Theme: Public holiness

Exegetical Note
The first two verses of this chapter set the theme: holiness. Two things about the holiness commended here to the Israelites are noteworthy: (1) it is derivative from God's, not generated by the people; (2) it is a public holiness (as opposed to a private inner state of the soul) expressed in visible deeds. This public holiness is mostly directed toward the "neighbor" (i.e., the fellow Israelite), but is also active on behalf of the sojourning stranger (vv. 10 and 33).

Call to W…