1) We are in the middle of holiness material. This is read in some Jewish gatherings on the Day of Atonement/Forgiveness Yom Kippur.
2) Holiness is a diffiuclt sense for us in this new century. One could go back to Rudoplh Otto's The Idea of the Holy, a book our eldest just read for class. At 1135-6 NIB it syas "holiness is to imitate God...to roll up one's sleeves and join in with wahtever God is doing in the world."
3) 9-18 has clear links to the 10 Commandments, with some interesting additions. (See NIB 1131-6) See Jacob Milgrom's work as well. I need to look it up, but Interpretation had a theme issue on Leviticus. some time ago..
4) This is a proof text for those who argue for the God of the poor, but notice that vv.15-16 look toward the rights of the rich as well, thereby preventing the wholesale attacks of a Robert Mugabe.
5) We have the golden rule here. I wonder if it was to summarize what preceded it?
6) v. 17 stands against the idea of legalism as it speaks of the inmost being, not only behaviors.
7) Tinothy Luke Johnson long ago noted that this chapter may have served as an organizing ext for the book of James. (JBL, 1982)
8) How do you react to rules? I tend to push against them immediately.
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