No man shall approach to her that is near of kin to him, to uncover her nakedness. I am the Lord.

1. As human nature now is, it is very expedient that those who are so much together in youth, should, by such a restriction be taught to look upon all such intercourse as prohibited and incestuous; for unless such restrictions are made, it would be impossible to prevent the prevalence of very early corruption among young persons. (See Michaelis on the laws of Moses, Art.

108.)

2. That the duties owing by nature to relatives might not be confounded with those of a social or political kind; for could a man be a brother and a husband, or a son and a husband at the same time, and fulfil the duties of both? Impossible.

3. That by intermarrying with other families, relationship and its endearments might be diffused. These prohibitions are, therefore to be considered so eminently moral obligations as to be observed by all mankind

to uncover

Leviticus 18:7-19 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother: she is thy mother, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. . . .

Leviticus 20:11,12,17-21 If a man lie with his stepmother, and discover the nakedness of his father, let them both be put to death: their blood be upon them. . . .