Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 3 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII.
1, God forbiddeth his people to doe after the manner of the beathens. 6, Unlawfull mariages and copulations, with neere kindred. 19, Other unlawfull lusts 21, Idolatrie. 23, and beastlinesse; 24, wherewith the Canaanites were defiled, and for which the land should spew them out. 26, By whose example Israel is warned to keepe Gods statutes and judgments, lest the like evils came upon them also.
ANd Iehovah spake unto Moses, saying. Speake, unto the sonnes of Israel; and say unto them: I, am Iehovah your God. After the doing of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not doe: and after the doing of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall yee not doe: and in their statutes, ye shall not walke. My judgements shall ye doe, and my statutes shall yee keepe, to walke in them: I, am Iehovah your God. And ye shall keepe my statutes, and my judgments; which a man shall doe, and shall live by them: I, am Iehovah.
None of you shall approach, unto any neere-kinne of his flesh, to uncover (their) nakednesse: I, am Iehovah.
The nakednesse of thy father, and the nakednesse of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother, thou shalt not uncover her nakednesse.
The nakednesse of thy fathers wife, shalt thou not uncover: it, is thy fathers nakednes.
The nakednesse of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or the daughter of thy mother; whether she be borne at home, or borne abroad: thou shalt not uncover, their nakednesse.
The nakednesse of thy sonnes daughter, or of thy daughters daughter; thou shalt not uncover their nakednes: for they, are thy nakednesse.
The nakednes of thy fathers wives daughter, begotten of thy father; she is thy sister: thou shalt not uncover her nakednes.
The nakednesse of thy fathers sister, thou shalt not uncover: she, is thy fathers neere-kinne.
The nakednesse of thy mothers sister, thou shalt not uncover: for shee, is thy mothers neere-kinne.
The nakednes of thy fathers brother, thou shalt not uncover: unto his wife, thou shalt not approch; she, is thine aunt.
The nakednes of thy daughter-in-law, thou shalt not uncover: shee, is thy sonnes wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakednes.
The nakednes of thy brothers wife, thou shalt not uncover: it, is thy brothers nakednes.
The nakednes of a woman, and of her daughter, thou shalt not uncover: her sonnes daughter, or her daughters daughter, thou shalt not take, to uncover her nakednes; they are neere-kinne, it is wickednes.
And a woman unto her sister, thou shalt not take; to vexe (her,) to uncover her nakednes upon her, in her life.
And unto a woman, in the separation of her uncleannes: thou shalt not approach, to uncover her nakednes.
And unto thy neighbours wife, thou shalt not give thy copulation, for seed, to defile thy selfe with her.
And of thy seed shalt thou not give, to cause-to-passe-through (the fire) unto Molech: and thou shalt not profane, the name of thy God; I am Iehovah.
With a male; thou shalt not lye, like copulation with a woman: it, is abomination.
Neither shalt thou give thy copulation, with any beast, to defile thy selfe therewith: neither shall a woman, stand before a beast, to lye downe thereto; it, is confusion.
Be not ye defiled, in any of these (things:) for in all these, the nations are defiled, which I cast-out, from your faces. And the lands defiled; and I doe visit the iniquitie thereof, upon it: and the land spueth out, the inhabitants thereof. You shall therefore keepe my statures, and my judgments; and shall not doe, any of these abominations; neither the homeborne, nor the stranger that so journeth among you. For all these abominations, have the men of the land done, which were before you: and the land, is defiled. That the land spue not out, you also; when ye defile it: as it spued out, the nation, which was before you. For whosoever shall doe, any of th… abominations: even the soules that d… them, shall be cut-off, from among their people. Therefore yee shall keepe my charge not to doe, any of the statutes of abomi… tions, which were done before you; and ye shall not be defiled in them: I am Iehovah your God.
Annotations.
