Kedoshim: Ten Commandments Plus?

What looks like the Ten Commandments, sounds like the Ten Commandments, but isn’t the Ten Commandments? Torah Portion Kedoshim would be a good answer. Kedoshim, however, is more than the Decalogue. Kedoshim- part of Leviticus’ Holiness Code- serves a different purpose.

The Torah Portion Kedoshim, while covering most of the Decalogue’s commandments, also contains additional commandments and wisdom that have inspired Western Civilization’s foundational beliefs and aspirations. This Torah Portion also created a national expectation of holiness.

To understand the gravity of Kedoshim, one must first tackle its introduction.

Kedoshim’s Daunting Introduction

From its onset, Kedoshim demands that the Children of Israel ascend to a higher moral standard. Kedoshim starts with the Lord directing Moses to do the following: “Speak to all the congregation of the Children of Israel, and you shall say to them: You shall be holy, because I, the Lord, your God, am holy.” Leviticus 19:2. With this, the newly formed covenantal nation became one in which their Deity now held them to lofty expectations.

Given that premise, one can ponder as to how the commandments, directives and wisdom within this Holiness Code promoted the creation of a holy nation. What constitutes a holy person?

To tackle that question in a broad sense, a survey of Kedoshim is indicated.

Kedoshim incorporates the Ten Commandments into the Holiness Code. There are many provisions relating to them. Beyond those provisions, additional societal rules are part of the Code.

To begin with, Kedoshim will be examined for its Decalogue content.

The Decalogue Passages

Throughout Kedoshim, there are passages that are Decalogue or Decalogue-related content.

In Leviticus 19:3, Honoring One’s Parents, the Sabbath and the Divine Declaration are addressed: “you shall each fear his mother and his father,” “you shall observe my Sabbaths,” and “I am the Lord, your God.” [Note: later within the Code there is an Egyptian reference: “you were foreigners in Egypt.” Leviticus 19:34]

With respect to idolatry and graven images, there is Leviticus 19:4: “Do not turn to idols, and you shall not make molten gods for yourselves.”

With respect to stealing, there is the simple, Leviticus 19:11: “You shall not steal.” Additionally, there is Leviticus 19:13: “…you shall not rob.”

With respect to veracity, there is Leviticus: 19:11: “…you shall not lie.”

With respect to using the Lord’s name in vain, there is: “And you shall not swear by my name falsely, so that you would desecrate your God’s name…” Leviticus 19:12.

With respect to adultery, Leviticus 20:10 provides that there will be punishment for “a man who will commit adultery with a man’s wife- who will commit adultery with his neighbor’s wife!”

Absent from Kedoshim, however, is a specific prohibition against coveting. Perhaps, given the many additional provisions, a specific reference was deemed unnecessary.

Beyond the Decalogue

Beyond the Ten Commandments, Kedoshim contains a multitude of commandments addressing a wide variety of topics.

The following are some of the exceptionable provisions:

“And when you reap your land’s harvests, you shall not finish harvesting your field’s corner, and you shall not gather your harvest’s gleaning. And you shall not collect the vineyard’s fallen fruit. You shall leave them for the poor and the alien.” Leviticus 19:9-10

“An employee’s wages shall not stay through the night with you until morning.” Leviticus 19:13

“You shall not curse a deaf person.” Leviticus 19:14

“You shall not place a stumbling block in front of a blind person.” Leviticus 19:14

“You shall not do injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to a weak person, and you shall not favor a big person. You shall judge your fellow with justice.” Leviticus 19:15

“You shall not slander among your people.” Leviticus 19:16

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart.” Leviticus 19:17

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Leviticus 19:18

“You shall get up in front of an aged person, and you shall show respect in front of an elderly person.” Leviticus 19:32

“And if an alien will reside with you in your land, you shall not persecute him. The alien who resides with you shall be to you like a citizen of yours, and you shall love him as yourself, because you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” Leviticus 19:33

“You shall not do an injustice in judgement, in measurement, in weight, and in quantity.” Leviticus 19:35.

[Note: Kedoshim includes matters concerning sacrifices, sexual relations and witchcraft which I have not included within this survey.]

Are there values that be reduced from these commandments? How do they impact the notion of holiness?

Holiness

What is it about these various commandments which creates separation- holiness? Can it be the care and concern for others? It is being fair and just? Is it being humble and empathetic towards other human beings?

In the end, what makes something holy is speculative.

Conclusion

Kedoshim’s goal differs from the Ten Commandments. While the Decalogue established a national community code of conduct, Kedoshim’s intent was to elevate. Kedoshim’s goal was to create a holy nation; a nation with higher standards and demands. What exactly constitute holiness is speculative. Beyond the Ten Commandments’ values, it appears that Kedoshim adds additional layers of concern for others, fairness, and empathy as components of holiness.

In modernity, advocates of societal reform turn to the Ten Commandments as an acceptable behavioral base. From Kedoshim’s Holiness Code passages, it appears that some of the code’s elements are currently promoted within society. Justice, concern for family, the elderly, the disabled, neighbors, the poor, and strangers, and fairness are values impacting societal rules and behavior. While not part of the Ten Commandments, it is undeniable that some of these provisions remain as societal aspirations.

Be well!!

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