The Book Of LEVITICUS
Leviticus 27:34 "These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for
the children of Israel in mount Sinai."
CHAPTER 17:
There are three prohibitions in this chapter: 1) blood sacrifices that are performed anywhere other than upon the brazen altar in the courtyard of the tabernacle, 2) the drinking of blood, either human or animal, for any reason, and 3) eating the flesh of animals that had already died either by natural causes or because of another animal predator. Verses 1-9: “This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded…” (v.2) Once again, it is God who is clearly stating His law, and He expects it to be obeyed. There are no exceptions and no excuses. The command in verse 3 is not referring to the type of killing that is done in the course of hunting wild game for the purposes of food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 12:15) The verb “killeth” is translated from the Hebrew word “shâchat” (pronounced ‘shaw-kot’) which means “to slaughter”. This form of the word “slaughter” is used only in referring to the blood sacrifices that are commanded in the Mosaic Law. Verses 3, 4, 8 and 9 are referencing any blood sacrifices that are deliberately done outside of camp or anywhere within the camp other than the tabernacle. Whosoever does this “…shall be cut off from among his people.” (v.4, 9) As I’ve noted in previous commentaries, that phrase is a euphemism for either permanent exile or death. That’s also how we know that the form of killing in these verses is not referencing the hunting of animals for sustenance. The reason for such a harsh punishment is given in verse 7. The word “devils” is translated from a Hebrew word that refers to “goat demons” in the original text. Part of Egyptian mythology involved blood sacrifices to gods of the wilderness that took the form of goats. The note in my study Bible says that some of these cultic rituals also required bestiality, the union of women and male goats. It stands to reason, then, that the Israelites had carried with them in the exodus some false beliefs and superstitions that they needed to be rid of. That, along with the incident with the golden calf, explains why God is once again making clear to His chosen people what is allowed and not allowed regarding their worship of Him. Until now, from the time of Abraham to the arrival of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, there had been no official place of sacrifice and worship. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had built altars and worshiped God in various places in their homelands, or at whatever site God had specifically designated for them to do so. (Genesis 21:33, 22:2, 28:18, 31:54) But now God has designated a tabernacle within the camp of His chosen nation, and that is the only house of worship where the blood sacrifices and other offerings may be performed. To do so anywhere else is a capital crime punishable by death. This is why the apostasy of Judah and Israel many generations later in the promised land is so grievous. The wicked and rebellious kings will set up groves and altars in the wilderness for child sacrifice and other abominations for the worship of false gods. This will be direct and flagrant disobedience to the command of God given here in Leviticus 17. Verses 8 and 10 specifically mention “…the strangers which sojourn among you…”. As He did earlier in Exodus, God is including any Gentiles that are living among the Israelites in His commands. They are subject to the same laws and the same punishments if they disobey. This is also a foreshadowing of the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s ultimate plan of salvation that will be fulfilled in the New Testament era after the death of Christ. This was God’s plan from the very beginning. Verses 10-14: The children of Israel – as well as any strangers living among them – are expressly forbidden from drinking blood. Verse 10 states “…any manner of blood…” meaning both human and animal blood is prohibited. Again, part of the reason for this is the idolatry of the heathen nations surrounding Israel – both at present and, later, in the promised land. Egypt, also, had many rituals and ceremonies dedicated to the worship of their false gods that involved the drinking of blood. The punishment for disobeying this law is as harsh as that of offering sacrifices anywhere other than the tabernacle: “…I will even set My face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.” (v.10) (Leviticus 20:3, 5-6) That phrase “set My face against” means that God will literally turn against the one who disobeys this law and destroy him, which is what the last phrase of that verse refers to. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood…” (v.11) refers back to Genesis 9:4. This means that the blood is literally the life of the man and animal. (Deuteronomy 12:23) Without it we cannot live. Because God has designated blood as the key element of atonement in the sacrificial system of the Mosaic Law (Hebrews 9:22), blood is to be considered sacred and holy by the Israelites. (v.11) Therefore, they are prohibited from drinking it or consuming it in any manner. (v.12, 14) This includes the blood of animals that are slain for the purpose of food and clothing. (v.13) The carcass is to be completely drained of blood before it is skinned and cut up. Now, of course, this doesn’t mean that it’s a sin to eat a medium rare steak at your local Texas Roadhouse on Saturday night. That’s not what these verses are