The chapter in Leviticus which legislates against sexual immorality is preceded by a warning to avoid the actions of the Egyptians and Cannanites. So why is David making the audacious claim that Canaan’s misdeeds were unrelated to sexual misconduct? Weren’t they kicked out of the Land for exactly that reason? Join a puzzled Scott as he interrogates David in the latest Morning Drive Bible podcast.

In today’s Morning Drive Bible, David and Scott analyze the curse that Noah imposed upon his grandson, Canaan… because of the sexual impropriety of his own son (and Canaan’s father), Ham. What’s up with that? Does that give us a hint as to why the sexual code in Leviticus is preceded with a warning not to act like the inhabitants of the Land of Canaan?

Seventeen chapters in Leviticus deal with the holiness of priests, and then a section about the holiness of all Israel… with one chapter about forbidden sexual relationships stuck in the middle. What’s it doing there? What is the connection between sexual morality and holiness?

Last time, David established that every member of the Jewish people is commanded to be holy. But, Scott wonders, if everyone is holy, doesn’t that mean that no one is holy? So what is holiness, anyway? And does holiness mean that every Israelite should live a monk-like existence?

Scott is already holy; after all, he’s a priest (kohen). But what about David: is he mandated to be holy, too? And if everyone is holy, isn’t nobody holy? Listen to Morning Drive Bible’s new series on holiness to find out!

The past 2000 years of Jewish history are the story of seeking and finding the Divine Presence and the Holy Spirit despite G-d’s apparent absence. David and Scott see the influence of Esther in the long march of Jewish history, culminating (so far) in the establishment of the State of Israel.