Leviticus 20:11. Their blood shall be upon them— Compare Deuteronomy 19:10. The plain meaning of the phrase is, their blood shall be chargeable upon themselves: the punishment of them shall acquit the land from guilt; see Matthew 27:25. read more
4. Punishments for serious crimes ch. 20The preceding two chapters specify correct behavior. This one sets forth the punishments for disobedience. Chapters 18-19 already discussed most of the subjects dealt with in this chapter."The difference between the laws in this chapter and previous ones lies in their form. Those in chs. 18-19 are apodictic in form; that is, they forbid or command certain types of behavior but they rarely indicate what the consequences of disregarding these rules would... read more
Cursing parents was also punishable by stoning.Stoning ". . . was the usual punishment appointed in the law for cases in which death was inflicted . . ." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, 2:426.] Several sexual sins described here drew this penalty. The law banned the marital unions alluded to in Leviticus 20:14; Leviticus 20:17; Leviticus 20:21. Consequently these verses may be referring to common law marriages in which people lived together as husband and wife without a wedding ceremony. [Note:... read more
Penalties attached to the Sins specified above1-5. See Leviticus 18:21 and note.6. See Leviticus 19:31.9. See Exodus 21:17.19-21. See Leviticus 18:6-23.27. See Leviticus 19:31. read more
(10) Shall surely be put to death.—This is, by penalty for the sin forbidden in Leviticus 18:20. According to Jewish tradition whenever the phrase “shall surely be put to death” occurs by itself, it denotes death by strangling. This death was inflicted for six crimes—upon him who had commerce with another man’s wife; who smote his father or mother; (3) who stole an Israelite; (4) who being an elder rebelled against the decree of the senate (Deuteronomy 17:12); (5) who played the false prophet;... read more
(11) His father’s wife.—Here the penalty is enacted for the sin prohibited in Leviticus 18:8. read more
(12) With his daughter in law.—See Notes on Leviticus 18:15. read more
The Limitations of the Dwarf Leviticus 20:21 Under the old Hebrew priesthood the dwarf, while permitted to partake of the holy bread, was restrained from offering it to others. He was not to blame for being a dwarf, but only men without blemish, and who had the full measure of manly power, were permitted to exercise the functions of that holy office. I. It is the bitterest sorrow of weakness that a man cannot render aid to the helpless. And in the higher realm the sorest pang that a man can... read more
PENAL SANCTIONSLeviticus 20:1-27In no age or community has it been found sufficient, to secure obedience, that one should appeal to the conscience of men, or depend, as a sufficient motive, upon the natural painful consequences of violated law. Wherever there is civil and criminal law, there, in all cases, human government, whether in its lowest or in its most highly developed forms, has found it necessary to declare penalties for various crimes. It is the peculiar interest of this chapter that... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Leviticus 20:10
Leviticus 20:10. The man that committeth adultery— The Hebrew word may signify all kinds of uncleanness; yet here it does, and must, properly, signify adultery; a crime held so detestable by all nations, that there were few in ancient times that did not reckon it capital. Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans held it alike enormous. Is it not strange, that in our laws we punish a petty robbery with death; and suffer adultery to go wholly unpunished? read more