"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16)

Leviticus 18:24 Exemplifies the Binding
Nature of the Law on All Peoples at All Times


by Stuart DiNenno


Regarding the theonomic assertion that the law of God applies to all nations at all times, and not just the primitive nation of Israel, consider Leviticus 18:24:

“Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you”

This is spoken by Moses at the precise time when the law is being given to the Israelites through him. The Israelites (“you”) are warned against defiling themselves “in any of these things” at any point in the future. But notice that the non-Israelites (“the nations”) are said to have already defiled themselves in the same things. They have already been judged by God to be guilty of breaking His laws. The same word (“defile”) is used when referring to the result of transgressions by Israelites and non-Israelites, and the same transgressions (“these”) are being referred to in both cases. This shows that the law is applied to Israelites and non-Israelites, and that it applied both before and after the revelation of the laws in all their fullness to Israel.

It’s also important to note that “cast out” in Lev. 18:24 didn’t just mean that the Canaanite people were to be displaced. No, God specifically told the Israelites to utterly destroy all of them. This proves that the non-Israelites were not only subject to the same law but were to receive the same penalty (death) for grave violations of it, just as Israelites were to be executed for grave violations of the law given to Moses.

1 thought on “Leviticus 18:24 Exemplifies the Binding Nature of the Law on All Peoples at All Times”

Leave a Reply to Lanie Lampard Cancel reply