The Eagle c. Those Fowls are forbid which are ravenous as the Eagle Vulture Kite Raven c. and which delight in the dark as the Owl and Bat c. and which creep upon the ground v. 20. Which possibly may imply how displeasing unto God are Covetousness and Cruelty a worldly Temper and the Works of Darkness See Theodoret. quaest XI on Levit. 22. Locust See Matth. 3.4 with Mark 1.6 23. Abomination See verse 10. As also the Note on Levit. 18.27 24. Shall be unclean i. e. He shall be under a legal uncleanness It shall not be lawfull for him to come unto the Tabernacle nor partake of the holy Oblation nor converse with them who do it 29. Mouse See Isaiah 66.17 32. It shall be unclean i. e. It shall not be used as before 33. Ye shall break it Ch. 6.28 34. Such water cometh i. e. Such Water as is unclean by touching unclean Meat or an unclean Vessel 36. Wherein there is plenty of water Heb. A gathering together of waters 38. But if any water c. i. e. If Water be put upon it to prepare it for the food of a Man 42. Hath more feet Heb. Doth multiply feet 43. Selves Heb. Souls 44. Ye shall be holy Chap. 19.2 and 20.7 1 Pet. 1.15 For I am holy And therefore ye ought to be like me and give Obedience to these Precepts of mine 47. To make a difference See chap. 10.9 10 11. CHAP. XII The ARGUMENT Vncleanness upon Child-birth Whether the Child born be Male or Female The Purification of a Woman after Child-birth according to the ability of the Woman 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel saying If a woman have conceived seed and born a man-child then she shall be unclean seven days according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean 3. And in the eighth day the flesh of his fore-skin shall be circumcised 4. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days she shall touch no hallowed thing nor come into the sanctuary untill the days of her purifying be fulfilled 5. But if she bear a maid-child then she shall be unclean two weeks as in her separation and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days 6. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled for a son or for a daughter she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt-offering and a young pigeon or a turtle-dove for a sin-offering unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation unto the priest 7. Who shall offer it before the LORD and make an atonement for her and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female 8. And if she be not able to bring a lamb then she shall bring two turtles or two young pigeons the one for the burnt-offering and the other for a sin-offering and the priest shall make an atonement for her and she shall be clean 1. UNto Moses It is not said unto Moses and Aaron as it is said in the Law of clean and unclean Beasts ch 11.1 and in that concerning the Leprosie of Men and of Houses ch 13.1 and ch 14.57 And the reason seems to be this Because in those Laws Aaron and his Sons were to judge and pronounce according to certain Rules what was clean and what unclean chap. 10.10 11. chap. 14.57 This required great Caution and some Skill But the Law in this Chapter relates to a matter that is plain 2. Woman Ch. 15.19 According to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean i. e. For those first seven days she shall be in as great a degree unclean and polluted as a Woman by the Law was during the seven days of her separation of which see ch 15.19 20. During which time she was not onely debarred the Sanctuary but separated from all communion or converse with others During that time she defiled what-ever she touched and that which was so defiled did also render him that touched it unclean Levit. 15.20 22. 3. Eighth day Luk. 2.22 Joh. 7.22 Then will the Child be better able to endure Circumcision and the Mother also past her greater pollution and may touch her Child without rendring it unclean See the Notes on Gen. 17.12 4. She shall then continue in the blood of her purifying c. i. e. After her first seven days she shall remain for the farther cleansing her Body three and thirty days In which time though she be not debarred from conversing with others she shall neither eat any holy thing nor yet go into the Sanctuary 5. But if she bear c. The time is doubled in case she bare a Female with respect perhaps to the Sin of Eve who was first in the transgression 1 Tim. 2.14 6. Of the first year Heb. A Son of his year 7. Make an atonement The Woman was under a legal impurity and therefore needed an Atonement And tho' Child-bearing were no Sin yet the pain thereof was a punishment of Sin Gen. 3.16 And the corrupt Condition of our Nature or our Original pravity seems hereby to be insinuated also Psal 51.5 8. And Luk. 2.24 She be not able to bring a lamb Heb. Her hand find not sufficiency of If there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to that a man hath and not according to that he hath not 2 Cor. 8.12 CHAP. XIII The ARGUMENT Of a Leprosie in a Man or Woman Of Leprosie in a Garment Of the Laws and Rules by which the Priest was to proceed in judging of it 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron saying 2. When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising a scab or bright spot and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosie then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest or unto one of his sons the priests 3. And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh and when the hair in the plague is turned white and the plague in sight be deeper then the skin of his flesh it is a plague of leprosie and the priest shall look on him and pronounce him unclean 4. If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh and in sight be not deeper then the skin and the hair thereof be not turned white then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days 5. And the priest shall look on him the seventh day and behold if the plague in his sight be at a stay and the plague spread not in the skin then the priest shall shut him up seven days more 6. And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day and behold if the plague be somewhat dark and the plague spread not in the skin the priest shall pronounce
