Incest: Bible's Laws And Their Evolution

The Bible contains several references to incest, including the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, Abraham and his half-sister Sarah, and Lot and his daughters. While the Bible does not explicitly state why incest was allowed, it is speculated that it was due to the limited number of human beings on Earth at the time, making it a necessity for close relatives to marry. However, it is important to distinguish between incestuous relationships before and after God's commandments against them in Leviticus 18:6-18. The Mosaic Law, given to Moses, tightened incest standards and prohibited relationships between siblings, half-siblings, parents, and aunts/uncles. The penalty for violating the law on incest was death.

Incest in the Patriarchal Age

The Bible contains many references to incest in the Patriarchal Age, which can be defined as the period before God revealed his commands to Moses. During this time, incest was not considered a sin, and it was common for close relatives to marry and reproduce with one another out of necessity, as there were few other options.

One of the most well-known examples of incest in the Bible is the story of Lot and his daughters, recorded in Genesis 19. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his two daughters lived in isolation. His daughters, desiring children, conspired to inebriate and seduce their father, and both had sexual intercourse with him, resulting in the birth of Moab and Ammon. Another example is Abraham, who married his half-sister, Sarah. Abraham's brother, Nahor, also married his niece, Milcah.

In Genesis 2:24, it is implied that marriage and sexual relations between parents and children were not allowed, even in the Patriarchal Age: "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh". However, other types of incestuous relationships were prevalent during this period. For example, Cain was married to either his sister or his niece, and Amram, the father of Moses, married his paternal aunt, Jochebed.

It is important to note that some instances of incest in the Bible may be better described as rape, as one party was an unwilling participant. This includes the case of Lot's daughters, as well as Tamar, the half-sister of Amnon, the son of King David, who was raped by her half-brother.

The need for incestuous relationships in the early centuries of humanity can be attributed to the limited number of human beings on Earth. Additionally, as Adam and Eve were created genetically pure, there were no congenital defects to pass on to their offspring. However, over time, DNA damage accumulated, and by the time of Moses, genetic abnormalities had become a health risk, leading God to prohibit certain incestuous relationships in the Mosaic Law.

Mosaic Law

The Mosaic Law, or the Law of Moses, is the first comprehensive mandate in the Bible against marriage among family members. The Mosaic Law was given to Moses by God and prohibited the Israelites from imitating the incestuous customs of Egypt, where marriage between brothers and sisters was practised.

The incestuous unions prohibited in the Mosaic Law include:

• Son and mother
• A man with the wife of his father
• A man with the mother of his wife
• A man with his granddaughter, his wife's daughter, or granddaughter
• A man with his sister or half-sister
• A nephew with his aunt
• A man with his daughter-in-law or sister-in-law
• Marriage to two sisters at the same time

Penalties for incest under the Mosaic Law included death, excommunication, and being cursed, such as by being childless.

New Testament

The New Testament contains only two instances of incest.

The first instance involves Herod Antipas, who married his niece, Herodias, the wife of his brother, Philip. John the Baptist condemned Herod for this, which led to his imprisonment (Mark 6:17-18).

The second instance involves St. Paul excommunicating and delivering a man to Satan for having sexual relations with his father's wife, likely his stepmother. Paul condemns such an act as an "immorality...not found even among the Gentiles" and a corrupting influence on the sacred community (1 Corinthians 5:1-12).

In the New Testament era, incest was punishable by disfellowship from the local church (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).

The Levitical Code

In summary, the Levitical Code provides a comprehensive set of laws regarding incest and other sexual misconduct, establishing clear boundaries for moral behaviour and maintaining the integrity of family relationships.

Incest in modern times

The Bible contains many references to incest, with various types of sexual relationships between close kin mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. While the Bible does not explain why incest was allowed, it is speculated that it was due to the limited number of human beings on Earth at the time, and the need for marriage between close relatives. Another possible reason is the patriarchy and tribalism common at the time, with a desire to keep the family unit strong and free from ungodly religious influences.

The first comprehensive mandate against incest in the Bible came with the Mosaic Law, given by God to Moses. Leviticus 18:6 says:

> "None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the Lord."

Leviticus 18:7-18 and 20:11-21 go on to list prohibited relationships, including:

• One's mother
• One's father
• One's stepmother
• One's paternal or maternal sister
• One's daughter
• One's granddaughter
• A woman and her daughter
• One's aunt by blood
• One's father's brother (uncle)
• One's brother's wife (sister-in-law)
• One's wife's sister (sister-in-law) during one's wife's lifetime, even if since divorced

In modern times, incest is considered a massive taboo and is against the law in most societies. It is defined as a familial or romantic relationship in nature, between blood relatives or those related by marriage or adoption. While it is hard to determine exactly how common incest is, it is clear that it still occurs today, despite being viewed as immoral and illegal. This is mainly due to the severe genetic damage that can be caused by inbreeding, resulting in congenital disorders, death, physical disability, and developmental issues.

Incest is also often linked to abuse of power and psychological trauma, particularly in cases involving parents and children. It is estimated that up to 15% of the population has experienced some form of incestuous contact, with the number potentially being as high as 20% for women. However, it is important to note that these estimates may not be accurate, as only around 30% of victims disclose their abuse.

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