DOing] that is, doings or actions, as the Greek and Chaldee translate: the singular number implieth all and everie one of their unlawfull practices. land] which the Chaldee explaineth, the people of the land. Of Egypt, the scripture testifieth, that it was an Idolatrous land, and there Israel had beene defiled, Ezek. 20. 7. 8. and 23. 8. Likewise of Canaan, Levit. 20. 23. therefore these two are expresly named, and all other implyed. statutes] or, decrees, ordinances described by their lawes; either for religion or otherwise if they were superstitious. The Hebrew doctors explaine it thus; We may not walke in the statutes of the heathens, nor bee like unto them, either in apparell, or in haire [Lev. 19. 27.] or any the like, Lev. 18. 3. But Israel must be separated from them & known by their apparell and their other workes, as they are separated from them in their knowledge and opinions: and so he saith (Lev. 20. 26) I have separated you from (other) peoples. A man must not apparell himselfe with the apparell that is peculiar unto them, nor let the locks of his head grow, like the lockes of their heads, nor shave off the sides, and leave the haire in the midst, as they doe, &c. nor build places, as they build temples for idolatrie, &c. Maimony treat. of Idolatrie, ch. 11. sect. 1.
Vers. 4. my statutes] that is, mine onelyonly; as, him thou shalt serve, Deut. 6. 13. is expounded by our Saviour, him onelyonly thou shalt serve: Matt. 4. 10. It meaneth also all my statutes, Deutero. 12. 32. and so The words of this law, Deut. 27. 26. is explained by the Apostle, all things which are written in the booke of the law, Ga. 3. 10. therfore in the next verse here, the Greeke version addeth, And ye shall keepe all my statutes. Of this it is said; Iehovah who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, with great power, and a stretched out arme, him shall ye feare, and him shall yee worship, and to him shall yee doe sacrifice, and the Statutes, and the jugdements, and the Law, and commandement which he wrote for you, yee shall observe to doe for evermore, and yee shall not feare other Gods; and the Covenant which I have made with you, yee shall not forget, &c. 2 King. 17. 36. 38. By this therefore God forbiddeth them all mens inventions, Eccles. 7. 29. the works of their owne hands, Ier. 25. 6. and the statutes of the Kings of Israel, which they after made without the commandement of the Lord. 2 King. 17. 8. Mat. 6. 16.
Vers. 5. shall live by them] or, in them: that is, shal have eternall life of God, for doing them: and so the Chaldee paraphraseth, hee shall live by them to life eternall: and as Solomon Iarchi saith, in the world that is to come. This and the like promises elsewhere, as in Ezek. 20. 13. are legall, and differ from the promises of the Gospell; as the Apostle observeth saying; The just shall live by faith: and the Law is not of faith, but the man that doth them, shall live by them, Gal. 3. 11. 12. and againe, For Moses describeth the justice which is of the Law, that the man which doth them, shall live by them, (alledging the very words of this text, according to the Greeke version:) but the justice which is of faith, speaketh on this wise; Say not in thine heart, who shall goe up to heaven, &c. That, if thou shalt confesse with thy mouth, that Iesus is the LORD; and shalt beleeve in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: Rom. 10. 5.—9.
Vers. 6. None of you] Heb. Man man yee shall not approach: that is, not any man. To approach or (come neere) is used for carnall copulation, as in Gen. 20. 4. Abimelech had not come neere unto her. So in Ezek. 18. 6. and Esa. 8. 3. I approached unto the Prophetesse, and she conceived, &c. Moreover from this word approach, the Hebrewes (comparing herewith the 30. v.) doe say, Who so commeth to any of these nakednesses (the unlawfull copulations following,) either by way of copulation, or that imbraceth or kisseth by way of lust, any of his kinne, is to be beaten by the Law. For the meaning is, yee shall not approach unto the things which may bring you unto the uncovering of their nakednesse. And it is unlawfull for a man to make signes with hand foot or eye (as Prov. 6. 13.) to any of these, or to sport with her, or to gaze on her beautie, &c. Maimony in Issure biah, chap. 21. sect. 1. 2. neere-kin] The Hebrew Sheer signifieth flesh, Psal. 73. 26. Prov. 5. 11. and 11. 17. And as Basar, flesh, is sometime used for kindred, Gen. 29. 14. so is Sheer, in this case of mariage and copulation; and so by the Chaldee and Greeke it is translated neere, and neere-of kinne. nakednesse] that is, the secrets, or shamefull part of the body, whereof since sinne came on mankinde, we are most ashamed: therfore the Greeke translateth it shame or uncomelinesse; which also the holy Ghost alloweth in Rev. 16. 15. and in Rev. 3. 18. it is called the shame of nakednesse. To uncover nakednesse here, meaneth carnall copulation, and incest; not onelyonly out of maried estate, but also unlawfull and incestuous mariages. The Hebrewes say, Whatsoever copulation is forbidden in the Law; for which one is guilty of cutting off, and which are spoken of in Levit. 18. they are called Nakednesses, and every one of them is called incest (or nakednesse;) as with mother, or sister, or daughter and the like. Maimony, treat. of Wives, chap. 1. sect. 5.