of the Book called the Praeadamitae and Spinosa in his Tractatus Theologico-Politicus This matter is of great moment and that wherein our Common Religion is greatly concerned It strikes at the very root of it and calls its Antiquity in question and leaves the pious Reader at a great loss For whereas we all own that God spake by Moses yet still if these Men be in the right we shall be perfectly at a loss for the Author of these Books and not know whether he were a Servant of God or not Besides when the Authors of the New Testament quote Moses and our Saviour appeals to his Writings we shall however be very uncertain where to find these Writings if he be not allowed to be the Author of the Pentateuch and so will the Christian Religion suffer at the same time My design in what follows is to defend Moses against all the attempts that the Authors above-named have made against his being the Author of the following Books This is as much as my present Argument does oblige me to I am not obliged operosely to prove Moses to be the Author or Writer of the Pentateuch He is in possession of that Title It hath been allowed from the highest Antiquity owned by all sorts of Men Jews and Christians by Infidels and Pagans by Men of all Sects and Parties by Men that in other things have differed greatly from one another But that I may not seem to have neglected any thing of moment in this matter I shall before I proceed any farther shew what good reason we have to believe that Moses was the Writer of these Books and then I shall consider the force of those Objections which have been produced against it For the first part of my design I need not say much both because it hath been made out by others beyond all exception and because the thing is attended with as great Evidence as can be reasonably expected by any that are unprejudiced It is certain that Moses wrote the Law and as will appear farther afterwards that by the Law in the Scripture is meant the Pentateuch Exod. 24.4 And delivered it to the Priests the Sons of Levi Deut. 31.9 He was commanded to write and he did it Exod. 17.14 with Josh 1.8 I shall not need go over the Old Testament and shew the many passages cited by the Sacred Writers of the Books thereof out of the several Books of the Pentateuch as the Law of Moses I will to put this matter out of doubt with all Christians pass on to the New Testament where these Books of the Pentateuch are quoted frequently and they are cited as the Books of Moses I will not shew how often they are quoted in the New Testament which would be more than is needfull it will be enough to shew that they are cited severally as the Law and as the Law of Moses An historical Passage of the Book of Genesis is cited by St. Paul under the Character of the Law Gal. 4.21 and the written Law that was v. 30. and Rom. 4.3 St. Stephen was charged to have spoken blasphemous Words against Moses and against the Law Act. 6.11 13. He was charged to have affirmed that Jesus should change the customs which Moses delivered v. 14. Upon this he makes his defence and owns his belief of the matters related even in the Book of Genesis chap. 7.3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15. Which had not been to his purpose had not that Book been part of that Law which he was accused to have spoken against as well as against Moses Again We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write Joh. 1.45 This Law here cannot be exclusive of the Book of Genesis which contains the first and also the clearest Prophecy of the Messias of which no Christian can make any doubt that consults Gen. 3.15 and chap. 49.10 These Prophecies are allowed by the Jews themselves the great Enemies of Jesus to belong to the Messias The Book of Exodus is by our Saviour expressly called the Book of Moses Mark 12.26 as it is called the Scripture by St. Paul Rom. 9.17 and the Law of the Lord by St. Luke chap. 2.23 Leviticus is cited also by our Saviour as a part of the Law of Moses Matt. 8.4 And what that Book describes St. Paul reckons as described by Moses Rom. 10.5 And Moses is said to Command what is commanded in that Book Joh. 8. â— For the Book of Numbers though I find it not particularly quoted as other Books under this character yet have we no cause to exclude it from what that place referrs to mentioned above viz. Joh. 1.45 Tâ—â— which we may add what our Saviour says Had ye believed Moses ye would have believed me for he wrote of me Joh. 5.46 For so indeed he did in the Book of Numbers chap. 24.17 And farther still our Saviour referrs to a passage related in this Book of Numbers as a Type of himself As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up Joh. 3.14 Deuteronomy is quoted as part of the Law of Moses Matt. 19.7 8. And what we find said there is imputed to Moses as said by him which cannot be if he were not the Writer of it Act. 3.22.7.37 This Book is expressly called the Law of Moses 1 Cor. 9.9 And what is therein contained is said to have been said by Moses Matt. 22.24 The whole Pentateuch is included by the word Law in the style of the New Testament as well as in that of the other and later Jewish Writers Our Saviour