The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 347

EXPOSITION. The phrase, bearing 1au Iniquity, means CHAPTER XX. that the man con tin nes in the state of a. The subject of oh. xviii. is resumed in criminal until he bas been cleansed either this chapter; but that which was before con- by snlfering the punishment of his offence sidered as sin only is now regarded as crime, or making atonement for it, whioh some- and penalties are attached according to the times he might, sometimes he might not, heinousness of the offence. For example, do. The man who committed incest with the sin of" giving of his seed to Molech," or a sister would " bea,- his iniquity" (ver. 17), which is the ea.me thing, "letting any of his because he would be put in a state of ex- seed pass through the fire to Molech," had commnnication without permission of restora- been forbidden as a Bin in eh. xviii. 21; now tion by means of sacriflcie.l olferinge. And it is condemned as a orime. The various so with the man who took his aunt by blood penalties assigned in this chapter are (1) (ver. 19) or by marrio.ge (ver. 20) as his burning tJJith fire (ver. 14); (2) stoning 10ith wife,-he would not be allowed to recover stones (vers. 2, 27); (3) being put to death iu his sto.tus by olfering sacrifice. Childleas- a manner not specified (vers. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, ness, the punishment for marrying an uncle's 15, 16); (4) being cut off from among his or brother's wife, probably menns tho.t in people, either by God himself (vers. 4, 5, 6) those cases the olfender's children should not or by an agency not specified (vers. 17, 18); be counted as his own, but should be entered (5) bearing his iniquity (vers. 17, 19, 20); in the genealogioal register as his uncle's (6) childleunua (vers. 20, 21). The first of or his brother's children. (Of. Deut. xxv. these peno.lties, burning with fire, does not 10, where it is noticeable th11.t the peno.lty mean that those on whom it was inflicted is retained, even though the marriage with were burnt o.live, but that their dead bodies the brother's wife, which ho.d been pr, ... were burnt after they ho.d been stoned to hibited in general, had in the pe.rticulo.r death, as in the oase of Achan (Josh. vii. oo.se become a duty for family or tribo.l 25). It is the punishment for taking a rensons.) mother and daughter together into the Vers. 2, 3.-The close connection between so.me harem (ver. 14). Stoning 10ith stonea giving of hill seed unto Moleoh and defiling my sanotnary, and profaning my holy name, is is appointed for crimes which o.re at once explained and illnetro.ted by Ezekiel in the olfences o.gai.nst religion and morals, viz. judgment on Aholah and Aholibah. "They giving of his seed to Moleoh (ver. 2), o.nd ho.ve caused their sons, whom they ho.re witchcraft (ver. 27). The other form of unto me, to pass for them through the fire, putting to death, which no doubt wo.s to devour them. Moreover this they ho.ve done unto me: they have defiled my so.no- etrnngling, is the penalty assigned to tue.ry in the so.me day, o.nd have/rofaned my cursing parents (ver. 9), adultery (ver. 10), sabbe.ths. For when they ho. slain their IDllJriage or intercourse with a stepmother ob.ildron to their idols, then they came the (ver. 11) or stepdaughter (ver. 12), the so.me de.y into my sonctuo.ry to profone it; sin of Sodom (ver. 13), and bestiality (vers. and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house" (Ezok. uiii. 37-39). Not only 15, 16). Cutting off from hie pwpls may be wo.s the juxtaposition o.nd combination of the elfected either by death (vers. 4, 5, and worship of Molech and Jehovah an oflence perhaps 6), which is the penalty for Molech- to him whose name is Jealous, but e.t the worship, oonnivnnce o.t Molech-worship, and time tho.t Molech-worship wo.s co.rricd 011 dealing with witches; or by excommunica- in the valley of Hinnom, idols were set up tion (vers. 17, 18), whioh was the punish• in the oourt of the temple itself, as wo !corn from the Book of Kings o.nd from Jeremi[l.h, ment for intercourse with a sister, or with "But they set their abominations in Lhe one who was uncleo.n by reason of her house, which is called by my Name, to defile monthly sickness (see Exod ux.i. 14). it. And thoy built tho high ple.cea of llaa.I, 312 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [OH, :U. 1-27..