Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Leviticus 18:27 mean when it says the land was defiled?
A: According to Rashi and other traditional Jewish sources, the verse refers to the immoral and idolatrous practices of the Canaanites, which spiritually contaminated the land. The Torah teaches that the land of Israel has a unique holiness and is sensitive to moral behavior. When people commit severe sins like those listed in Leviticus 18, it creates a spiritual impurity that affects the land itself.
Q: Why does the Torah mention 'the men of the land who were before you' in Leviticus 18:27?
A: The Ramban explains that this serves as a warning to the Jewish people entering the land of Israel. The Canaanite nations were being displaced because of their sinful behavior, and the verse reminds us that if the Jewish people engage in similar sins, they too could lose their right to the land. It emphasizes the connection between moral behavior and dwelling in the holy land.
Q: What are the 'abominations' referred to in Leviticus 18:27?
A: The abominations refer to the forbidden relationships and immoral acts listed earlier in Leviticus 18, including various forms of incest, adultery, and other prohibited unions. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 57b) and Rambam (Issurei Biah 1:1) explain that these laws apply universally as part of the Noahide laws, but carry special severity in the land of Israel due to its holiness.
Q: How does Leviticus 18:27 apply to Jews today?
A: The verse teaches that our moral behavior affects our relationship with the land of Israel. The Sforno explains that this principle applies in all times - when Jews live according to Torah values, we merit to dwell securely in the land, but immoral behavior can lead to exile. This reminds us of the spiritual responsibility that comes with living in or being connected to the holy land.
Q: What is the connection between people's sins and the land becoming defiled?
A: The Midrash (Torat Kohanim) explains that the land of Israel is different from other lands - it is 'G-d's land' (Leviticus 25:23) with a special spiritual sensitivity. Just as the Temple becomes defiled by impurity, the land itself reacts to moral impurity. The Talmud (Ketubot 111b) teaches that the land physically rejects those who behave immorally, showing the deep connection between the Jewish people, their behavior, and the land.
Context in the Torah
The verse appears in Vayikra (Leviticus) 18:27, within a section warning Bnei Yisrael against adopting the immoral practices of the Canaanite nations. The Torah emphasizes that these abominations defiled the land, leading to their expulsion.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Vayikra 18:27) clarifies that "the men of the land" refers specifically to the Canaanites, whose abominations included idolatry, forbidden relationships (as listed earlier in the chapter), and other severe sins. He notes that the land "vomited out" its inhabitants (Vayikra 18:25) as a consequence of these defilements, demonstrating that the land itself has a spiritual sensitivity to moral corruption.
Rambam's Perspective
In Mishneh Torah (Hilchot Issurei Bi'ah 22:2), Rambam explains that these abominations were systemic in Canaanite society, leading to complete moral decay. The defilement of the land was not merely ritual but reflected a breakdown of the natural order, necessitating divine intervention.
Midrashic Insights
Halachic Implications
The Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 188) derives from this verse that dwelling in Eretz Yisrael obligates adherence to higher moral standards, as the land cannot tolerate sustained corruption. This idea underpins the concept of mitzvot hateluyot ba'aretz (commandments dependent on the land).
Kabbalistic Dimension
The Arizal (cited in Pri Etz Chaim, Sha'ar HaMitzvot) explains that the land's defilement disrupted the flow of divine energy (shefa), as Eretz Yisrael is uniquely connected to spiritual purity. Only a nation living by Torah values can properly channel this holiness.