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Part - II

Now to consider some basic language of scripture, Several Hebrew words should be considered in the discussion:

Strong's number Heb 120. Ad-dawm; Ruddy; a human being; mankind.

Strong's number Heb 376. eesh; a man; a male person

Strong's number Heb 802. ish-shaw'; fem. of Heb376 a woman, female.

Strong's number Heb 2145. zaw-kawr'; a male person, man kind

Strong's number 2930 taw-may; To be foul, ceremonially or morraly; contaminated, polluted, unclean.

Strong's number Heb 5347. nek-ay-baw'; female person

EESH AND EESHAW: In Exo 15:3, God calls himself an EESH [376].
In Dan 9:29 God also speaks of Gabriel as being an EESH.
Gen 7:2 "Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens the male (EESH)(376) and his female (EESH-SHAW)(802).

ZAW-KAWR [2145] AND NEK-AY-BAW [5347] Gen 1:27 So God created man [120] in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male [zawkawr] [2145] and female [nek-ay-baw][5347] created he them.

Gen 2:21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man [120], made he a woman [802], and brought her unto the man [120]. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman [802], because she was taken out of Man [376]. 24 Therefore shall a man [376] leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife [802]: and they shall be one flesh.

The PRONOUNCEMENT BY GOD HIMSELF: Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind (male) [2145], as with womankind (female) [802]: it is abomination.

Lev 20:13 If a man [376] also lie with mankind (male) [2145], as he lieth with a woman (female) [802], both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Rom 1:26-27...for even their women did change the "natural use" into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the "natural use" of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly...

Scripture plainly states that a male is not to lie with a male as with a female. To rephrase, a man is not to use a man as he would a woman. There is a natural use, between a man and woman [Rom 1:26-27], and men do NOT replace women in that "natural" arrangement ordained by God.

It is highly likely that most Christians think that Sodom was destroyed for the sin of Sodomy, being totally unaware that sodomy was the last in a catalog of sins God counted against them; "Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and in his wrath." [Deut 29:23]

Ezekial tells us that the cities had many of the characteristics that are found throughout this land today, the good old U.S.A. I think it would be a good thing if the teachers and preachers of religious bodies, would quit giving shelter and aid to such practices, and wailing and moaning about "judgeing" and "discrimination" and started preaching "repentance" to the whole of society, for all of our sins.

Eze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

God does not tollerate evil in a society, and whenever that society fails to acknowledge His right to rule, He gives them over to vile affections, which soon run rampant in their members. Look to our own society, and you will cease to wonder why it is "coming out of the closet."

UFMCC POSITION: Leviticus 18:22; 20:13-14 These verses are found in the "Holiness Code" which emphasized to the Israelites that they were to be set apart to God. The context is prohibition of practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Molech.

"Abomination" is a translation of the Hebrew word which specifically means idolatrous practices (not necessarily sexual).

The condemnation here is a reference to the fertility worship which the Israelites were to shun. The seriousness of this idolatry in Hebrew eyes was compounded by the belief that "to lie with a man as with a woman" violated the dignity of the male sex. Women were property but men were the direct image of God. To treat a man the way a woman was treated was to reduce him to property and, thereby, to violate the image of God. The issue was idolatrous activity which failed to acknowledge God's creation.

THEO'S RESPONSE: It seems a little out of balance to me, when Abomination shows up 127 times in scripture; but idolatry shows up only 5, and idolatrous only once, to say that "abomination" means "idolatry." The truth being, all idolatry is an abomination to God, but not all abominations are idolatry.

For example, Egyptians could not eat bread with Hebrews, because it was an abomination to the Egyptian, but it most certainly was not idolatry. [Gen 43:32]

As well, Shepherds were an abomination to the Egyptians, but it was not idolatry. [Gen 46:34]

"Not necessarily sexual" certainly does not mean the same thing as "Not sexual." There were times when the idolatrous service included the sexual aspect, but WITH OR WITHOUT the sexual aspect, Idolatry WAS FORBIDDEN. To add the element of Sex, and call it idolatry, and to say that "the context is prohibition of practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Molech," is to "play games" with contextual considerations.

Let us examine the "context" of Lev 18, and see whether the Nearby fertility cult of Molech" is really the basis for this context: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God."

Molech was unknown to the Israelites while in Egypt. So far, it is not established as the basis for the context. It seems rather that God is establishing his own standard for conduct for his people, based on His presence in the camp. 5 "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD."

He then begins a list of moral issues dealing with sexual expression among kinfolk, So far, having nothing to do with Molech, or cult prostitution: 6 "None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. 7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

Moving on to other members of the intimate family circle, but still no mention of Molech nor the cult prostitutes: 8 "The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness."

Sibling sexual expression was forbidden, but Molech has nothing to do with the issue, nor the cult prostitution. It is prohibited in Israel: 9 "The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover."

Grandchildren are next in consideration; still no Molech or cult prostitution: 10 "The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness."

Half-sisters are listed, with no Molech, or cult prostitution: 11 "The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness."

Aunts from both sides of the family, no Molech, no cult prostitution: 12 "Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman. 13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman."

Uncles, and their wives, no Molech, no cult prostitution: 14 "Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt."

Daughter-in-law, no Molech, no cult prostitution: 15 "Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness."

Sister-in-law, no Molech, no cult prostitution; 16 "Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.

Near kinspeople of another woman, no Molech, no cult prostitution: 17 "Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.

Setting Sisters against each other was forbidden, no Molech yet, nor cult prostitution: 18 "Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time."

Jews were forbidden to have a woman during the monthly period, no Molech, no cult prostitution: 19 "Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness."

Neighbor's wife off limits, no Molech, no cult prostitution in the First twenty verses: 20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her."

Finally, the purpose of the context, as supposed by the UFMCC, 21 "And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD."

That's IT? One verse prohibiting the offering of seed through fire to Molech is not the context, it is a prohibition included in a context of sexual prohibitions addressed to Israel, whose God walks among them. To claim that the prohibitions of Lev 18 "is prohibition of practices found in the nearby fertility cult of Molech," completely abandons the sense of scripture, to prove an unprovable position.

Theo Book