Vers. 7. of thy father, and the nakednesse of thy mother] This is one fact, but a double sinne: for by uncovering the fathers nakednesse, is meant the lying with his wife; as Levit. 20. 11. and as after in verse 8. and in verse 14. the uncovering of the uncles nakednesse, is expounded the approaching unto his wife, The Hebrewes say, Hee that lieth with his mother, and shee his fathers wife, is double guility; (whether it bee while his father is living, or after his death;) once for that she is his mother, and againe for that she is his fathers wife. Maimony in Issureibiah, chap. 2. sect. 2. It may also be thus spoken, to imply the woman with her father, as the man with his mother: and so Ionathan in his Targum here paraphraseth, The woman shall not lye with her father, and the man shall not ly with his mother.
V. 8. thy fathers wife] though shee be not thine owne mother, but mother in law, This was Reubens sinne, who lay with Bilhah his fathers concubine, Gen. 35. 22. It was a sinne infamous among the heathens, 1 Cor. 5. 1. The Hebrew canons say; A mans fathers wife, and his sonnes wife, and his brothers wife, and his fathers brothers wife, these foure are a nakednesse unto him [that is, unlawfull for him] for ever: whether they be of the betrothed, or of the maried, be they divorsed or not divorsed, bee their husbands alive or dead; except it bee his brothers wife who hath left no childe (at his death, Deut. 25. 5.) And if he lye with any one of them, whiles her husband is alive, he is double guilty: in respect that she is of his neere kinne, and againe for that she is another mans wife. Maimony in …ssureibiah, chap. 2. sect. 1. it is thy fathers nakednesse] that is, it belongeth to him onelyonly to uncover the same.
Vers. 9. whether she be borne at home, &c.] Hebr. of the birth (or kindred) of the house (or home;) or of the birth abroad: which the Chaldee expoundeth thus, which is begotten by the father, of an other woman; or of thy mother, by an other man. The Hebrew canons further explaine it, thus; whether shee be his sister by his father, or by his mother, either in maried estate, or by fornication; as if his mother or his father have committed whordome with others, and he hath a sister from fornication; loe this is a nakednesse [that is forbidden] unto him; as it is written. Borne at home, or borne abroad. Maimony in Issurei biah, chap. 2. sect. 2. So in Targum …onathan it is expounded, whom thy father hath begotten of another woman, or of thy mother; or whom thy mother hath borne by thy father, or by an other man.
Verse 10. daughters daughter] and so other of further descent: how much more then his next daughter, though shee be not named. The Hebrewes say; Who so companieth with a woman by way of fornication, and begetteth a daughter of her, that daughter is a nakednesse (forbidden) him, in the name of his daughter. And although hit be not said in the Law, Thou shalt not uncover thy daughters nakednesse: for as much as it forbiddeth the daughters daughter, it keepeth silence concerning the daughter, which yet is forbidden by the Law, and not by the Scribes onelyonly. Maimony in Issureibiah chap. 2. sect. 6. thy nakednesse]▪ that is, borne of thy nakednesse.
