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

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3 Mosebok 18:7-19
Din fars og din mors leie skal du ikke vanære; hun er din mor, du skal ikke ha omgang med henne. …

3 Mosebok 20:11,12,17-21
Når en mann ligger hos sin fars hustru, har han vanæret sin fars leie; de skal begge late livet, deres blod være over dem! …