Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge: Leviticus: Leviticus Chapter 18

near to kin: Heb. remainder of his flesh. Notwithstanding the prohibitions here, it must be evident, that in the infancy of the world, persons very near of kin, and even brothers and sisters, must have joined in matrimonial alliances; and therefore we cannot pronounce them immoral in themselves. But, in these first instances, necessity required it; but when this necessity no longer existed, the thing became inexpedient and improper for:

1. As human nature now is, it is very expedient that those who are so much together in youth, should, by such a restriction be taught to look upon all such intercourse as prohibited and incestuous; for unless such restrictions are made, it would be impossible to prevent the prevalence of very early corruption among young persons. (See Michaelis on the laws of Moses, Art. 108.)

2. That the duties owing by nature to relatives might not be confounded with those of a social or political kind; for could a man be a brother and a husband, or a son and a husband at the same time, and fulfil the duties of both? Impossible.

3. That by intermarrying with other families, relationship and its endearments might be diffused. These prohibitions are, therefore, to be considered so eminently moral obligations as to be observed by all mankind.

to uncover: Lev 18:7-19, Lev 20:11, Lev 20:12, Lev 20:17-21

Lev 20:11; Gen 35:22, Gen 49:4; Deu 22:30, Deu 27:20; Sa2 16:21, Sa2 16:22; Eze 22:10; Amo 2:7; Co1 5:1

Leviticus 18:9

lev 18:9

Lev 20:17; Deu 27:22; Sa2 13:11-14; Eze 22:11

Lev 20:12; Gen 38:18, Gen 38:19, Gen 38:26; Eze 22:11

Leviticus 18:16

lev 18:16

Lev 20:21; Deu 25:5; Mat 14:3, Mat 14:4, Mat 22:24; Mar 6:17, Mar 12:19; Luk 3:19

Leviticus 18:17

lev 18:17

a woman: Lev 20:14; Deu 27:23; Amo 2:7

it is wickedness: Lev 20:14

Leviticus 18:18

lev 18:18

wife: or, one wife to another, Gen 4:19, Gen 29:28; Exo 26:3

to vex her: Gen 30:15; Sa1 1:6-8; Mal 2:15

Leviticus 18:19

lev 18:19

Lev 15:19, Lev 15:24, Lev 20:18; Eze 18:6, Eze 22:10

Leviticus 18:20

lev 18:20

Lev 20:10; Exo 20:14; Deu 5:18, Deu 22:22, Deu 22:25; Sa2 11:3, Sa2 11:4, Sa2 11:27; Pro 6:25, Pro 6:29-33; Mal 3:5; Mat 5:27, Mat 5:28; Rom 2:22; Co1 6:9; Gal 5:19; Heb 13:4

Leviticus 18:21

lev 18:21

pass through: Molech signifies a king, or governor, of similar import with Baal, lord, or governor; and it is generally supposed that the sun was worshipped under this name; and more particularly as the fire appears to have been so much employed in his worship. It seems clear that children were not only consecrated to him by passing through the fire, which appears to be alluded to here, but that they were actually made a burnt offering to him (see the parallel passages). That the several abominations afterwards mentioned were actually practised by many heathen nations is abundantly attested by their own writers. Lev 20:2; Deu 12:31, Deu 18:10; Kg2 16:3, Kg2 21:6, Kg2 23:10; Psa 106:37, Psa 106:38; Jer 7:31; Jer 19:5; Eze 20:31, Eze 23:37