Vers. 11. begotten] or, the generation, or kin of thy father. This some doe understand, a kin to thy father by mariage with her mother, and no… begotten of his body: but the Greeke translateth it Homo patria, begotten of the same father; and the Chaldee expoundeth it likewise. The Hebrew doctors also explaine it, The daughter of his fathers wife, which is his sister by his father: she is a nakednesse (unlawfull) for him. But if his father mary a wife, and shee hath a daughter by another man, that daughter is lawfull for him, for she is not (Moledeth) begotten of his father. But is he not guilty concerning her, by the name of his sister? And why is it said, the daughter of thy fathers wife? to make him guilty concerning her, in this respect also. Therefore …e that companieth with his sister, which is his fathers daughter in mariage, is double guilty; once by the name of Thy sisters nakednesse; and againe by the name of The nakednesse of thy fathers wives daughter. But if his father have forced a woman, or inticed her, and begotten a daughter of her, and (the sonne) company with her, he is not guilty but by the name of his sister onelyonly: for the daughter of a forced woman, is not the daughter of his fathers wife. Maimony in Issure… …, chap. 2. sect. 3. 4.
V. 12. fathers sister] thy aunt, by thy fathers side.
Vers. 13. mothers sister] thy aunt, by the mothers side. Of these the Hebrewes say; His mothers sister, whether it be her sister by her father, or her sister by her mother; whether in maried estate, or in fornication; loe she is a nakednesse (forbidden) unto him, by the name of his mothers sister. And so the fathers sister, whether by mother or father, in mariage or in fornication; she is forbidden him by the name of his fathers sister▪ Maimony in Issureibiah, chap. 2. sect. 5.
Vers. 14. fathers brother] meaning his wife (as the next words shew,) called his nakednesse, because man and wife are one flesh, Matth. 19. 6. So in verse 16. So the notes on verse 8. not approach] in Greeke, not goe in: that is, not lye with her: see the notes on verse 6. thine aunt] the Chaldee explaineth it, thy fathers brothers wife.
Vers. 15. daughter-in-law] that is, thy sonnes wife, as it is after explained. The Hebrew name Callab, elsewhere signifieth a spouse or bride: here it is, the sonnes wife; touching whom, see what is noted on verse 8.
Vers. 16. brothers wife] except when the brother deceaseth without children, then the next brother marieth her, Deut. 25. 5. See the notes on verse 8.
Vers. 17. or her] Hebr. and her: but and is often used for or; as is noted on Genes. 13. 8. Of these lawes, the Hebrewes write thus; When a man marieth a woman, there are sixe women of her kinne, unlawfull for him for ever, whether his wife live with him, or be divorsed, whether she be alive or after her death▪ and they are those; her mother, and her mothers mother, and her fathers mother, and her daughter, and her daughters daughter, and her sonnes daughter. And if he lie with any one of them, whiles his wife liveth; both of them are to be burned, (Levit. 20. 14.) Maimony in …ss…re… biah, chap. 2. sect. 7. wickednesse] in Hebrew Zimmah, which properly signifieth a wicked thought or purpose; but is applied also to wicked acts, and particularly to unlawfull copulations; the Chaldee here translateth it counsell (or purpose) of sinnes: the Greeke, an impietie (or impious act,) and in Levit. 20. 14. an unlawfull-act.
Vers. 18. a woman] or, a wife unto her sister, which the Chaldee translateth with her sister. Which word sister, may be understood of any other woman, (as brother is often used for any other man, Gen. 26. 31. and 19. 7.) & then the law here forbiddeth to take any moe wives then one; which the reason following seemeth to confirme. The Hebrewes understand it of her next sister in blood, whether she be her sister by the mother, or her sister by the father; whether in way of mariage, or in fornication. Maimony in Iss…re… biah, chap. 2. sect. 9. to vexe her] or, vexing her, or for an adversarie, as Penin…ah is called the adversarie (or vexer) of Anna, the other wife of Elkanah, 1 Sam. 1. 6. whereby it is probable, that the sister forementioned, is any other wife; and the Greeke here and there translateth a like Antizelos an … or envier. For when one man hath two wives, they are ready to envie and vexe one another: see Gen. 4. 19. 23. and 30. 15. in her life] or, whiles she is alive, as the Greek explaineth it.
