Charles Ellicott Commentary Leviticus 20:1

"And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying," — Leviticus 20:1 (ASV)

And the Lord spoke to Moses. —It is difficult to account for the position of this chapter. Naturally, we should expect it to follow Leviticus 18. If Leviticus 20 contains the penalties attached to the sins enumerated in Leviticus 18, we should expect it to follow that chapter immediately. It may, however, be that before enacting these severe punishments, the Lawgiver wanted to appeal to the high calling of the nation, to qualify them by the sublime precepts laid down in Leviticus 19 for obedience to the laws in Leviticus 18, and that in the chapter before us the civil punishments are set forth as an alternative for those who will not be guided by the spiritual sentiments enunciated in Leviticus 19.