THE LAWS OF PURIFICATION
These laws suitably follow chs. 8 10 which record the consecration of
the priests. As sacrifice was the principal element in that
consecration, the laws of sacrifice (chs. 1 7) appropriately
_precede_the account of the inauguration of the worship in chs. 8 10.
One of the c... [ Continue Reading ]
Leviticus 11:1-23 [51]. The Distinction between Clean and Unclean Food
[51] For the sources from which this ch. comes, and its relation from
a critical point of view to Deuteronomy 14:3 ff. see App. I (_c_), pp.
162 f.
One principle underlying this distinction appears to have been that
animals whi... [ Continue Reading ]
The camel's hoof is parted above but the lower part is not divided.
The Egyptians did not eat the flesh of the camel, but both the flesh
and the milk are considered as lawful food by the Arabs.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the coney_ The exact equivalent of the Heb. _shâphân_is given in
R.V. mg. In Psalms 104:18; Proverbs 30:26 it is described as a weak
and timid animal, taking refuge in the rocks, and Tristram (_Land of
Israel_, p. 250) remarks that it is difficult to capture. -Coney," an
old English term for -rabbi... [ Continue Reading ]
The flesh of the pig is forbidden because it is not a ruminant. Of the
four animals here mentioned, the swine was specially obnoxious to the
Jews, either owing to its being an object of heathen worship (cp.
Isaiah 65:4; Isaiah 66:3; Isaiah 66:17), or for sanitary reasons. To
eat pork was by them reg... [ Continue Reading ]
_their carcases ye shall not touch_ The word carcase is the same as
that translated -that which dieth of itself" (Leviticus 17:15;
Deuteronomy 14:21). Here and in Deuteronomy 14:8 contact with the dead
bodies of these unclean animals is prohibited.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the eagle_ Heb. _nésher, great vulture_R.V. mg. The _nésher_is
described (Micah 1:16) as bald, as spying for prey on the peaks of the
rocks, and as swooping down upon the slain (Habakkuk 1:8; Job
39:27-30). The griffon, of the vulture family, is denoted by this Heb.
word. The eagle cannot be descri... [ Continue Reading ]
_the kite vulture_A.V. The Heb. word _dâ"âh_occurs only here as the
name of a bird, but a similar word _dayyâh_is found in Deuteronomy
14:13 and Isaiah 34:15 (_kite_[_s_ R.V., _vulture_[_s_ A.V.) only. The
Heb. words in Lev. and Deut. are
Lev. _dâ"âh_(kite) _"ayyah_(falcon),
Deut. _râ"âh_(glede) _... [ Continue Reading ]
_ostrich_ Here and in Deuteronomy 14:15; Job 30:29; Isaiah 13:21;
Isaiah 34:13; Isaiah 43:20; Jeremiah 50:39; Micah 1:8 the rendering
-owl" of A.V. should be corrected to -ostrich."
_the night hawk_ The meaning of the Heb. _taḥmâṣ_is very
uncertain. The root seems to indicate a bird of aggressive a... [ Continue Reading ]
_the little owl_ Heb. _kôṣ_in the two texts and in Psalms 102:7
only. A bird screeching by night is indicated by the LXX. and Vulg.
_the cormorant_ The position of this word in Deut. is more suitable
than here. The Heb. word _shâlâk_implies plunging downwards with
force and the Targ. translates it... [ Continue Reading ]
_the horned owl (swan_A.V. and R.V. mg.) another kind of owl. The Heb.
root (also used in Leviticus 11:30 for the chameleon [_mole_A.V.])
suggests a bird that makes a snorting sound, or breathes hard. The
LXX. trans. πορφυρίων. Tristram (_Nat. Hist. of the Bible_,
p. 249) and Driver (_Deut. in loc._... [ Continue Reading ]
_the stork_ In the two lists, and Psalms 104:17 (-the fir trees are
her house"); Jeremiah 8:7 (-knoweth her appointed times," i.e. of
migration), Zechariah 5:9 †. The Heb. word means -pious" or
-merciful" (referring to her tenderness towards her young). In the
difficult passage, Job 39:13, either th... [ Continue Reading ]
_All winged_ SWARMING _things_ The same words as in Deuteronomy 14:19;
swarming creatures which also fly, i.e. flying insects. A.V. obscures
for the English reader the identity of expression by rendering here
-all fowls that creep," and in Deuteronomy 14:19 -every creeping thing
that flieth." In Deu... [ Continue Reading ]
The connexion between these _vv._and Leviticus 11:41 is very close,
and Leviticus 11:24 are generally regarded as supplementary. See pp.
