Rabbi Yehuda ben Pazi said: Why was the portion of forbidden sexual relations juxtaposed to the portion of “[you shall be] holy”? It is to teach you that everywhere that you find restraint from forbidden sexual relations, you find holiness. This is consistent with another statement of Rabbi Yehuda ben Pazi, who said: Anyone who restrains himself from forbidden sexual relations is called holy. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi cites it from the Shunamite woman.
That is what is written: “She said to her husband: Behold now, I know that the man of God is holy” (II Kings 4:9). Rabbi Yona said: He is holy, but his attendants are not holy. That is what is written: “Geiḥazi came to push her away [lehodfah]” (II Kings 4:27). Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: He pushed her away by the glory of her beauty [behod yofyah], by her breasts.
Rabbi Aivun said: It teaches11Rabbi Aivun is commenting on the fact that the Shunamite woman referred to the prophet Elisha as holy. that he had never looked at her. The Rabbis say: [It teaches] that she never saw a drop of semen on his sheet. The maidservant of Rabbi Yishmael bar Rav Yitzḥak said: I would tend to the garments of my master, and never did I find anything untoward on the garments of my master.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Why was the portion of forbidden sexual relations juxtaposed to the portion of “[you shall be] holy”? It is to teach you that everywhere that you find restraint regarding forbidden sexual relations, you find holiness. There are many verses for this. “[They shall not marry] a licentious woman or a profaned woman” (Leviticus 21:7), [is followed by the verse]: “You shall sanctify him, for he offers the food of your God, [he shall be holy to you]” (Leviticus 21:8).
“A widow or a divorcee, or a profaned woman, or a licentious woman, [these he shall not marry]…and he shall not profane his offspring” (Leviticus 21:14–15). And this: “Speak to the entire congregation of the children of Israel…” (Leviticus 19:2).