Leviticus 18: Five Pesukim, Five Lessons

Most of chapter 18 deals with the list of the forbidden relationships. The first few verses also provide a wealth of information. Verses 2-6 all end with “I am HaShem your God.”Verse two is almost a direct copy of the first of the Ten Commandments.“Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: I am HaShem your God”דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃ and “I Hashem am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2).אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים׃ The first of the Ten Commandments discusses how God took the people out of Egypt. Verse three in Leviticus 18 borrows from that theme: “You shall not copy the practices of the land of Egypt where you dwelt, or of the land of Canaan to which I am taking you; nor shall you follow their laws.” כְּמַעֲשֵׂה אֶרֶץ־מִצְרַיִם אֲשֶׁר יְשַׁבְתֶּם־בָּהּ לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ וּכְמַעֲשֵׂה אֶרֶץ־כְּנַעַן אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מֵבִיא אֶתְכֶם שָׁמָּה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ וּבְחֻקֹּתֵיהֶם לֹא תֵלֵכוּ׃ Notice how this verse combines the past—Egypt—with the future—Canaan. At the time of the giving of the Ten Commandments the people were still in the Exodus stage. Now they are transitioning to the enter the land. Therefore, the commandment must adapt to include both the past and the future. The verse also has a sad foreshadowing. Following in the footsteps of the Egyptians led the people to sin with the Golden Calf. Unfortunately, when the people enter into the land of Canaan, they will be heavily influenced by the laws and customs of its inhabitants. Verse 4 introduces the two types of laws—mishpatim and chukim. “You shall observe My rules and faithfully follow My laws: I am HaShem your God.” אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי תַּעֲשׂוּ וְאֶת־חֻקֹּתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ לָלֶכֶת בָּהֶם אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃ The most common distinction between the two is that mishpatim are civil laws or laws with a reason behind them and chukim are laws that have no meaning and are simply edicts. Verse five seems to be a repetition of verse 4. God commands the people to follow his mishpatim and his chukim. However, the verse adds a small important phrase “and you shall live by them.” “You shall keep My laws and My rules, by the pursuit of which man shall live: I am HaShem.” וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם הָאָדָם וָחַי בָּהֶם אֲנִי ה'׃ The commentators are split on what this means. Some explain it was a dire warning. It means that one needs to follow the laws in order to live and not be punished by death. Others take a more holistic approach that following these laws leads to long life. A third approach takes a more legal approach. God is explaining that his laws should not lead one to their death. For example, if one is bleeding and needs medical attention on the Sabbath, God wants others to violate the Sabbath in order to save the person. Finally, verse 6 acts as a general introduction to the list of forbidden relationships, yet copies the format of the previous four verses. “None of you shall come near anyone of his own flesh to uncover nakedness: I am HaShem.”אִישׁ אִישׁ אֶל־כָּל־שְׁאֵר בְּשָׂרוֹ לֹא תִקְרְבוּ לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָה אֲנִי ה'׃ God provides a long introduction to these rules that run counter to normative practice in the ancient world (and even in the Israelite past) to emphasize the need for the people to take these prohibitions seriously and also in a way to show that God understands the gravity of these laws.