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8.4.4.1 Incest
The rules regarding incest are formulated in terms of forbidden
women (Lev. 18; 20:11–12). A man cannot sleep with his mother
or his father’s wife, his sister (uterine or not), granddaughter, step-
mother’s daughter born in the household, aunt, uncle’s wife, daughter-
in-law, or brother’s wife. The daughter’s absence is conspicuous but
sleeping with her was forbidden by the prohibition of sleeping with
one’s own flesh. No equivalent list details whom a woman cannot
sleep with; the law, addressed to males, does not consider women
the initiators of sexual relations (Lev. 18:6–16).8.4.4.2 Sleeping with certain pairs is prohibited: a woman and her
daughter or granddaughter, or two sisters (Lev. 18:17–18). The one
who lies with sister or mother-in-law incurs the communal curse in
Deuteronomy 27:22–23. Amos’ indictment of the father and son
sleeping with the same girl indicates that this is a parallel forbidden
pair (Amos 2:7).8.4.4.3 Deuteronomy forbids a man to sleep with his father’s wife,
which strips his father naked (Deut. 23:1). The man who does so
incurs the communal curse in Deuteronomy 27:20. The narratives
indicate that this act is seen as dishonoring the father.8.4.4.4 One cannot sleep with a menstruating woman (Lev. 18:19;
cf. Ezek. 18:6).8.4.4.5 Bestiality is forbidden (Lev. 18:23), punishable by death
(Exod. 22:18). Whoever lies with a beast incurs the communal curse
in Deuteronomy 27:21. This is the only act that names women as
subjects: they cannot sleep with male animals (Lev. 18:23). Both man
and beast and woman and beast have bloodguilt and are to be killed
(Lev. 20:15–16).8.4.4.6 One cannot sleep with a male as “the lying with a woman”
(Lev. 18:22). In context, it almost certainly prohibits anal intercourse
between men. They have incurred bloodguilt and should be put to
death (Lev. 20:13).^77(^77) Olyan, “ ‘And with a Male You Shall Not Lie.. .’ ”
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