says That all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms concerning me Luk. 24.44 Whence 't is manifest that under the Law of Moses the whole Pentateuch is comprized For Jesus gives us the whole Scripture as the Jews divide it to this day For they divide it into three parts The Law which taken in these Five Books of Moses the Prophets which the Jews divide into the former and latter and the Kethuvim or Hagiographical Books And the Book of Psalms being the Principal of them is put by our Saviour here for all that fall under that General Head This Law came by Moses Joh. 1.14 He wrote it and when the Law is read Moses is said to be read Act. 13.15 and chap. 15.21 2 Cor. 3.15 If I should add to what hath been said that Moses hath been owned to be the Writer of these Books by all Mankind by all sorts of Authors and by an Universal Tradition I think nothing can be wanting to confirm us in this belief And yet is this not denied by our Adversaries in this Question I shall now proceed to consider what can be said on the other side The Proofs had need be very clear before Moses can be dispossessed of so just a claim and title which he hath enjoyed
for the Israelites Jethro rejoiceth at it and adviseth Moses to teach the People Laws and to appoint Judges among the People Moses follows the Advice of Jethro who afterward departed from him 1. WHEN Jethro the priest of Midian Moses's father-in-law heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt 2. Then Jethro Moses's father-in-law took Zipporah Moses's wife after he had sent her back 3. And her two sons of which the name of the one was Gershom for he said I have been an alien in a strange land 4. And the name of the other was Eliezer for the God of my father said he was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh 5. And Jethro Moses's father-in-law came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he encamped at the mount of God 6. And he said unto Moses I thy father-in-law Jethro am come unto thee and thy wife and her two sons with her 7. And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and did obeisance and kissed him and they asked each other of their welfare and they came into the tent 8. And Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake and all the travail that had come upon them by the way and how the LORD delivered them 9. And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians 10. And Jethro said Blessed be the LORD who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians 11. Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them 12. And Jethro Moses's father-in-law took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God And Aaron came and all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses's father-in-father-in-law before God 13. And it came to pass on the morrow that Moses sat to judge the people and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening 14. And when Moses's father-in-law saw all that be did to the people he said What is this thing that thou doest to the people Why sittest thou thy self alone and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even 15. And Moses said unto his father-in-law Because the people come unto me to enquire of God 16. When they have a matter they come unto me and I judge between one and another and I do make them know the statutes of God and his laws 17. And Moses's father-in-law said unto him The thing that thou doest is not good 18. Thou wilt surely wear away both thou and this people that is with thee for this thing is too heavy for thee thou art not able to perform it thy self alone 19. Hearken now unto my voice I will give thee counsel and God shall be with thee be thou for the people to Godward that thou mayest bring the causes unto God 20. And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk and the work that they must do 21. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as fear God men of truth hating covetousness and place such ever them to be rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds rulers of fifties and rulers of tens 22. And let them judge the people at all seasons and it shall be that every great matter they shall bring unto thee but every small matter they shall judge so shall it be easier for thy self and they shall bear the burden with thee 23. If thou shalt do this thing and God command thee so then thou shalt be able to endure and all this people shall also go to their place in peace 24. So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said 25. And Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people rulers of thousands rulers of hundreds rulers of fifties and rulers of tens 26. And they judged the people at all seasons the hard causes they brought unto Moses but every small matter they judged themselves 27. And Moses let his father-in-law depart and he went his way into his own land 1. JEthro Vid. Chap. 2.16 2. After he had sent her back That is After Moses had sent her back from the Inn when he was going into Egypt Vid. Chap. 4.24 25. 3. Name Ch. 2.22 Gershom That is A stranger there 4. Eliezer That is My God is an help 5. At the mount of God The Mountain on which the glory of God was revealed says the Chaldee This was Horeb where God gave his Law Exod. 3.1 Deut. 5.2 6. He said He sent Messengers that in his name told Moses of his coming Vid. Matth. 