![]() ![]() Most of the incest laws are presented in a straightforward manner, but two are not. The core of Leviticus 18 is the list of incest laws, each of which includes the memorable phrase “uncover nakedness.” This is typically understood as a euphemism for sexual intercourse, so “you shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister” would mean something like “do not have sex with your father’s sister.” The chapter’s original character, however, can be uncovered with a little detective work. In addition to having the prohibition against same-sex relations added to it, the earlier text, I believe, was revised in an attempt to obscure any implication that same-sex relations had once been permissible. ![]() As I argue in an article published in the latest issue of the journal Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel, there is good evidence that an earlier version of the laws in Leviticus 18 permitted sex between men. An earlier edition of Leviticus, then, may have been silent on the matter of sex between men.īut I think a stronger claim is warranted. Many scholars believe that the section in which Leviticus 18 appears was added by a comparatively late editor, perhaps one who worked more than a century after the oldest material in the book was composed. Like many ancient texts, Leviticus was created gradually over a long period and includes the words of more than one writer. In Verse 22, we find its most famous injunction: “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 20:13 repeats this law, along with a punishment for those who violate it: “They shall be put to death their blood is upon them.”) Before Leviticus was composed, outright prohibitions against homosexual sex - whether between men or women - were practically unheard-of in the ancient world.Ĭhapter 18 of Leviticus contains a list of forbidden incestuous acts, followed by prohibitions against sex with a menstruating woman, bestiality and various other sexual acts. ![]() No text has had a greater influence on attitudes toward gay people than the biblical book of Leviticus, which prohibits sex between men. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |