The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 350

HOMILIBS BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Human IJQCrijius. Ch. xx. 1-:-5; c~. Gen. xxii. 1-19; Micah vi. 7. In this chapter- we come to a catalogue of capital crimes. Upon the whole list of cases we need not dwell; but the first has some interest as raising the question of "human 11&crifices." How early the terrible practice of offering "the fruit of the body" in atonement for " the sin of the eoul" arose, we can scarcely say. It has been supposed to be as early at all events, as the time of Abraham. Some entertain the notion that the sacrifice of Isaao was primarily a temptation to imitate the custom existing in the land. But if the horrible custom existed in Abraham's day, nothing could more clearly convey that the- Divine pleasure rested in other sacrifices altogether than the details of the escape of Isaac. The custom of human sacrifices was widespread, as investigations show.1 Here· and elsewhere the Lord sets his face against them. Let us see if we can grasp th& principle involved. I. HUJUN SACRIFICE IS THE NATURAL CLIMAX OF THE BAOBIFIOIAL IDEA. "If no scruples," says Ewald, "held a man back from giving the dearest he had when a. feeling in his heart drove him to sacrifice it to his God just as it was, then he would easily feel even the life of a beloved domestic animal not too dear to be given up at his heart's urgent demand. Nay, only in the offering up of life or soul, as the last that can be offered, did it seem to him that the highest was presented. But the logical con- sequence of such feelings was that human life must ultimately be looked upon as incom- parably the highest and most wondrous offering, whether the life offered be that of a stranger or, as that which is dearest to one, that of one's own child, or even of one's self. Thus human sacrifice was everywhere the proper crown and completion of all these utterances of the fear of God." The case of Abraham is one in point. When God for wise pmposes demanded the surrender of the only begotten and well-beloved son. Isaac, he asked the patriarch for the greatest conceivable sacrifice; and, so far as intention is concerned, Abraham made the sw·render. It has been called on the patriarch's part a "magnificent and extraordinary act of romantic morals." 1 While, therefore, it was in reality, as we shall see, a condemnation of human sacrifices as such, it illustrates their real spirit. II. HUMAN BACBIFICE IS AT THE BAME TIME BUCH A MONSTROUS AND EXTRAVAGANT EXPRESSION OF THE BACBIFICIAL IDEA THAT NOTHING BUT A DIVINE CO.IIOIAND WOULD WA.BRANT THE ENTERTAINMENT OF IT. What distinguishes Abraham's case in con- nection with the proposed sacrifice of Isaac from that of all other sacrifices of human life is that he had a command of God to go upon, while the others followed the devices of their own hearts. So sacred should human life appear to men, that the idea of taking it away should only be entertained under the most solemn sanctions. Besides, but for the sin-distorted mind of man, it would appear that the consecration of human beings as "living sacrificeP.," is in itself far higher and nobler than their death (Rom. xii. 1). To take innocent infants and place them in the flaming arms of Malech must appear a most monstrous and exaggerated expression of the sacrificial idea. But would God, in any circumstances, command human sacrifices? As a matter of fact, men were sacrificed through capital punishment. The present chapter is full of capital crimes. Men died under the direction of God for their crimes. ThiA, how- ever, is not the sacrificial idea, which involves the sacrifice of the innocent in the room of the guilty. This was doubtless what led the infants to be favourite sacrifices with the heathen-the innocency of the sufferer constituted the greater appeal to the angry deity. We observe, then- III. THAT GoD FORBADE, UNDER THE PENALTY OF DEATH, HUMAN BACRIFICEB, AND IN THE ONLY CABE WHERE HE SEEMED TO DEMAND A HUMAN SACRIFICE HE HAD PRO- VIDED A SUBSTITUTE. He made the offering of children to Molech a capital crime. This was not aimed at the idolatry only, but at the unwarranted exaggeration of the sacrificial idea. Besides, in the case 1,f Isaac, just when Abraham was about to slay 1 Cf. Smith's • Dictionary of the Bible,' '·"· 'Moleoh ; ' also Ewald's referenoea, note p. 69, of hia • Antiq.uities of Israel.' '~ozley's 'Ruhng Ideas iu Early Age1,' p. 02; seo also the ohapter on 'Human Sacnfices.' CH. XX. 1-27.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 315