take His commandments seriously.