Vers. 19▪ a woman] or, a wife: even from his own wife, every man was to abstain, during this her uncleannesse. See Levit. 12. and 15. chapters. separ…] that is, so long as she is separated for the uncleannesse of her monthly fluors; whereof see Lev. 15. 19. They that transgressed this Law presumptuously, were to be cut-off, Levit. 20 18. and for transgression thereof in Israel, the prophet proclaimeth, Ezek. 22. 10. And by the Hebrew doctors, this uncleannesse was as the residue of all the nakednesses forementioned; who so uncovereth her nakednesse so, deserveth to be cut off. Maimony in Issureibiah, ch. 4. sect. 1.
Vers. 20. not give thy copulation, for seed] or, of seed; that is, not lye fleshly with her; not comit adultery: which the Hebrew expresseth here by the lying (or bed) unto seed: and in Leviticus 19. 20. the lying (or bed) of seed; and so the Greeke translateth it here. The phrase meaneth carnall copulation: and not onelyonly when it is unto ess…sion of seed, but any other uncleannesse. The Hebrew cannons distinguish betweene the beginning of this act, (which they call the uncovering of nakednesse) and the accomplishment thereof. And in all these cop…lations spoken of, whether be hath uncovered her nakednesse, (beginning the act with his body▪) or hath accomplished it; yea though it be not to the effusio of seed &c. when he hath begun the act with his body, they are both of them guiltie of death by the Magistrate, or of cutting off, or of beating, or of chastisement, Maimony in Issureibiah, ch. 1. sect. 10.
Vers. 21. of thy seed] that is, of any of thy children, thy son or thy daughter, as Moses expoundeth it in Deut. 18. 10. See also Lev. 20. 2. through the fire] this word fire, is after expressed in Deut. 18. 10. and in 2 Kings 11. 3. which another Prophet expoundeth, burne in the fire, 2 Chron. 28. 3. which was the abominable custome of the heathens, so dedicating their children unto idols and Devils: and the like abomination, the Israelites committed in a valley neer to Ierusalem, 2 Chron. 33. 6. Ierm. 32. 35. which King Iosias abolished, when he defiled Topheth, which was in the valley of the sons of Hinnom; that no man might make his sonne or his daughter, to passe through the fire to Molech, 2 King. 23. 10. This sin is here forbidden amongst whordomes and incests, because even it is spiritual whoredome; as in Lev. 20. 5. it is called a going a wh…ring after Molech. The manner of doing this wickednesse, it not now certainly knowne: but is thought to be done two waies, some being burned to death, othersome made to passe onelyonly betweene two fires, for a signe of consecration. So of Achaz King of Iudah, it is said, he burnt his sons in the fire, 2 Chron. 28. 3. and of the Iewes, that they burnt their sons and their daughters in the fire, Ierm. 7. 31. and that they burnt their sonnes with fire, for burnt offrings unto B…l, Ierm. 19. 5. yea they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto Devills; and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sonns and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan. Psal. 106. 37. 38. R. Bechai (on Lev. 18) saith that the parents were perswaded, that by this sacrifice, the rest of their children should be delivered from death, and that they themselves should prosper for it, all daies of their life. Of the manner of consecrating and not killing their children, the Hebrewes write thus; There was a great fire kindled, and (the father) tooke some of his seed, to deliver the same unto the Priests that served the fire▪ and the same Priests gave the son unto his father, after that hee was delivered into their hand, to cause him to passe through the fire, by his leave: and the father of the son, was he that made his sonne passe through the fire, by the leave of the priests, and hee led him through on his feet, from one side to another, in the midst of the flame; but burned him not to Molech, after the manner that they burned their sonnes and their daughters to other Idols; but this service named Molech, was by passing through onelyonly. Maimony treat of Idolatrie, ch. 6. sect. 3. And for the manner of killing their