From the laws concerning the priests, he now comes to those which belong to all the people. God spake to both of them, because the cognizance of the following matters belonged to both: the priest was to direct the people about the things forbidden or allowed, where any doubt or difficulty arose; and... [ Continue Reading ]
These are the beasts — Though every creature of God be good and pure in itself, yet it pleased God to make a difference between clean and unclean, which he did in part before the flood, Genesis 7:2, but more fully here for many reasons; as, To assert his own sovereignty over man, and all the creatur... [ Continue Reading ]
Cloven — footed — That is, divided into two parts only: This clause is added to explain and limit the former, as appears from Leviticus 11:26, for the feet of dogs, cats &c. are parted or cloven into many parts. And cheweth the cud — Heb. and bringeth up the cud, that is, the meat once chewed, out o... [ Continue Reading ]
The camel — An usual food in Arabia, but yielding bad nourishment. Divideth not the hoof — So as to have his foot cloven in two, which being expressed, Leviticus 11:3, is here to be understood. Otherwise the camel's hoof is divided, but it is but a small and imperfect division.... [ Continue Reading ]
As for the names of the following creatures, seeing the Jews themselves are uncertain and divided about them, it seems improper to trouble the unlearned readers with disputes about them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye shall not touch — Not in order to eating, as may be gathered by comparing this with Genesis 3:3. But since the fat and skins of some of the forbidden creatures were useful, for medicinal and other good purposes, and were used by good men, it is not probable that God would have them cast away. Thu... [ Continue Reading ]
Fins and scales — Both of them; such fishes being more cleanly, and more wholesome food than others. The names of them are not particularly mentioned, partly because most of them wanted names, the fish not being brought to Adam and named by him as other creatures were; and partly because the land of... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto you — This clause is added to shew that they were neither abominable in their own nature, nor for the food of other nations; and consequently when the partition — wall between Jews and Gentiles was taken away, these distinctions of meat were to cease.... [ Continue Reading ]
Among the fowls — The true signification of the following Hebrew words is now lost, as the Jews at this day confess; which not falling out without God's singular providence may intimate the cessation of this law, the exact observation whereof since Christ came is become impossible. In general, this... [ Continue Reading ]
After his kind — According to the several kinds, known by this general name, which includes, besides ravens properly so called, crows, rooks, pyes, and others.... [ Continue Reading ]
All fowls — Flying things that crawl or creep upon the earth, and so degenerate from their proper nature, and are of a mongrel kind, which may intimate that apostates and mongrels in religion are abominable in the sight of God. Upon all four — Upon four legs, or upon more than four, which is all one... [ Continue Reading ]
The locust — Locusts, though unusual in our food, were commonly eaten by the Ethiopians, Lybians, Parthians, and other eastern people bordering upon the Jews. And as it is certain the eastern locusts were much larger than ours, so it is probable they were of different qualities, and yielding better... [ Continue Reading ]
All other — That is, which have not those legs above and besides their feet mentioned, Leviticus 11:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
Unclean — And such were excluded both from the court of God's house, and from free conversation with other men.... [ Continue Reading ]
Beareth — Or, taketh away, out of the place where it may lie, by which others may be either offended, or polluted.... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon his paws — Heb. upon his hands, that is, which hath feet divided into several parts like fingers, as dogs, cats, apes, and bears.... [ Continue Reading ]
That on which such water cometh — That flesh or herbs or other food which is dressed in water, in a vessel so polluted, shall be unclean; not so, if it be food which is eaten dry, as bread, or fruits; the reason of which difference seems to be this, that the water did sooner receive the pollution in... [ Continue Reading ]
Of this no reason can be given, but the will of the law — giver and his merciful condescension to men's necessities, water being scarce in those countries; and for the same reason God would have the ceremonial law of sacrifices, give place to the law of mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Seed — Partly because this was necessary provision for man; and partly because such seed would not be used for man's food till it had received many alterations in the earth whereby such pollution was taken away.... [ Continue Reading ]
If any water — The reason of the difference is, because wet seed doth sooner receive, and longer retain any pollution and partly because such seed was not fit to be sown presently, and therefore that necessity which justified the use of the dry seed, could not be pretended in this case.... [ Continue Reading ]
If any beast die — Either of itself, or being killed by some wild beast, in which cases the blood was not poured forth, as it was when they were killed by men either for food or sacrifice.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that eateth — Unwittingly, for if he did it knowingly, it was a presumptuous sin against an express law, Deuteronomy 14:21, and therefore punished with cutting off.... [ Continue Reading ]
Every creeping thing — Except those expressly excepted, Leviticus 11:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon the belly — As worms and snakes, Upon all four — As toads and divers serpents.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye shall be holy — By this he gives them to understand, that all these cautions about eating or touching these creatures was not for any real uncleanness in them, but only that by diligent observation of these rules they might learn with greater care to avoid all moral pollutions, and to keep themse... [ Continue Reading ]
That bringeth you up out of Egypt — This was a reason why they should chearfully submit to distinguishing laws, who had been so honoured with distinguishing favours.... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the law — It was so, as long the Mosaic dispensation lasted. But under the gospel we find it expressly repealed by a voice from heaven, Acts 10:15. Let us therefore bless God, that to us every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused.... [ Continue Reading ]