Day 3 (Part 2): Leviticus 18:1-22 (Study Notes)
Day 3 (Part 2): Leviticus 18:1-22
(Leviticus 18:1-4)
In this portion, Hashem prohibits His people from following any of the laws or practices of the Egyptians, from whence He had just brought them. Hashem also prohibits Jews from following or practicing the laws or ways of the people in Canaan—the promised land of Genesis 15, to which Hashem was about to bring His people to settle.
Hashem’s reason: “I the LORD am your God.”
Thus, instead of following after the laws and rules of the Pagan nations, which lead to death, Hashem desires and commands His beloved Jewish people to only follow His laws, rules, and statutes. By keeping and observing Hashem’s Torah, rulings, and statutes the people and nation of Israel can and will live. These rules and laws are the wisdom of Hashem. They were the first thing created in the universe. Thus, by the wisdom of Hashem, everything has life and can sustain life. The Tree of Life is Torah—the crown upon a Jew’s head, and the light that guides our path.
(Leviticus 18:6-23)
After prohibiting pagan practices amongst His people, Hashem begins to list specifics. The prohibitions given imply that the listed practices are common amongst pagan religions, cultures, and nations. Thus, the Jew must not practice any of these prohibited behaviors.
The first grouping lists various prohibitions for people’s nakedness whom a Jew should not uncover. Most of these are close family relations, next of kin, step children, step parents, cousins and the like. In all there are 17 prohibitions of forbidden carnal relations including incest of all kinds, adulterous relations of all kinds, homosexual relations between men, and carnal relationships with animals.
The prohibition of uncovering the nakedness of close familial members harkens the sin of Ham, which caused the land of Canaan to be cursed. (Genesis 9:18-28). Ham exposed the nakedness of Noah after the flood. Hashem subsequently cursed the land of Canaan and said the Canaanites would be the slaves to the descendants of Shem and Jephath in their own land and/or the people of Canaan would dwell in the tents of Shem—meaning the land would be given to Shem and Jephath. Abraham is a descendant of Shem. Later thaw land of Ham was promised to Abraham’s descendants from Sarah (Genesis 15).
(See also Genesis 10:21-31, Genesis 11).
Am Yisrael Chai!
Kimberly Davis