Penalties for Offenses: Chapter 20 constitutes a serious set of instructions about the death penalty, which Moses receives and passes on to the people. This is significant for the community since its members will become the executioners. Much of the legal material in the Holiness Code is “apodictic,” or universal law given on the basis of divine authority. This chapter employs a more casuistic form, case law related to various circumstances. It is comparable to Exodus 21:12–17, and the verb translated must be put to death is the hop’al form, “will be caused to die.” The teachings are meant to preserve holiness and to treat various family circumstances. The offenses described have already been discussed in chapters 18–19; here the proper penalty is given.

20:1–7 The first offense has to do w…