Chapter 20

1 Of him that giveth of his seed to Molech. 4 Of him that favoureth such an one. 6 Of going to wizards. 7 Of sanctification. 9 Of him that curseth his parents. 10 Of adultery. 11, 14, 17, 19 Of incest. 13 Of sodomy. 15 Of bestiality. 18 Of uncleanness. 22 Obedience is required with holiness. 27 Wizards must be put to death.

1. The Lord spake. Most of the offenses mentioned in this chaper have been discussed in chs. 18 and 19. There the appeal to the people was purely on spiritualgrounds, an appeal to their sense of right. Here, the offenses are considered as crimes against the state, and hence punishable. The punishment is generally death.

2. Unto Molech. This was not merely a dedication of the child to Molech, but was an actual sacrifice of the children as a burnt offering (2 Kings 23:10; Jer. 32:35; see Jer. 7:31; 19:5; Eze. 16:21; 23:37). For a discussion of the word “Molech” see on ch. 18:21.

5. Cut him off. Literally, “cut down,” “cut asunder,” “consumed,” “destroyed.” God decreed that those who sacrificed their children to Molech should be executed, usually by stoning. If the people did not take action, but condoned the crime, God would take matters into His own hand and “cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him.” In most instances it is not clear as to the means by which sinners were “cut off” (see on Gen. 17:14; Ex. 12:15). Here it can mean only death.

6. Familiar spirits. Those who sought in any way to contact the spirits or communicate with the dead were punished likewise (v. 27). As the death penalty is not mentioned in v. 6, it is supposed that in some cases it was left to the decision of the judges, according to the gravity of the offense. According to v. 27, the ordinary penalty was death. On the meaning of the term see on ch. 19:31.

7. Be ye holy. This, as has been remarked before, is the dominant note of Leviticus, and one which God wished His people ever to have in mind. The reason given is simply: “I am the Lord your God.”

8. Keep my statutes. Verse 7 inculcates sanctification. Immediately follows the injunction, “Keep my statutes”; and then the words, “I am the Lord which sanctify you.” Sanctification and the keeping of God’s statutes are here combined—as they indeed must be in real life. The claim that sanctification can be gained without obedience to the will of God is a spurious claim.

9. Curseth his father. We are not informed what was involved in this cursing that demanded the death penalty. The fact that this is not defined implies that disrespect of any kind is included.

Death seems a severe penalty for merely cursing anyone. What great responsibility this placed on the parents, so to bring up a child that he would have respect for authority. We are reminded of this when we see parents meekly submit to abuse by a child who in a tantrum not only refuses to obey, but screams, kicks, rebels, and even hits father or mother. Too late, such parents may regret that they did not take the boy in hand in time, but permitted him to pass beyond restraint. The greatest regret will come with the realization that had they acted wisely and promptly, the boy might have been saved in the kingdom.

10. Adultery. Verses 10–21 do not make pleasant reading. Nor were they intended to. The things mentioned are shameful things, wicked things. Hence the judgment is generally death.

20. Die childless. This penalty may not seem drastic today; but in ancient times it meant much. To die childless was to have no part in the hope of Israel, to be, practically, outside the covenant.

23. The manners of the nation. God desired His people to be separate from those around them, in manner, dress, morality—even in their eating. God’s ideal for His people is complete separation from the world.

25. Put difference. See on ch. 11.

26. Severed. Literally, “separated.” The same Hebrew word appears in Gen. 1:4, 6, 7, 14; Ex. 26:33; Isa. 59:2; etc. It is translated in Lev. 20:24 as “separated,” and in v. 25 as “put difference.” Israel was to be distinct from all other nations, not only in their form of worship, but in their ideals, objectives, social and recreational life, diet, and dress. God “severed” His people from all others, not simply to make them different from all others, but that they might represent in their every habit of life His own perfection of character. Thus even the heathen nations would come to recognize the superiority of the laws of God (Deut. 4:6–9).

Ellen G. White comments

2, 3 5T 320

6 GC 556; PP 685

7 5T 743

7, 8 CH 66, 68, 83; ML 250

23-25MH 280

27 GC 556