8.5 compared with Luk. 7.3 7. Welfare Heb. Peace 8. Come upon them Heb. Found them 9. Hand i. e. The Dominion or Tyranny as the Chaldee hath it 11. For in the thing c. Ch. 1.10 16 22. and 5.7 and 14.18 The Egyptians justly suffered for their Pride and Arrogance and God did defeat them in their Designs and inflicted on them that very evil which they designed to afflict the Israelites with Compare ch 1.22 with ch 22.29 and ch 14.28 12. Sacrifices i. e. Other Sacrifices for no man might eat of the Burnt-offering it being intirely offered up Lev. 1.9 whereas in Peace-offerings the Priest and People had their share Lev. 7.14 Deut. 27.7 Before God Before the glory of God appearing in the Cloud and possibly before the Tabernacle For there are those that think that this passage of Jethro's coming to Moses related in this Chapter did happen in the following year after the Law was given and the Tabernacle erected And that Opinion is grounded upon what we read v. 12. and v. 16. compared with Deut. 1.9 Numb 10.29 30. 15. To enquire of God i. e. To enquire of the mind of God in things which were doubtfull This they did by consulting his Servant and Prophet 16. One and another Heb. A man and his fellow 18. Thou wilt surely wear away Heb. Fading thou wilt fade Thou art not c. Deut. 1.9 19. To God-ward Seeking instruction from the presence of God says the Chaldee This Counsel Moses followed Num. 15.34 35. and ch 27.5 21. Hating covetousness Or Hating gain and free from the love of riches 26. At all seasons i. e. At all occasions and times when they were not forbid by some other superior Law whereby they were obliged to attend upon God's more immediate worship CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT The Israelites come to Sinai Moses goes up into the Mount and receives a Message to the People which he delivers and returns their Answer unto God He is commanded to Sanctifie the People
Moses reared up the tabernacle and fastened his sockets and set up the boards thereof and put in the bars thereof and reared up his pillars 19. And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent above upon it as the LORD commanded Moses 20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark and set the staves on the ark and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark 21. And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the covering and covered the ark of the testimony as the LORD commanded Moses 22. And he put the table in the tent of the congregation upon the side of the tabernacle north-ward without the veil 23. And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD as the LORD had commanded Moses 24. And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation over against the table on the side of the tabernacle south-ward 25. And he lighted the lamps before the LORD as the LORD commanded Moses 26. And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the veil 27. And he burnt sweet incense thereon as the LORD commanded Moses 28. And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle 29. And he put the altar of burnt-offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation and offered upon it the burnt-offering and the meat-offering as the LORD commanded Moses 30. And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar and put water there to wash withall 31. And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat 32. When they went into the tent of the congregation and when they came near unto the altar they washed as the LORD commanded Moses 33. And he reared up the court-round about the tabernacle and the altar and set up the hanging of the court-gate so Moses finished the work 34. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle 35. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation because the cloud abode thereon and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle 36. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys 37. But if the cloud were not taken up then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up 38. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day and fire was on it by night in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys 3. 2514. 1490. The ark of the testimony So called because the Tables of the Law which is sometime called the Testimony v. 20. were put into it ch 25.16 4. Thou shalt bring in c. Ch. 26.35 The things that are to be set in order upon it Heb. The order thereof 10. Most holy Heb. Holiness of holinesses in that it hallowed the Sacrifice Exod. 29.37 11. Sanctifie it i. e. Separate it to a peculiar and holy use 15. An everlasting priesthood i. e. The Successors of the ordinary Priests shall not need to be anointed for the future as the High Priests were The High Priests were elected and therefore it was fit they should be anointed But the Priesthood belonged to the other Priests as their Birth-right 17. Tabernacle Num. 7.1 21. Set Ch. 35.12 29. LORD Ch. 30.9 34. Then a cloud Num. 9.15 1 King 8.10 36. Went onward Heb. Journeyed FINIS Imprimatur Octob. 24. 1693. Jo. Cant. A COMMENTARY ON THE Five Books of MOSES WITH A DISSERTATION Concerning the Author or Writer of the said Books AND A General Argument to each of them BY RICHARD Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells Vol. II. LONDON Printed by J. Heptinstall for William Rogers at the Sun against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet MDCXCIV THE Third Book of Moses CALLED LEVITICUS THE General Argument OF THE Third Book of MOSES CALLED LEVITICUS LEVI was the third Son of Jacob From him his Posterity had the name of Levites Aaron who with his Sons was called to the Priesthood was from him called a Levite Exod. 4.14 And that Priesthood that was setled in that Family is called Levitical Heb. 7.11 The Law relating to the discharge of the Priest's Office is properly called the Levitical Law and upon that account that Book of Moses which more especially treats of the Holy Rites and Services in which these Priests were by their