How do you interpret Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, man should not lay with man?

by Jeff
(Wausau, Wisconsin)

Rick Brentlinger Answers -

Leviticus 18:22 was given to the children of Israel, in the cultural, historical and religious context of Lev 18:3, 21 and 27, to prepare them for entry into the Holy Land. The context is pagan religious practices, not lesbianism and not homosexuality.

God and Moses are prohibiting cultic sexual rites which worshiped Ashtoreth, the Canaanite fertility goddess. Ashtoreth was the fertility goddess consort of Molech, 18:21. Worshiping false gods and goddesses was so abominable to God that He promised to expel Israel from the land IF they did that.

Leviticus 20:13 was given in the cultural, historical and religious context of Lev 20:2, 3, 4, 5, 23. Again, the context is pagan religious practices in which Israel is forbidden to worship Molech and Ashtoreth, not lesbianism and not homosexuality.

Molech is mentioned so that the children of Israel (and we) will know that the issue is shrine prostitution which worships Ashtoreth, the fertility goddess consort of Molech. The Bible uses the rubric (an authoritative rule) of Molech worship to describe pagan sexual practices which included worship of Ashtoreth, 2 Kings 23:5-10.

Here are helpful links where this
is explained in more detail.

1. What about shrine prostitutes?

2. To whom is the Book of Leviticus addressed?

3. With what pagan practices did God link the Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 prohibitions?

4. How is Molech linked to Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13?

5. What is the purpose of Moses Law?

6. Did the Law of Moses apply to all people everywhere?

7. What is an abomination in the Bible?