children, in the honor of Molech, it is thus recorded in an Hebrew commentary called Ialkut, upon …erm. 7. sol. 61. col. 4. Though all (other) houses of Idolatry were in Ierusalem, yet Molechs house was without the city, in a place apart. How was Molech made? It was an Image having the face of a Bullocke, and hands spred abroad, like a man that openeth his hands, to receive somewhat▪ Within, it was hollow: and for it there were seven chappels builded, before which this image was set. Who so off…d a foule or dove, went into the first chappell▪ if he broght a Lambe, he went into the second; if a Ramme, into the third; if a calfe, into the fourth; if a bullock, into the fi…t, if an Oxe, into the sixt; and if he offred his son, hee went into the seventh. He kissea Molech, as (in Hos. 13. 2.) Let the sacrificers of men, kiss the calves. The son was set before Molech, and Molech having fire put under it, was made burning hot. Then the Priests taking the child, put him into Molechs burning bands: and to the end that the father might no heare the cry of the childe, they did beat upon Tabers: thereupon was the place called Tophet; of Toph, which is a Taber. But of these things, wee have no certainty, save that the scriptures witnesse such impiety to have beene in Israel. Molech] the name of an Idol, or Star, which the Ammonites and other heathens worshipped, called also Moloch, Amos 5. 26. and Milcom, 1 King. 11. 5. 7. and was so named, as being Melech, King; wherefore the Greeke translateth it Archon a Prince: and is thought of some to be the star Saturne, the highest of all the Planets, unto which the Carthaginians are said to have sacrificed the best of their sonnes, Diodor. Sicul. l. 20. and likewise the Phoenicians, Euseb. praep. Evang. lib. 4. Others thinke it was the Sunne, which is as King and chiefe of all the Planets, and whom the Phoenicians worshipped by the name of Be…l samen, that is, Lord of heaven, as Sanchonjatho testifieth, in Euseb. Evang. praep. lib. 1. called in the holy Scriptures Baal. And this seemeth probable, for whereas in Tophet in the valley of the sons of Hinnom, they used to make their children passe through the fire to Molech, 2 King. 23. 10. Ieremy saith they offred them unto Baal, …e…m. 19. 5. compared with Ierm. 7. 31. and Ier. 32. 35. So either it was a starre, as the Prophet saith, the starre of your God, Amos 5. 26. or, the multitude of stars, as Stephen saith, God gave them up to worship the host of heaven, Act. 7. 42. which another Prophet confirmeth, saying, They shall spread them before the Sun, and the Moone, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served: Ier. 8. 2. Of like sort were Adram melech, and Anam-melech the Gods of Sepharvaim, unto whom that people, burnt their children in fire, 2 King 17. 31. Of this Idoll Molech, R. Solomon (on Ierem. 7. 31.) saith; there was an Image of brasse, set up in the valley of Hinnom neere Ierusalem, after the forme before noted out of Ialkut. not profane] or, not pollute, not prostitute: it is contrary to hallowing or sanctifying, Lev. 22. 32. And as Gods name is profaned funday wayes, Lev. 21. 6. and 19. 12. so in speciall by idolatry; as when they applyed Gods name or word, to the service of Molech forementioned, or the like. The Hebrew doctors among other things, doe apply this unto the giving of ones life for the truth and religion of God; saying: Who so ever ought rather to be killed, then to transgresse (Gods law) if he be killed, for that he will not transgresse, loe he sanctifieth the name (of God;) and if it be before ten men of Israel, loe he sanctifieth the Name publikely, as did Daniel, Ananias, Misael, Azarias &c. Dan. 3. & 6. And of such it is said (in Ps. 44.) for thy sake we are killed all the day, &c. But who soever ought to be killed rather then to transgresse; and hee transgresseth rathen he will bee killed, toe be profaneth the Name (of God) and if it be before ten of Israel, hee profaneth it publikely, and he disanulleth the affirmative precept, for sanctifiyng Gods name; and transgresseth against the prohibition of profaning his name. Maimony, tom. 1. in Iesudei hatorah, ch. 5. sect 4.
