1 And YHVH said to Moses,

 

2 "Say to the people of Israel, I am YHVH, your god.

 

3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you.  You shall not walk in their statutes.

 

4 You shall do my ordinances and keep my statutes and walk in them.  I am YHVH, your god.

 

5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances, by doing which a man shall live: I am YHVH.

 

6 "None of you shall approach any one near of kin to him to uncover nakedness.  I am YHVH.

 

7 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness.

 

8 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness.

 

9 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, the daughter of your father or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home or born abroad.


10 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness.

 

11 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, begotten by your father, since she is your sister.

 

12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is your father's near kinswoman.

 

13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is your mother's near kinswoman.

 

14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, that is, you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.

 

15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness.

 

16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; she is your brother's nakedness.

 

17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and you shall not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are your near kinswomen; it is wickedness.

 

18 And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is yet alive.

 

19 "You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness.

 

20 And you shall not lie carnally with your neighbor's wife, and defile yourself with her.

 

21 You shall not give any of your children to devote them by fire to Molok, and so profane the name of your god: I am YHVH.

Moloch, in Hebrew, means King, Counselor, Ruler and Judge.  He symbolizes the ruling of consciousness by public opinion and materialism.  Children symbolize new ideas.  Fire always signifies Consciousness.  'Sacrificing Children in Fire to Moloch' signifies being so worried about public opinion and materialism that you refuse to give consideration to new ideas and higher consciousness.  This interferes with, or profanes, the spiritual consciousness that is being sought.

 

22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Moses, like many of the Hebrews, was Homophobic.


23 And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it, neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it: it is perversion.

 

24 "Do not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am casting out before you defiled themselves;

 

25 and the land became defiled, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

Though the literal interpretation is clear, there is a spiritual one as well.  All of these admonitions relate to the misuse of the sexual function.  The sexual forces are those which enable us to be co-creators with YHVH.  They are the most important part of our spiritual body as they also may seem to be of our physical.


Ethically speaking, Whatever occurs between consent adults is their own business.  No Author, Priest or Lawmaker has the right to interfere with the sexual activities of consenting adults.  As such, anything written here that would interfere with the sexual activities of consenting adults can (and should) be ignored.

 

26 But you shall keep my statutes and my ordinances and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you

 

27 (for all of these abominations the men of the land did, who were before you, so that the land became defiled);

 

28 lest the land vomit you out, when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.

 

29 For whoever shall do any of these abominations, the persons that do them shall be cut off from among their people.

 

30 So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs which were practiced before you, and never to defile yourselves by them: I am YHVH, your god."

These are the beliefs of Moses, which he passed on to the other Hebrews.  They have nothing to do with YHVH, accept in his mind.  Thus, much of this chapter can be discarded.  Anything between consenting adults is perfectly fine.  The bible has been quoted, using its passages as an excuse to tell others how they are to live and conduct themselves in all areas of their lives.  However, no priest should have the right to do this.  Religion can be a guide, but should never be used to interfere with the private affairs of others.