Parsha Achrei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27)

Double Parsha: Achrei Mot-Kedoshim

Day 7: Leviticus 20:8-20:27

(Study Notes)

(Leviticus 20:8-9)

This final section begins with another prohibition against insulting your father and mother. Just as a parent should not insult the child by offering him or her to Molech, so the child should not likewise insult the parent. Just as the parent is put to death for harming the child, so a child will be put to death for insulting a parent.

Insulting one’s father or mother causes blood guilt since the father and mother are one’s elders. Thus, as elders, we are to respect them. They also are the ones who gave us life. So, insulting them shows disrespect for your own life. It also disrespects Hashem who used your parents to bring you to life. Again, if you have parents who are far from Hashem there is a way to respect them without following their ways,…

Leviticus 20:8-27

וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ אֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֔י וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָ֑ם אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃

8 And keep ye My statutes, and do them: I am the LORD who sanctify you.

כִּֽי־אִ֣ישׁ אִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְקַלֵּ֧ל אֶת־אָבִ֛יו וְאֶת־אִמּ֖וֹ מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת אָבִ֧יו וְאִמּ֛וֹ קִלֵּ֖ל דָּמָ֥יו בּֽוֹ׃

9 For whatsoever man there be that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

וְאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִנְאַף֙ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִנְאַ֖ף אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֵ֑הוּ מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת הַנֹּאֵ֖ף וְהַנֹּאָֽפֶת׃