Vers. 22. with a male] or, with man-kinde: this was the sin of Sodom, Gen. 19. 5. and of other heathens, Rom. 1. 27. called the going after other flesh, Iuce vers. 7. They that thus sinned, were by Moses Law to be stoned to death, Lev. 20. 13. by the law of Christ, they shall bee shut out of the kingdome of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9. 10. like copulation with a woman] Hebrew, with the lyings (or copulations) of a woman.
Vers. 23. to lye downe thereto] or, that it may lye with her, which sense the Greeke version also affordeth. So in Lev. 20. 16. where such beastlinesse is punished with death. And whether it be tame-beast, or wild-beast, or fowle, all are to be stoned to death, Maimony in Issureibiah, ch. 1. sect. 16. confusion] in Greeke, a detestable thing.
Vers. 24. in any of these] or, in all these; which Targum Ionathan expoundeth, in any-one of all these; every of which, the Hebrewes call Nakednes, after the scripture phrase: and they say, There are also other women, which are forbidden by tradition, and the doctrine of the Scribes; these they call Secondaries, as being second (or next) to the foresaid nakednesses; and of them there be 20. women and they are these.
1 The mothers mother, and this is infinite, as the mothers mothers mothers mother, and so all upward, are unlawfull.
2 The mother of his mothers father, onelyonly: and no further are forbidden.
3 His fathers mother, infinite: as the fathers mothers, mothers mother, and all upward, are unlawfull.
4 The mother of his fathers father, and no further.
5 The wife of his fathers father, infinite. Though she were the wife of our father Iakob [or Noe] shee is unlawfull for every of us.
6 The wife of his mothers father, and no further.
7 The wife of his fathers brother by the mother.
8 The wife of his mothers brother, whether by the mother or by the father.
9 His sons daughter in law [that is, his sons sons wife] infinite: though it should be his sons sons sons sons wife, even to the worlds end. So that Noe if he were now living, might never marry with any widow, that had been wife to any of his sons.
10 His daughters daughter in law (or sonnes wife) and no further.
11 The daughter of his sons daughter, & no further.
12 The daughter of his son, son and no further.
13 The daughter of his daughters daughter, onelyonly,
14 The daughter of his daughters son, onelyonly.
15 The daughter of his wives sons son, onelyonly.
16 The daughter of his wives daughters daughter, onelyonly.
17 The mother of his wives fathers mother, onelyonly.
18 The mother of his wives mothers father, only.
19 The mother of his wives mothers mother, onelyonly.
20 The mother of his wives fathers father onelyonly. So there are found of these which are secondarily unlawfull, foure which are infinite. The mothers mother, and all upward. The fathers mother, and all upward. The grandfathers wife, and all upward. The sons son wife, and all downward. Maimony in Ishoth (or… of Wives.) ch. …. sect. 6.
Vers. 25. doe visit] or, have visited, that is, punished, or, (as the Greeke translateth) recompensed: the time past being used for the more certainty, … the thing were already done. spueth] or, v… teth out, with …othsomnesse and indignation, … the Greek explaineth it. So after, & in Lev. 20. ….
Vers. 26. any of these] or, any of all these abo… tions. So in vers. 29. stranger] or sojourner, … Greeke, proselyte.
Vers. 28. the nation] in Greeke, the nations, … Chaldee, the peoples.
Vers. 29. the soules] that is, the persons. … rooted out, or destroyed, as the Greeke and Chald… explaine it. Of this judgement, see Levit. 20. … Gen. 17. 14.
Vers. 30. my charge] Hebrew my keeping (or … die) that is, which I command to be kept. In Greek my ordinances: in Chaldee, the custodie of my … statutes of abominations] that is, most abo… statutes: meaning their sinfull practices, which …orow custome grew to be as a Law amongst them.