XIV. (1) YE ARE THE CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH. — This fact is made the foundation of all the laws of ceremonial and moral holiness in the Pentateuch, more especially in the Book of Leviticus, where these laws are chiefly to be found. YE SHALL NOT CUT YOURSELVES. — The precept is repeated with little var... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THOU ART AN HOLY PEOPLE. — This verse is repeated from Deuteronomy 7:6, word for word, except the _“_and,” which is added here. In the former passage, the principle is made the ground for destroying all monuments of idolatry in the land of Israel. Here it is made the basis of outward personal di... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT EAT ANY ABOMINABLE THING. — That is, anything which Jehovah has pronounced abominable. The distinctions between His creatures were alike established and removed by the Creator. Yet, no doubt, they had also a sanitary purpose in relation to the chosen people.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ARE THE BEASTS WHICH YE SHALL EAT. — The following paragraph to the end of Deuteronomy 14:8 answers to Leviticus 11:2, with this difference. The beasts that _are to be eaten_ are specified in Deuteronomy. The _exceptions_ are given in Leviticus. THE OX, THE SHEEP, AND THE GOAT. — These being s... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WILD GOAT. — In German the “Steinbock” is given as the equivalent for this creature. The pygarg (_dîshon_) is sometimes taken to be the buffalo. If all these creatures were then to be found in Palestine, there must have been far more uncleared land than there has been for many centuries past.... [ Continue Reading ]
(6-8) These directions are the same given in Leviticus 11:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
(9-10) See Leviticus 11:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE ARE THEY OF WHICH YE SHALL NOT EAT. — With one exception, the unclean birds are the same described in Leviticus 11:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GLEDE, AND THE KITE, AND THE VULTURE. — In Leviticus 11:14, “the vulture and the kite_”_ alone are named. The Hebrew words are in Leviticus _dââh_ and _ayyah._ In this place they are _rââh, ayyah,_ and _dayyah._ The close resemblance between the names is noticeable. For a description of the crea... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE MAY EAT IT. — Literally, _and he will eat it._ The common practice, and not the intention of the writer, may be indicated. It should be remembered that these rules and restrictions were intended to raise the Israelites above the common level; not to degrade the other nations in comparison of... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT TRULY TITHE. — The Talmud and Jewish interpreters in general are agreed in the view that the tithe mentioned in this passage, both here and in Deuteronomy 14:28, and also the tithe described in Deuteronomy 26:12, are all one thing — “the second tithe;” and entirely distinct from the ordin... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU SHALT EAT BEFORE THE LORD THY GOD — i.e., thou shalt eat the second tithe. This was to be done two years; but in the third and sixth years there was a different arrangement (see Deuteronomy 14:28). In the seventh year, which was Sabbatical, there would probably be no tithe, for there was to... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT BESTOW THAT MONEY. — The Jews were very particular in not permitting the second tithe to be expended upon anything not permitted here. The rules as to its disposal form a separate treatise in the Talmud, called _Ma’aser Shênî,_ “second tithe.” OR FOR STRONG DRINK. — From this it is clear... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THE END OF THREE YEARS THOU SHALT BRING FORTH AIL THE TITHE. — This is called by the Jews _Ma’aser ‘Âni, “_the poor’s tithe.” They regard it as identical with the second tithe, which was ordinarily eaten by the owners at Jerusalem; but in every third and sixth year was bestowed upon the poor.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LEVITE. — Rashi says, “the Levite shall come and take the _first tithe_ (described in Numbers 18), and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow the _second tithe.”_ But there is no proof whatever that anything except the second tithe is alluded to in the whole of this passage. _The Levi... [ Continue Reading ]