Office imployed is very fitly from the Subject-matter of it called Leviticus And this is the main Subject of this very excellent Book as will more clearly appear afterwards And because a great part of the Priest's Office was taken up in attendance upon the Altar and he was nearly concerned in the Sacrifices and holy Oblations which were presented by the People and because this Book treats largely of those Sacrifices and the Rites thereunto belonging and that in the very beginning of it I know not how to let the Reader into the Book it self any better way than by premising something concerning the Sacrifices themselves which are here treated of And to that purpose I shall First Consider the matter of these Sacrifices or what things they were which were required or allowed to be offered at the Altar Secondly I shall consider the several sorts or kinds of these Sacrifices with the particular Laws annexed unto them and shall in this matter offer nothing but what the Text of the Law gives me ground for Thirdly I shall in very few words shew how very usefull it is to understand this matter I. I shall consider the matter of these Sacrifices or what things they were which were required or allowed to be offered at the Altar And these Oblations being either of living creatures or of things that were inanimate I shall First Consider what living Creatures were admitted for Sacrifices where these Sacrifices were bloudy And they were Five onely viz. Out of the Herd the Bullock onely Out of the Flock the Sheep and the Goat From among the Fowls the Turtle-Dove and the less or younger Pigeon More than these were not allowed by the Law For the Birds rendred Sparrows in the Marginal reaching Levit. 14. they belong not at all to this matter For I am speaking here of bloudy Sacrifices For those Birds one of them was not killed and neither of them had any relation to God's Altar These living Creatures admitted for Sacrifices were such as were common and easy to be procured Besides they were tame and gentle very innocent and usefull and harmless No ravenous Beasts are admitted no Birds of prey What more usefull than a Bullock more profitable than a Sheep and Goat more simple and harmless than a Dove or Pigeon And if the Observation of Philo be true That the Offerer was to be like his Oblation then are innocence and industry usefulness and simplicity recommended here to the Worshipper
taken away by violence or hath deceived his neighbour 3. Or have found that which was lost and lyeth concerning it and sweareth falsly in any of all these that a man doeth sinning therein 4. Then it shall be because he hath sinned and is guilty that he shall restore that which he took violently away or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten or that which was delivered him to keep or the lost thing which he found 5. Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely he shall even restore it in the principal and shall add the fifth part more thereto and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth in the day of his trespass-offering 6. And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flock with thy estimation for a trespass-offering unto the priest 7. And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein 8. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 9. Command Aaron and his sons saying This is the law of the burnt-offering It is the burnt-offering because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it 10. And the priest shall put on his linen garment and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt-offering on the altar and he shall put them besides the altar 11. And he shall put off his garments and put on other garments and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place 12. And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it it shall not be put out and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning and lay the burnt-offering in order upon it and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings 13. The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar it shall never go out 14. And this is the law of the meat-offering the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD before the altar 15. And he shall take of it his hand-full of the flour of the meat-offering and of the oyl thereof and all the frankincense which is upon the meat-offering and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour even the memorial of it unto the LORD 16. And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it 17. It shall not be baken with leaven I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire it is most holy as is the sin-offering and as the trespass-offering 18. All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire Every one that toucheth them shall be holy 19. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 20. This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat-offering perpetual half of it in the morning and half thereof at night 21. In a pan it shall be made with oyl and when it is baken thou shalt bring it in and the baken pieces of the meat-offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD 22. And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it It is a statute for ever unto the LORD it shall be wholly burnt 23. For every meat-offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt it shall not be eaten 24. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 25. Speak unto Aaron and to his sons saying This is the law of the sin-offering In the place where the burnt-offering is killed shall the sin-offering be killed before the LORD it is most holy 26. The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it in the holy place shall it be eaten in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation 27. Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place 28. But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken and if it be sodden in a brasen pot it shall be both scoured and rinsed in water 29. All the males among the priests shall eat thereof it is most holy 30. And no sin-offering whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withall in the holy place shall be eaten it shall be burnt in the fire 2. Against the LORD The swearing falsely v. 3. is directly a Sin against God And when we wrong our Neighbour we offend God and break his Laws Gen. 20.6 ch 39.9 Psal 51.4 Fellowship Or in dealing Heb. Putting of the hand 3. Sweareth falsely Numb 5.6 The Thief or he that was suspected of Theft was among the Jews put to his Oath to purge and clear himself where there wanted sufficient proof See the Notes on Exod. 22.11 5. Restore He must make restitution before he can hope to be pardoned and confess his Sin also Numb 5.7 without this his Sacrifice will not procure his atonement ch 5.16 The fifth part He that stole an Ox or Sheep and killed and sold it was bound to restore five and four-fold Exod. 22.1 If they were found in his hand he was to restore double v. 4. This was the case of a Thief who continued in his Sin and was convicted by others But he who was penitent and of his own accord made restitution was onely obliged to add a fifth part and offer his Sacrifice according to what is commanded here and Numb 5. Joseph Antiqu. l. 3. c. 10. Maimon H. Shevuoth c. 8. Chethuvoth c. 3. m. 9. The reason of which difference as to restitution seems to be this In the first case the Thief by killing or selling is presumed to have no mind to make restitution of what he had stollen In the second case it might be supposed that he who kept the Goods might also restore them however not having done it he was obliged to restore double In the last case the Thief is supposed to be a Penitent and therefore obliged onely to restore the principal or thing stollen To add a fifth part by way of Compensation for the care given to the injured person and to bring his Sacrifice as a testimony of his Repentance The due consideration of what is said above on this matter will help us to reconcile the different accounts we have in the Books of Moses of this business of Restitution And the difference as to the Restitution was observed also in the Roman Laws and is very reasonable according to the different kinds
of Theft In the day of his Trespass-offering Or In the day of his being found guilty Heb. In the day of his Trespass He ought to do it without delay and forthwith upon his recollecting and finding himself guilty 6. Flock Ch. 5.15 9. Because of the burning Or For the burning 10. Which the fire hath consumed with the burnt-offering Or When the fire hath consumed the burnt-offering So may those words be very truely rendred from the Hebrew The word here rendred which is elsewhere rendred when viz. Levit. 4.22 Josh 4.21 2 Chron. 18.24 Neh. 2.3 And what we render with the burnt-offering may as well be rendred the burnt-offering The Ashes here meant are the Ashes which the Burnt-offering with the Fewel thereof was reduced unto 11. Clean The Ashes coming from an holy place 'T was quite otherwise in the case of a Leprous House ch 14.40 14. And this is the law of the meat-offering Ch. 2.1 Num. 15.4 15. Memorial Ch. 2.9 18. Every one that toucheth c. Exod. 29.37 i. e. It shall not be eaten by any in their Uncleanness nor by any but those that are holy and separate persons as the Sons of Aaron were 20. Of Aaron and of his sons i. e. Of Aaron and the High-priests which succeeded him Ephah Exod. 16.36 Perpetual The Jews teach that this Offering was to continue during the High-priest's continuance 22. That is anointed c. i. e. The High-priest 23. Wholly burnt The Priest shall have no share as he had in the Offering of the People 25. In the place c. See ch 4.24 27. Shall be holy c. See v. 18. 28. Shall be broken Ch. 11.33 30. And no sin-offering Heb. 13.11 CHAP. VII The ARGUMENT The Law of the Trespass-offering The Law of the Peace-offering whether it be a Thanksgiving-offering a Vow or Voluntary Oblation Fat and Blood are again prohibited to be eaten The portions of the Priests from several Offerings and particularly from the Peace-offerings 1. LIkewise this is the law of the trespass-offering it is most holy 2. In the place where they kill the burnt-offering shall they kill the trespass-offering and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar 3. And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof the rump and the fat that covereth the inwards 4. And the two kidneys and the fat that is on them which is by the flanks and the caul that is above the liver with the kidneys it shall he take away 5. And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD it is a trespass-offering 6. Every male among the priests shall eat thereof it shall be eaten in the holy place it is most holy 7. As the sin-offering is so is the trespass-offering there is one law for them the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it 8. And the priest that offereth any man's burnt-offering even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt-offering which he hath offered 9. And all the meat-offering that is baken in the oven and all that is dressed in the frying-pan and in the pan shall be the priest's that offereth it 10. And every meat-offering mingled with oyl and dry shall all the sons of Aaron have one as much as another 11. And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace-offerings