162 f.... [ Continue Reading ]
Four kinds of these swarming things which may be eaten are mentioned.
The first and last of these occur frequently in the O.T., the second
and third only here.
The first is _"arbeh_, the general term for a locust, and from the
passages in which it occurs (e.g. Exodus 10:4, of the plague of
locusts,... [ Continue Reading ]
Uncleanness caused by Dead Bodies
(See introductory note on Leviticus 11:20.)
Leviticus 11:24 are a general introduction. -And by these" (Leviticus
11:24) refers to what follows, not to the -winged creeping things" of
Leviticus 11:23.
(_a_) touching or bearing the carcase of (α) beasts specified... [ Continue Reading ]
_goeth upon its paws_ animals like the dog and cat whose feet are
hand-like in form, having digits and claws.... [ Continue Reading ]
Uncleanness caused by Creeping Things
29. _the weasel_†] According to early Versions, and the Mishna the
Heb. word should be thus translated; but some prefer the rendering
-mole."
_the great lizard_†] _tortoise_A.V. The cognate words in Arab. and
Syr. support the rendering of R.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
For the four words which follow see R.V. mg. They occur only in this
verse.
_chameleon] mole_A.V. following the versions. The same Heb. word is
translated _horned owl_in Leviticus 11:18.
It seems strange that so many kinds of lizards are mentioned; also
that the same Heb. word should have two such... [ Continue Reading ]
_creep_ SWARM.... [ Continue Reading ]
The case of one of these small animals creeping into a pan or bag or
garment, and being found dead, seems to be contemplated. In such a
case the vessel is unclean for the rest of the day and (Leviticus
11:33) if earthen must be broken, cp. Leviticus 6:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
Any food mixed with or put in water (for cooking or eating) and any
drink into or upon which one of these swarming things has fallen is
unclean.... [ Continue Reading ]
If the carcase of any swarming thing come in contact with an oven, of
small cooking stove, the vessel becomes unclean and must be broken.
The Heb word _kîraim_† probably means a small cooking stove. LXX.
translate -pots with feet." The dual form is used either because the
vessel consisted of two pa... [ Continue Reading ]
The continuous renewal of water in a well renders the uncleanness
inappreciable, but he who takes out the carcase is rendered unclean by
touching it. The case of the pit or cistern is not clear. It might be
so large that the effect of a small swarming thing could be neglected,
or the water might be... [ Continue Reading ]
For the seed which is to be sown, contact with swarming things may be
disregarded; but if water be added (i.e. if it is put with water in a
vessel for cooking), uncleanness will ensue.
A special case comes in Leviticus 11:39.... [ Continue Reading ]
The carcase even of a clean beast causes uncleanness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Eating the carcase is forbidden as in Deuteronomy 14:21. According to
Leviticus 17:15, the eater must also bathe himself. LXX. supply this
command here.... [ Continue Reading ]
_creeping thing that creepeth_ SWARMING thing that SWARMETH, and so in
Leviticus 11:42 except the last part of Leviticus 11:44 -that moveth
(_creepeth_A.V.) upon the earth."
43 45 may be an excerpt from H (see _Introd._p. xix, _The Law of
Purification_). In fact, Horst and Kuenen (and Dillm. partia... [ Continue Reading ]
This would come appropriately as a conclusion to the rules about
eating, after Leviticus 11:23. Cp. Ezekiel 8:10 f.... [ Continue Reading ]
The reason for these prescriptions is given; it is the same as in H.... [ Continue Reading ]
_creepeth_ SWARMETH.... [ Continue Reading ]
Summary. It refers only to the rules about eating, and so makes no
reference to Leviticus 11:24. See App. I (_c_).... [ Continue Reading ]