Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 18:20

ואל אשת עמיתך. להוציא השבויה ויש אומרים כי כבר היתה אסורה ואשר גברה תאות יצרם על דעת לבם תעו בפירוש לזרע וידענו כי המשגל נחלק לג׳‎ חלקים האחד לפריה ורביה בלא תאוה והשני להקל מלאות הגוף והשלישי לתאוה הנמשלת לתאות הבהמה ואחר שאמר הכתוב לזרע שטעמו אפילו לזרע הנה היא אסורה אסור חמור ומזרעך לא תתן הבא אחריו לעד. והוסיף לטמאה בה כי לא ינקה כל הנוגע בה והוא טמא לעולם ובפרשה הזה לא אסר הנכרית כלל ואין טענה מהשבויה כי היא מתייהדת: WITH THY NEIGHBOR’S WIFE. This excludes the captive woman.⁶⁵See Deut. 21:10-14. There are those who say that she⁶⁶Our verse does not deal with a non-Jewish woman, for a non-Jewish woman is prohibited to an Israelite whether she is married or not. However, a Jewish woman is prohibited to an Israelite only if she is married. Thus “thy neighbor’s wife” does not stand in contrast to a married captive woman but in contrast to an unmarried Jewish woman (Filwarg). For other interpretations see Rabbi Samuel Zarza, Krinsky, and Weiser. was previously prohibited. Those whose sexual craving⁶⁷Literally, lust of their inclination. overcame the intelligence of their heart erred in explaining the meaning of le-zara⁶⁸Literally, to give seed. (carnally).⁶⁹These commentators read our verse as follows: You shall not lie with your neighbor’s wife for the purpose of seed that is to impregnate her. We know that sexual intercourse is divided into three groups. One, to be fruitful and multiply⁷⁰For reproduction. and not to satisfy lust. Two, to relieve the fullness of the body.⁷¹For release of sexual tension. So too Maimonides, M.T. Hilkhot De’ot 3:2, “He will…not engage in sexual intercourse whenever he lusts, but only when he knows that he has to ejaculate for reasons of health.” Three, for the purpose of lust, which is similar to the lust of an animal.⁷²For pure sexual pleasure. Now since Scripture says le-zara (carnally), the meaning of which is even for seed,⁷³I.E. renders our verse: You shall not lie with your neighbor’s wife even for the purpose of producing seed (children), that is, to impregnate her. a married woman is prohibited by a very severe prohibition.⁷⁴For a married woman is prohibited even if the adultery is not committed for the purpose of sexual lust. And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to set them apart to Molech (v. 21) is proof.⁷⁵That le-zara (for seed) means for the purpose of children, for the word seed in verse 21 definitely applies to children. Scripture adds to defile thyself with her to let us know that the one who touches her will not be cleansed; he will be defiled forever. This verse⁷⁶Verse 21. does not at all prohibit a non-Jewish woman.⁷⁷According to this interpretation verse 21 prohibits intercourse with a non-Jewish woman, who will offer her children to Molech (Weiser). See I.E. on Lev. 21:2. Other non-Jewish women are not included in this verse. Vat. Ebr. 38 reads: This verse (verse 21) prohibits all non-Jewish women. There is no argument from the captive woman,⁷⁸That one may marry non-Jewish women, for the captive woman is not Jewish and yet an Israelite may marry her. for she converts to Judaism.