XXII. (1) AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. — In this chapter the laws regulating the conduct of the priests in their holy ministrations are continued. As the last chapter concluded with the permission to disqualified priests to eat of the sacrifices, this chapter opens with conditions under which eve... [ Continue Reading ]
SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM THE HOLY THINGS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — As parts of the sacrifices offered by the Israelites belonged to the priests, they are here warned that (see Leviticus 7:20) they are not to consider themselves absolutely entitled to them under all circumstances, and that there a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER HE BE OF ALL YOUR SEED, AMONG YOUR GENERATIONS. — Better, _throughout your generations, every man._ So the Authorised version properly renders the expression here translated “among your generations” in Leviticus 23:14; Leviticus 23:21. (See Leviticus 3:17; Leviticus 21:17.) THAT GOETH UNTO... [ Continue Reading ]
IS A LEPER. — The different forms of uncleanness are now specified. (For the leper, see Leviticus 13:3.) OR HATH A RUNNING ISSUE. — See Leviticus 15:2. WHOSO TOUCHETH ANY THING THAT IS UNCLEAN BY THE DEAD. — That is, if he touches any person or anything that had been defiled through contact with a... [ Continue Reading ]
OR WHOSOEVER TOUCHETH ANY CREEPING THING. — See Leviticus 11:24. OR A MAN OF WHOM HE MAY TAKE UNCLEANNESS. — Better, _or a man who is unclean to him,_ that is, who is a leper (see Leviticus 13:45), or has an issue (see Leviticus 15:5, &c.), and who imparts defilement by contact.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SOUL WHICH HATH TOUCHED. — Better, _the man who hath,_ that is, the priest for whom these laws are here enacted. Hence the ancient Chaldee version renders it “the man a priest.” SHALL BE UNCLEAN UNTIL EVEN. — When the day ends and another begins (see Leviticus 11:24), and when he had to immerse... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHALL AFTERWARD EAT... BECAUSE IT IS HIS FOOD. — As the sacrifices which were the perquisites of the officiating priests were the only things he had to live upon, the priest who had contracted defilement had virtually to go without food till sundown, when he purified himself by the prescribed lu... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE SHALL NO STRANGER EAT OF THE HOLY THING. — By “stranger” here is meant a non-Aaronite who was a stranger to the priestly family, though he was an Israelite, or even a Levite. The holy things are the peace offerings. (See Leviticus 7:30.) A SOJOURNER OF THE PRIEST. — This, during the second Te... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF THE PRIEST BUY ANY SOUL. — The case, however, was different with heathen slaves whom the priest purchased. These were admitted into the Jewish community by the rite of circumcision, they were allowed to partake of the paschal lamb, and of every privilege of the Israelites. Hence they became i... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE PRIEST’S DAUGHTER ALSO BE MARRIED. — Better, _And if the priest’s daughter be married,_ By marrying a Hebrew of non-Aaronic descent, and thus leaving her paternal home, the daughter of the priest ceased to be part of the family circle, and lost her right to partake of the holy things. Her bre... [ Continue Reading ]
BE A WIDOW, OR DIVORCED, AND HAVE NO CHILD. — An exception, however, to this rule is, when the priest’s married daughter loses her husband either by death or by divorce, and has no children; under such circumstances she may resume her family ties under her paternal roof. Having lost her bread suppli... [ Continue Reading ]
EAT OF THE HOLY THING UNWITTINGLY. — Or, _through ignorance,_ as it is rendered in the Authorised version in all the other five passages where this expression occurs in this book. (See Leviticus 4:2; Leviticus 4:22; Leviticus 4:27; Leviticus 5:15; Leviticus 5:18.) That is, when he ate of the things... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL NOT PROFANE. — That is, the priests are not to desecrate the holy gifts of the Israelites by carelessly exposing them, and by not treating them with that sacred regard which is due to their being the bread of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
