2._Command the children of Israel. _This passage clearly shews that God, in desiring the lepers to be put out of the camp, was not acting as a physician by any means, and merely consulting the health of the people: but that by this external rite and ceremony He exercised them in the pursuit of purit... [ Continue Reading ]
5._And the Lord spoke unto Moses_. Although at the outset He seems to include all trespasses, yet we gather from the context that the precept only refers to things stolen or fraudulently withheld, that he, who is conscious of his guilt, should make reparation. It must be observed, however, that the... [ Continue Reading ]
8_But if the man have no kinsman. _This passage, which I have inserted from chapter 5 is connected (213) indeed with another subject, and yet, because it directly refers to the right of the priests, it was necessary to remove it to this place, especially since it expresses that kind of sacrifice whi... [ Continue Reading ]
9._And every offering. _Thus far I have brought together the passages, in which Moses treats of the office of the priests, and have briefly expounded them, I will now begin to treat of their rights, _i.e., _of the honor which God invested them with, that He might have them ready and cheerful in thei... [ Continue Reading ]
11._And the Lord spoke unto Moses_. Although this ceremony appears to be part of the legal services, still I have thought fit to postpone it to this place, because it relates to the observance of the Seventh Commandment. The object of it is, lest women, trusting that they would escape punishment, sh... [ Continue Reading ]
15._Then shall the man bring his wife to the priest_. This offering is different from the rest, which have been heretofore mentioned, because it is a kind of _adjuration_, whereby the woman exposes herself to be accursed. Pure meal without frankincense or oil is therefore offered, since the rite (80... [ Continue Reading ]