referencing. If, however, you were to ask your waitress for a tall glass of fresh cow’s blood to go with your steak, then you are most definitely disobeying God’s command as laid out in this passage. As long as the animal carcass has been completely drained of blood before the meat is cut up and cooked, whatever juices are brought out in the cooking process are okay for the Israelites – and us today – to consume. Verses 15-16: This chapter concludes with a prohibition against the eating of the flesh of animals that have died of natural causes or been slain by another animal. (Exodus 22:31, Leviticus 7:24, 22:8, Deuteronomy 14:21, Ezekiel 4:14, 44:31) The reasoning behind this law probably has more to do with protecting the physical health of the Israelites than with maintaining holiness before the Lord, although both reasons are equally valid and possible. These verses presume that the dead animal has been laying out in the sun and the elements for some time and is thus rife with bacteria and other side effects of natural decay that would make the flesh unclean and unhealthy to consume. Not only that, if the animal died as the result of a specific disease or infection, that too would make the meat unsafe for human consumption. The penalty for violating this command, however, is not as harsh as the punishment of the other two. The one who eats of this flesh is ceremonially unclean until sundown. If he refuses to properly bathe and cleanse himself and make the proper sacrifices at the tabernacle then he will bear his guilt accordingly. It goes without saying that this will result in further judgment and punishment from God. Chapter 18: Chapters 18 and 20 of Leviticus address moral purity. Six times in chapter 18 the phrase “I am the Lord your God” or “I am the Lord” is written. God makes it clear to Moses and the Israelites that they are to obey these laws of morality because of who God is and because He is their God. They are His chosen people and, therefore, they must separate themselves from the heathen nations around them that practice all manner of sexual depravity and wicked idolatry. Verses 1-5: “I am the Lord your God.” (v.2) (Exodus 6:7, Leviticus 11:44-45, 19:3, Ezekiel 20:5, 7, 19-20) God is not only restating who He is but also reminding Moses of His holiness. Over and over throughout Exodus and Leviticus, as He is giving Moses the law and the instructions for the priesthood, the tabernacle, and the various sacrifices and offerings, God has been reminding the Israelites of who He is as well as the importance of His holiness. If there is one theme that ties the whole of the Mosaic Law together, it’s this: the children of God must strive for holiness in all areas of daily life and living. One of the most important categories is sexual purity. God reminds Moses of where the Israelites had come from as well as where they are going. Egypt was an extremely wicked land, and its people practiced all manner of idolatry and sexual perversion. According to the Holman Bible Commentary, “Egypt was known for its licentiousness and for condoning intrafamily practices such as father-daughter, brother-sister, aunt-nephew, and uncle-niece marriages.” (Joshua 24:14, Ezekiel 20:7-8) The Canaanites also practiced such abominations as well as homosexuality and bestiality. God says to Moses, “…shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.” (Exodus 23:24, Leviticus 20:23, Deuteronomy 12:30-31) Instead, the Israelites are to “…do My judgments, and keep Mine ordinances…” (v.4) and “…keep My statutes, and My judgments…” (v.6). The consequence of this is that they will escape God’s wrath. “…if a man do, he shall live in them…” (v.6) God had already made it clear to Moses that He would be using the Israelites as judgment against the heathen people of the promised land. God had already condemned them because of their sin and their wickedness which was demonstrated by the immorality in which they not only daily practiced but also delighted in and celebrated in blatant rebellion against God. God’s judgment against immorality and sexual perversion had already been dramatically demonstrated to Abraham in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. He is now making it clear to Moses that any of the Israelites who do not obey His law of morality and purity will be punished accordingly. (v.28-29) Verses 6-18: What follows in these verses is a series of examples of the types of sexual relationships that are forbidden. Verse 6 sums it up: a man is not to marry or have sexual relations with “…any that is near of kin to him…”. The euphemism “uncover their nakedness” is used most often in the OT for the physical act of sex. (This is the primary reason that most Biblical scholars and commentators believe that something sexual occurred between Canaan and his grandfather Noah in Genesis 9:21-22[xi]. It’s very possible that that incident became the source of that phrase in the rest of the OT writings.) Here's a list of all the sexual relationships that are forbidden: 1. Parent/child (v.7-8) (Genesis 35:22) 2. Aunt and uncle/niece and nephew (v.8, 12-14) (Leviticus 20:19-20) 3. Stepparent/stepchild (v.10) 4. Brother/sister (v.9) (Leviticus 20:17, Deuteronomy 27:22) 5. Stepbrother/stepsister (v.9, 11) 6. Parent and any in-law relative (such as son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother or sister-in-law) (v.15-16) Verse 16 is the law invoked by John the Baptist against Herod for marrying his brother’s wife. (Matthew 14:3-4, Mark 6:18) Marriage to one’s sister-in-law is allowed only in the event of the brother’s death. 