Leviticus 18:1--19:37
do .... do ................... do <04639> [the doings.]
do .... do ................... do <04639> [and after.]
anyone ... does <0834 0120 06213> [which if a man do.]
Lord <03068> [I am the Lord.]
close relative <07607> [near to kin. Heb. remainder of his flesh.]
Not withstanding 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.
sexual intercourse <01540> [to uncover.]
woman <0802> [a woman.]
lewdness <02154> [it is wickedness.]
woman <0802> [wife. or, one wife to another.]
rival <06887 01540> [to vex her.]
Molech <05674 04432> [pass through.]
Molech signifies a king, or governor, of similar import with BaÆ’l, 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.
Molech <04432> [to Molech.]
[Moloch.]
profane <02490> [profane.]
animal ............... animal <0929> [any beast.]
perversion <08397> [confusion.]
defile ...................... defiled <02930> [Defile.]
nations <01471> [for.]
land ................... land <0776> [the land.]
punishment <06485> [therefore.]
vomited <06958> [vomiteth.]
obey <08104> [keep.]
foreigner <01616> [nor any stranger.]
[See on]
abominable <08441> [abominable.]
defile <02930> [that ye defile.]
Lord <03068> [I am.]
holy ......... holy <06918> [Ye shall.]
respect <03372> [fear.]
keep <08104> [keep.]
idols <0457> [not unto.]
[See on]
gods ... cast metal ....... God <0430 04541> [molten gods.]
sacrifice <02077> [a sacrifice.]
sacrifice ........... sacrifice <02076> [ye shall.]
accepted <07522> [your own will.]
The Hebrews had several kinds of offerings, which they called {corban}. Some were free-will offerings, and others were of obligation. The first fruits, the tenths, the sin-offerings, were of obligation; the peace-offerings, vows, offerings of oil, wine, bread, and other things which were made to the temple, or to the ministers of the Lord, were offerings of devotion; these constituted the greater part. They indeed were a shadow of good things to come, which we enjoy in full fruition through THE ONE great SACRIFICE, even Jesus Christ. "Aaron must lay his robes away, His mitre and his vest, When God himself comes down to be The offering and the priest."
spoiled <06292> [abominable.]
accepted <07521> [it shall.]
gather .... harvest ......................... harvest <07105 07114> [ye reap the harvest.]
In what code of laws merely human, is a requisition to be found so counteracting to selfishness, so encouraging to liberality, and so beneficently considering to the poor and needy? But the Mosaic dispensation, like the Christian, breathed with love to God, and benevolence to man. To the honour of the public and charitable spirit of the English, this merciful law is, in general, as much attended to as if it had been incorporated with the gospel.
pick <05953> [glean.]
pick ................... leave <05953 05800> [thou shalt.]
[shalt not.]
falsely .... fellow <0376 08266> [lie one.]
swear <07650> [ye shall.]
profane <02490> [profane.]
oppress <06231> [shalt not.]
wages <06468> [the wages.]
curse <07043> [not curse.]
fear <03372> [fear.]
slanderer <07400> [tale-bearer.]
stand <05975> [stand.]
hate <08130> [hate.]
reprove <03198> [rebuke.]
incur sin <05375 02399> [and not suffer sin upon him. or, that thou bear not sin for him.]
vengeance <05358> [not avenge.]
vengeance ............... love <05358 0157> [thou shalt.]
animals ... breed <07250 0929> [thy cattle gender.]
These practices might have been considered as altering the original constitution of God in creation; and this is the view which the Jews, and also Josephus and Philo, take of the subject. There were, probably, also both moral and political reasons for these prohibitions. With respect to heterogenous mixtures among cattle, it was probably forbidden, to prevent excitements to the abominations condemned in the preceding chapter. As to seeds, in many cases, it would be highly improper to sow different kinds in the same plot of ground. If oats and wheat, for instance, were sown together, the latter would be injured, and the former ruined. This prohibition may therefore be regarded as a prudential agricultural maxim. As to different kinds of garments, the prohibition might be intended against pride and vanity in clothing.
two different kinds .............. two different kinds ... seed ........... two different kinds <03610> [mingled.]
man ................. man <02778 0376> [betrothed to an husband. or, abused by any. Heb. reproached by, or, for man. she shall be scourged. or, they. Heb. there shall be a scourging. they shall.]
sin ............. sin <02403> [and the sin.]
enter <0935> [And when.]
forbidden ....... forbidden <06188 06189> [uncircumcised.]
fruit <06529> [all the.]
holy praise ..... Lord <01974 03068 06944> [holy to praise the Lord withal. Heb. holiness of praises to the Lord.]
blood <01818> [with the blood.]
divination <05172> [use.]
still ....... practice ..... soothsaying <06049> [nor.]
slash <08296> [cuttings.]
incise <05414> [print.]
profane <02490> [prostitute. Heb. profane. to cause.]
keep <08104> [keep.]
fear <03372> [reverence.]
foreigner <01616> [And if.]
oppress <03238> [vex him. or, oppress him.]
injustice <05766> [no unrighteousness.]
measures <04060> [in meteyard.]
honest balances honest .... honest ..... honest <06664 03976> [Just balances.]
weights <068> [weights. Heb. stones. I am. See on]