OR SUFFER THEM TO BEAR THE INIQUITY OF TRESPASS. — Better, _Moreover, they shall not cause them to bear the iniquity._ That is, not only are the priests themselves prohibited to treat with profanity the sacred gifts, but they are to realise that it is incumbent upon them to guard these sacrifices so... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. — The laws about the physical features and ceremonial purity of the priests, who are to be devoted to the services of the altar, are now followed by kindred precepts about the animals which are to be offered upon the altar.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UNTO ALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. — As the following laws presented the condition of the animals which the Israelites are to offer, they are addressed to the laity as well as to the priests. WHATSOEVER HE BE. — Better, _what man soever there be,_ as it is translated in the Authorised version Lev... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL OFFER AT YOUR OWN WILL A MALE. — Better, _that it may be accepted for you it shall be a male;_ or, _ye shall offer for your acceptance a male._ repeating the word offer; or, _for your acceptance it must be a male,_ as the Authorised version renders the same phrase in Leviticus 22:20; Leviti... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHATSOEVER HATH A BLEMISH. — Better. _whatsoever hath,_ &c, without the “but,” which is not in the original, and is not wanted. The general rule is here repeated as an introduction to the cases which are immediately to be specified. It will be seen that only quadrupeds are given and that fowls a... [ Continue Reading ]
A SACRIFICE OF PEACE OFFERINGS. — (See Leviticus 3:1.) TO ACCOMPLISH A VOW. — In fulfilment of a vow made in time of impending danger (Genesis 28:20; Jonah 1:16, &c.). FREEWILL OFFERING. — Generally brought in acknowledgment of mercies received.... [ Continue Reading ]
BLIND. — Whether totally blind or only of one eye. This blemish also disqualified the priest for the service at the altar (see Leviticus 21:18). OR BROKEN. — Better, _broken-limbed_ (see Exodus 22:9), extending to the head, ribs, &c. OR MAIMED. — This was regarded in the time of the second Temple... [ Continue Reading ]
EITHER A BULLOCK OR A LAMB. — Better, _And bullock and one of the flock._ THAT HATH ANY THING SUPERFLUOUS. — That is one member of the animal being more elongated or contracted than the other, being out of proportion. The same blemish also unfitted the priest for performing sacerdotal functions (se... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH IS BRUISED, OR CRUSHED, OR BROKEN, OR CUT. — These four terms express the four ways which the ancients used to emasculate animals. NEITHER SHALL YE MAKE ANY OFFERING THEREOF IN YOUR LAND. — Better, _and this shall ye not do in your land;_ that is, not only are animals thus mutilated proh... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER FROM A STRANGER’S HAND SHALL YE OFFER. — That is, the prohibition to sacrifice these animals is not restricted to beasts castrated in the land, but extends to all such as have been so treated out of the land, and are imported and sold to the Israelites by the hands of foreigners. BECAUSE TH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. — Though beginning with a separate formula, and thus indicating that it is a distinct communication, the regulations here laid down about the age of the sacrificial animals are necessarily connected with the preceding statutes, and exhibit a logical sequence.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN A BULLOCK, OR A SHEEP, OR A GOAT — The three sacrificial quadrupeds. (See Leviticus 22:19 and Leviticus 17:3.) IS BROUGHT FORTH. — From this expression it was enacted during the second Temple that the animal fit for a sacrifice had to be born naturally. One brought into the world by artificial... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT KILL IT AND HER YOUNG BOTH IN ONE DAY. — According to the ancient canons, this prohibition to slaughter the dam and its youngling the same day was not only designed to remind the Israelites of the sacred relations which exist between parent and offspring, but was especially intended to keep up f... [ Continue Reading ]
OFFER IT AT YOUR OWN WILL. — Better, _offer it for your acceptance._ (See Leviticus 22:19.) That is, offer it in such a manner that it should be accepted. (For this kind of offering, see Leviticus 7:15.)... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE SAME DAY IT SHALL BE EATEN. — This shows that the sacrifice here spoken of belonged to the first class of peace offerings, the flesh of which had to be eaten up on the same day. (See Leviticus 7:15.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE SHALL YE KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. — Better, _and ye shall keep my commandments._ The law about the priests and sacrifices now concludes with an appeal to both the priests and the people to faithfully observe these commandments. NEITHER SHALL YE PROFANE MY HOLY NAME. — Better, _and ye shall n... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT BROUGHT YOU OUT. — By this signal act of redemption from bondage, and by choosing them as His peculiar people, God has a special claim upon His redeemed people that they should keep His commandments. (See Leviticus 11:45.)... [ Continue Reading ]