Sexual Pollution in the Hebrew Bible-Eve Levavi Feinstein
The concept of pollution here is tied to the idea that G-d dwells within the land. The word (Shochen) is commonly used in priestly texts to denote God's presence in his sanctuary. Its use here suggests that the land itself is an extension of God's tabernacle and is similarly averse to pollution.
This is a significant theological idea, but it is not identical to-or even compatible with-the idea of land pollution in Leviticus 18. In the priestly tradition, God's presence is always centered on the sanctuary, even when that sanctuary is a shrine traveling through the wilderness. The land of Canaan becomes God's home only when Israel arrives there and establishes his sanctuary in it. Yet Leviticus 18 states that the ;and became polluted even before Israel's arrival, due to the abhorrent practices of its previous inhabitants. Thus, even if the idea behind these texts are related, the metaphorical constructs underlying them are different. Leviticus 18 pictures the land as a female susceptible to sexual pollution and Numbers 35 pictures it as an extension of God's sanctuary, to be preserved from pollution on account of its holiness.
Avot d'Rabi Natan. 42
Rabbi Meir: Three entered to be judged at the beginning of creation and four emerged condemned. Adam, Eve, and the serpent entered to be judged and the earth was cursed because of them
Anchor Bible Leviticus 18: 24-30
The violation of prohibitions listed in chap. 18 leads to banishment from the land. The rationale is that the land becomes polluted and vomits out its inhabitants. The ecological theology is already adumbrated in the punishment for the first human sin...
[It] rejects the notion of innate holiness in nature...the land need only be initially clean (not holy) for it to become impure. G-d's presence is responsible for the sanctification.
Sabbath of the Land-Catholic Biblical Quarterly
Both Exodus 23:12 and Deut 5:12-14 offer a rationale for observing sabbath that focuses explicitly on extending compassion toward the servile classes and less privileged in Israel... In its land sabbath, these humanitarian values are imported.