“After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.”
Ye shall preserve yourselves from these abominations following, which the Egyptians and Canaanites use.
“Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.”
And therefore ye ought to serve me alone, as my people. Cross references: : Ezek. 20:11 ; Rom. 10:5 ; Gal. 3:12
“None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. near: Heb. remainder of his flesh”
That is, to lie with her, though it be under title of marriage.
“The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.”
Lev. 20:11 Which is thy stepmother.
“The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.”
Either by father or mother, born in marriage or otherwise.
“The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.”
They are her children whose shame thou hast uncovered.
“Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.”
Or, secrets. Lev. 20:19 ; Lev. 20:20
“Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.”
Which thine uncle doth discover. Hebrew, thy father’s brother’s wife.
“Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.”
Lev. 20:21 Because the idolaters, among whom God’s people had dwelt and should dwell, were given to these horrible incests, God chargeth his to beware of the same.
“Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time. a wife: or, one wife to another”
By seeing thine affliction more bent to her sister than to her.
“Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.”
Lev. 20:18 Or while she hath her flowers.
“And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD. Molech: Gr. Moloch”
Lev. 20:2 ; 2 Kings 23:10 Which was an idol of the Ammonites, unto whom they burned and sacrificed their children, 2 Kings 23:10 . This seemed to be the chief and principal of all idols: and as the Jews write, was of a great stature, and hollow within, having seven places or chambers within him: one was to receive meal that was offered: another turtle doves: the third, a sheep: the fourth, a ram: the fifth a calf: the sixth an ox: the seventh a child. This idol’s face was like a calf: his hands were ever stretched out to receive gifts: his priests were called Chemarim, 2 Kings 23:5 ; Hos. 10:5 ; Zeph. 1:4 . Or, to make them pass. Hebrew, of thy seed.
“And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.”
I will punish the land where such incestuous marriages and pollutions are suffered. He compareth the wicked to evil humors and surfeiting, which corrupt the stomach, and oppress nature, and therefore must be cast out by vomit.
“That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.”
Both for their wicked marriages, unnatural copulations, idolatry or spiritual whoredom with Molech and such like abominations.
“For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.”
Either by the civil sword or by some plague that God will send upon such.