which he shall offer unto the LORD 12. If he offer it for a thanksgiving then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oyl and unleavened wafers anointed with oyl and cakes mingled with oyl of fine flour fryed 13. Besides the cakes he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace-offerings 14. And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave-offering unto the LORD and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace-offerings 15. And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered he shall not leave any of it until the morning 16. But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow or a voluntary offering it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten 17. But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire 18. And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings be eaten at all on the third day it shall not be accepted neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it it shall be an abomination and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity 19. And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten it shall be burnt with fire and as for the flesh all that be clean shall eat thereof 20. But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings that pertain unto the LORD having his uncleanness upon him even that soul shall be cut off from his people 21. Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing as the uncleanness of man or any unclean beast or any abominable unclean thing and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings which pertain unto the LORD even that soul shall be cut off from his people 22. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 23. Speak unto 〈◊〉 children of Israel saying Ye shall eat no manner fat of ox or of sheep or of goat 24. And the fat of the beast that dieth of it self and the fat of that which is torn with beasts may be used in any other use but ye shall in no wise eat of it 25. For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people 26. Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood whether it be of fowl or of beast in any of your dwellings 27. Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood even that soul shall be cut off from his people 28. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 29. Speak unto the children of Israel saying He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace-offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings 30. His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire the fat with the breast it shall he bring that the breast may be waved for a wave-offering before the LORD 31. And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons 32. And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave-offering of the sacrifices of your peace-offerings 33. He among the sons of Aaron that offereth the blood of the peace-offerings and the fat shall have the right shoulder for his part 34. For the wave-breast and the
cheweth the cud but divideth not the hoof he is unclean unto you 7. And the swine though he divide the hoof and be cloven-footed yet he cheweth not the cud he is unclean to you 8. Of their flesh shall ye not eat and their carcase shall ye not touch they are unclean to you 9. These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters whatsoever hath sins and scales in the waters in the seas and in the rivers them shall ye eat 10. And all that have not sins nor scales in the seas and in the rivers of all that move in the waters and of any living thing which is in the waters they shall be an abomination unto you 11. They shall be even an abomination unto you ye shall not eat of their flesh but you shall have their carcases in abomination 12. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters that shall be an abomination unto you 13. And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls they shall not be eaten they are an abomination the eagle and the ossifrage and the ospray 14. And the vulture and the kite after his kind 15. Every raven after his kind 16. And the owl and the night-hauk and the cuckow and the hauk after his kind 17. And the little owl and the cormorant and the great owl 18. And the swan and the pelican and the gier-eagle 19. And the stork the heron after her kind and the lapwing and the bat 20. All fowls that creep going upon all four shall be an abomination unto you 21. Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four which have legs above their feet to leap withall upon the earth 22. Even these of them ye may eat the locust after his kind and the bald-locust after his kind and the beetle after his kind and the grass-hopper after his kind 23. But all other flying creeping things which have four feet shall be an abomination unto you 24. And for these ye shall be unclean whosoever tâ—â—cheth the carcase of them shall be unclean till the even 25. And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean untill the even 26. The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof and is not cloven-footed nor cheweth the cud are unclean unto you every one that toucheth them shall be unclean 27. And whatsoever goeth upon his paws among all manner of beasts that go on all four those are unclean unto you whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean untill the even 28. And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean untill the even they are unclean unto you 29. These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth the weasel and the mouse and the tortoise after his kind 30. And the ferret and the chameleon and the lizard and the snail and the mole 31. These are unclean to