Why is adultery specifically prohibited in Leviticus 18:20? Text of the Command “You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.” (Leviticus 18:20) Definition of Adultery in Ancient Hebrew Law In biblical jurisprudence adultery (nāʾaph) refers specifically to sexual relations between a man and a married woman who is not his wife. Both participants violated covenant obligations: the woman’s marital covenant and the man’s responsibility to honor that covenant. The prohibition protected marriage as a divinely instituted bond (Genesis 2:24) and guarded family lineage, inheritance, and communal holiness. Creation Order and Divine Design for Marriage Genesis 1–2 presents one man and one woman joined in a lifelong, exclusive union—a structure declared “very good.” Adultery shatters this created order, replacing monogamous fidelity with chaos. Because humanity was fashioned in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), moral purity reflects God’s own character of faithfulness (Deuteronomy 7:9). Covenant Theology: Marriage as Picture of God’s Relationship with His People Marriage symbolizes Yahweh’s covenant with Israel and ultimately Christ’s union with the Church (Jeremiah 3:1; Hosea 2:19-20; Ephesians 5:31-32). Adultery in human relationships therefore distorts the living parable of divine fidelity. The prophets repeatedly equate Israel’s idolatry with adultery to show the depth of betrayal (Ezekiel 16; Hosea 4). Social and Familial Stability and the Role of Inheritance In an agrarian, clan-based economy, land remained within tribal lines by patrilineal descent (Numbers 36:7-9). Adultery endangered clear paternity, threatening equitable inheritance and destabilizing the economy. The Mosaic law’s capital penalty (Leviticus 20:10) underscores the gravity of that threat. Protection of Women and Children Contrary to modern caricature, the law shielded vulnerable parties. In surrounding Near-Eastern codes (e.g., Middle Assyrian Law A §§11-13) only women were punished; the Torah applies equal sanction to the man. By condemning the male aggressor, Scripture safeguarded wives from predatory exploitation and children from fragmented homes. Prevention of Idolatry and Canaanite Practices Leviticus 18 situates adultery amid bans on incest, homosexuality, bestiality, and child sacrifice—acts tied to Canaanite fertility cults discovered at Gezer, Megiddo, and Ugarit (cultic figurines, temple prostitution records). Israel must not imitate those rites lest “the land vomit you out” (Leviticus 18:24-28). Holiness Code and National Sanctification “You are to be holy to Me, because I, the LORD, am holy” (Leviticus 20:26). The Holiness Code (Leviticus 17-26) distinguishes Israel from nations under judgment. Sexual purity thus becomes a national calling intertwining moral, ceremonial, and missional dimensions. Connection to the Decalogue and Broader Ethical Torah Leviticus 18:20 expands the seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14). Like the Decalogue, it is grounded in love for God and neighbor (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37-40). Violating one’s neighbor’s marriage wrongs both that neighbor and God. Consequences of Adultery: Theological, Moral, Civil 1. Spiritual defilement—cuts offenders off from God’s presence (Isaiah 59:2). 2. Civil punishment—death under Mosaic law (Leviticus 20:10). 3. Social fallout—broken families, communal distrust. 4. Personal cost—Proverbs 6:32 warns, “He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself” . Adultery in the Prophets and Wisdom Literature Proverbs 5-7 vividly warn against the seductress, highlighting marital joy as protection. Malachi 2:14-16 indicts husbands who “deal treacherously” with their wives. The consistency of this witness demonstrates Scripture’s unified moral fabric. New Testament Continuity and Fulfillment in Christ Jesus intensifies the standard: “Everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Hebrews 13:4 reaffirms that “marriage must be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled.” Grace does not relax holiness; it empowers it (Titus 2:11-14). Historical and Archaeological Corroboration of the Command • Code of Hammurabi §§129-130 punish adultery by river-ordeal drowning, proving cross-cultural recognition of its severity. • Elephantine papyri (5th c. BC) require fidelity clauses in Jewish marriage contracts. • Lachish ostraca and Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls affirm early textual stability of the moral law, supporting manuscript reliability. The Gospel Dimension: Adultery, Sin, and the Need for Redemption Adultery illustrates humanity’s broader rebellion. Yet Jesus bore adultery’s penalty at the cross, offering forgiveness and transformation (1 Peter 3:18). The woman caught in adultery heard, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11)—a call made possible by His atoning death and resurrection, empowering believers to live in covenant fidelity for the glory of God. |
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