Lev 18:2 | TNotes | STEP | 18:2 Many Near Eastern treaties began with the name and titles of the ruler who was drawing up the treaty. The phrase I am the Lord your God gives the name of the Great King, Yahweh (English the Lord ), followed by his title, your God (see also Exod 20:2 ; Deut 5:6 ). These words were an abbreviated way to invoke Israel’s covenant with God and all that it implied. By reminding the people that they were the Lord’s, these words carried an authority that required a response (Lev 11:44 ; 18:4-5 ). Chapter 18 begins and ends (18:30 ) with these words, and they appear frequently throughout chs 19

a18:2►

bExod 20:2►

cDeut 5:6►

dLev 11:44►

e18:4-5►

fChapter 18►

g18:30►

h19–26►

‏ Leviticus 18:2

18:2 ^a Many Near Eastern treaties began with the name and titles of the ruler who was drawing up the treaty. The phrase I am the Lord your God gives the name of the Great King, Yahweh (English the Lord), followed by his title, your God (see also Exod 20:2 ^b; Deut 5:6 ^c). These words were an abbreviated way to invoke Israel’s covenant with God and all that it implied. By reminding the people that they were the Lord’s, these words carried an authority that required a response (Lev 11:44 ^d; 18:4-5 ^e). Chapter 18 ^f begins and ends (18:30 ^g) with these words, and they appear frequently throughout chs 19–26 ^h.