XVII. (1) AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. — The Day of Atonement was instituted to purge, in an especial manner, the whole community from all their sins, and present them a holy nation before the Lord once a year. Hence it is now followed by regulations concerning every-day life, the observance of w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UNTO ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — To understand the import of this phrase, and its bearing upon the injunction in question, it is necessary to notice that the words “and unto all the children of Israel” are here used for the first time. Hitherto the Divine communications were made to (1) Moses... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT KILLETH AN OX, OR LAMB, OR GOAT. — The law which is thus solemnly laid down is that when one of the three kinds of the sacrificial quadrupeds (see Leviticus 7:23) are intended for private use, they must not be slaughtered within or outside the camp. That the injunction here refers to the domest... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BRINGETH IT NOT UNTO THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION. — Better, _and bringeth it not to the entrance of the tent of meeting;_ that is, if he does not bring it to the place where the sacrifices are killed, and offer it first as a peace offering to Jehovah, he is to be regarded as w... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE END THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MAY BRING. — The reason why these three kinds of animals, when intended for private food, are to be brought to the precincts of the sanctuary, and are there to be offered first as a peace offering to the Lord, is to prevent the Israelites sacrificing them to th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PRIEST SHALL SPRINKLE. — After the animals in question had been duly slaughtered by those who brought them, the officiating priest who caught the blood in a bowl is to throw it upon the walls of the altar of burnt offering. (See Leviticus 1:5.) AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGAT... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL NO MORE OFFER THEIR SACRIFICES UNTO DEVILS. — The word (_sçirim_) here translated “devils,” literally denotes _hairy_ or _shaggy goats,_ and then _goat-like deities,_ or _demons._ The Egyptians, and other nations of antiquity, worshipped goats as gods. Not only was there a celebrated... [ Continue Reading ]
WHATSOEVER MAN THERE BE. — Better, _what man soever there be,_ as it is in the Authorised Version in Leviticus 17:3. Here again we have an instance of the same legislative phrase used four times in one short section (Leviticus 17:3; Leviticus 17:8; Leviticus 17:10; Leviticus 17:13), being translated... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHATSOEVER MAN. — Better, _and what man soever._ (See Leviticus 17:8.) EATETH ANY MANNER OF BLOOD. — This prohibition, which has already been mentioned twice in Leviticus, is in both instances joined to the prohibition of fat. (See Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 7:26.) Owing to its great importance,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD. — Better, _for the soul of the flesh is in the blood._ The word here rendered “life” in the Authorised Version occurs twice more in this very verse, and is in both instances properly translated _soul._ Though it is immaterial whether the word in question is... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE I SAID... — Because it is the vehicle of life, and has been ordained by God to atone for life, the children of Israel are here forbidden to eat it. The strangers are also prohibited eating blood, because they have submitted to the law of the land, and because their eating it would not only... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHATSOEVER MAN. — Better, _what man soever_ (see Leviticus 17:3). Hitherto the law mainly discussed the blood of sacrificial animals, or those quadrupeds which were slaughtered at home. In this and the following verses the statute is extended to all other creatures which, though wild, are legall... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT IS THE LIFE OF ALL FLESH... — Better, _for the soul of all flesh is its blood, in, or through, its soul,_ that is, the sacredness of the blood arises from the fact that it contains the vital principle of all animal life. Or this clause may be rendered, _for the life of all flesh is its blood... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH DIED OF ITSELF. — The law enacted here is a natural sequel to the one immediately preceding, since it is still based upon the sacredness of blood. As the body of the animal which either died a natural death, or has been torn by a wild beast, retains a great portion of its blood, it is for... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE SHALL BEAR HIS INIQUITY. — If he neglects these acts of purification, and enters the sanctuary in a defiled state, or partakes of the sacrificial meal, he is to incur the penalty of excision for the former act, and to be beaten with stripes for the latter, according to the interpretation giv... [ Continue Reading ]