7. Grandparent/grandchild or grandparent/step grandchild (v.17). The scenario in verse 18 forbids taking one’s wife’s sister as a second wife, i.e. polygamy. Only after one’s wife has passed away does God allow the marriage of the widower to his former wife’s sister as long as she is currently unmarried. Verse 19: As already stated in chapter 15, sexual relations with a woman who is menstruating is forbidden. (Leviticus 15:24, 20:18) This has more to do with the sacredness of blood in the eyes of God than sexual immorality. That is why a woman who is experiencing her monthly period is to isolate herself until the cycle is over. She is ceremonially unclean and must abstain from sexual relations, even with her husband. God is making it clear that anything involving the flow of blood should never be associated with carnality or immorality. Verse 20: This is connected to the seventh commandment. (Exodus 20:14, Leviticus 20:10, Matthew 5:27-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Hebrews 13:4) Adultery is the most common form of sexual immorality, and thus it is included here for emphasis. Marriage is between one man and one woman, and they are to remain faithful to one another until death parts them. That has been God’s command from the very beginning when He first introduced Eve to Adam. Verse 21: Child sacrifice. It may seem odd at first that God mentions this in the middle of a passage that addresses sexual sins, but this directly references one of the main reasons for the sexual rituals and practices of the heathen nations around Israel and those within the promised land. The act of sex produces offspring, just as God designed it, and very often those newborn babies were sacrificed to the false god Molech. Molech was a god of the Ammonites, whose image was constructed in the valley of Hinnom. This description is from the Believer’s Bible Commentary: “According to one tradition there was an opening at the back of the brazen idol, and after a fire was made within it, each parent had to come and with his own hands place his firstborn child in the white-hot, outstretched arms of Molech. According to this tradition, the parent was not allowed to show emotion, and drums were beaten so that the baby’s cries could not be heard as the baby died in the arms of Molech.” This is what is meant by the phrase “...thy seed pass through the fire...”. (Leviticus 20:2, Deuteronomy 12:31, 2 Kings 16:3) Child sacrifice is an abomination to God, and He abhors it. One of the greatest tragedies in Israel’s history is that they failed to heed this command after entering the promised land. Nor is this heinous act relegated to ancient history. This abomination is alive and well today in the back rooms of numerous abortion clinics throughout the world. Verse 22: Homosexuality. (Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:27) It’s unnatural, and God specifically labels this act as abomination in this verse. The penalty for anyone found guilty of breaking this law is death. The modern cultural movement today, especially those of the “gay Christian” crowd, will make the claim that God was condemning only the homosexual acts related to idol worship, i.e. the cultic practice of male prostitutes among the Canaanites and other heathen nations surrounding Israel in the OT. They base this claim on the fact that this verse immediately follows the verse condemning child sacrifice. That argument, however, is false. God said what He said, and this verse has no other clause attached to it. That argument is strictly man’s interpretation, and we must read scripture as it is written, not what we want it to say. God hates the act of two men having sex with one another, period. It's forbidden in His law under any circumstances, no exceptions. This command is emphasized and reinforced throughout the Bible, especially in Paul’s epistles to the NT church. There is absolutely no defense in the Bible whatsoever for the so-called “gay Christian”. One is either saved and a child of God and thus rejects all form and practice of homosexuality, or one is of the world and unsaved, and celebrates this wicked and perverse lifestyle choice. It’s impossible to be both at the same time. Scripture is very clear on this. For a more detailed analysis and defense of this commandment, click here. Verse 23: Like homosexuality, sexual relations between humans and animals is a “confusion” of the natural order. That word, literally translated from the Hebrew, means "perversion". Bestiality, too, is an abomination and forbidden by God for His chosen people. (Exodus 22:19, Leviticus 20:15-16, Deuteronomy 27:21) As with sodomy, any man or woman found guilty of breaking this law is to be put to death. The beast, too, is to be slain. Verses 24-30: “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things…” (v.24) (Matthew 15:18, 1 Corinthians 3:17) God closes this chapter by repeating his command from the opening verses. The Israelites are to abstain from the pagan practices of the nations of the promised land or else they will suffer the same judgment that God will bring upon the Canaanites for their wickedness and perversions. They have defiled the land, and God is preparing to cast them out. (v.27-28) (Jeremiah 9:19) But more than just the fear of punishment for disobedience, there is only one reason necessary for why the children of Israel should obey these statutes and judgments: “…I am the Lord your God.” (v.30)
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