you among all that creep whosoever doth touch them when they be dead shall be unclean untill the even 32. And upon whatsoever any of them when they are dead doth fall it shall be unclean whether it be any vessel of wood or raiment or skin or sack whatsoever vessel it be wherein any work is done it must be put into water and it shall be unclean untill the even so it shall be cleansed 33. And every earthen vessel whereinto any of them falleth whatsoever is in it shall be unclean and ye shall break it 34. Of all meat which may be eaten that on which such water cometh shall be unclean and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean 35. And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean whether it be oven or ranges for pots they shall be broken down for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you 36. Nevertheless a fountain or pit wherein there is plenty of water shall be clean but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean 37. And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing-seed which is to be sown it shall be clean 38. But if any water be put upon the seed and any part of their carcase fall thereon it shall be unclean unto you 39. And if any beast of which ye may eat die he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean untill the even 40. And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes and be unclean untill the even he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes and be unclean untill the even 41. And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination it shall not be eaten 42. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly and whatsoever goeth upon all four or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth them ye shall not eat for they are an abomination 43. Ye shall not make your selves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth neither shall ye make your selves unclean with them that ye should be defiled thereby 44. For I am the LORD your God ye shall therefore sanctifie your selves and ye shall be holy for I am holy neither shall ye defile your selves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth 45. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God ye shall therefore be holy for I am holy 46. This is the law of the beasts and of the fowl and of every living creature that moveth in the waters and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth 47. To make a difference between the unclean and the clean and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten 1. UNto Moses and to Aaron Moses was to write and Aaron to teach these Laws 2. These Deut. 14.4 Act. 10.14 Ye shall Or Ye may 3. Parteth the hoof and is cloven-footed i. e. So parteth the Hoof that the parts of it are severed from each other throughout Cheweth the cud This condition is required as well as the former v. 7. This Law was given to the Israelites v. 2. and not to the rest of Mankind And God's pleasure was reason enough of this positive Institution That some living Creatures were by the Law clean or lawfull to be eaten and others unclean or forbidden was a sufficient Caution against the Idolatrous Worshipping of any of them which Idolatry the Heathens were guilty of It being unreasonable to Worship an unclean Beast or any that they were allowed to slay and eat 7. The Swine 2 Mac. 6.18 9. Waters The Fishes are not named as the Beasts and Fowls are which were more commonly known Fins and scales The Fins were Excrescencies out of the Sides of the Fish the Scales covered their Bodies 10. An abomination As they were forbid to be eaten and their Carcases to be touched v. 11. 13.
them CHAP. XVII The ARGUMENT The Priesthood of Aaron and his Sons is confirmed by the Budding of Aaron's Rod. That Rod was to be kept for a Memorial 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses saying 2. Speak unto the children of Israel and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods write thou every man's name upon his rod. 3. And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers 4. And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony where I will meet with you 5. And it shall come to pass that the man's rod whom I shall choose shall blossom and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel whereby they murmur against you 6. And Moses spake unto the children of Israel and every one of their princes gave him a rod a-piece for each prince one according to their father's houses even twelve rods and the rod of Aaron was among their rods 7. And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness 8. And it came to pass that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness and behold the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded and brought forth buds and bloomed blossoms and yielded almonds 9. And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel and they looked and took every man his rod. 10. And the LORD said unto Moses Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony to be kept for a token against the rebels and thou shalâ— quite take away their murmurings from me that they die not 11. And Moses did so as the LORD commanded him so did he 12. And the children of Israel spake unto Moses saying Behold we die we perish we all perish 13. Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die shall we be consumed with dying 2. Twelve rods It is very probable that there were twelve besides the Rod of Aaron for so many Princes there were chap. 1. and chap. 7. and no less seems intimated v. 6. And the Vulgar Latin there expressly affirms it 3. Aaron's name As the Prince or Head of the Tribe of Levi. 4. Before the testimony That is before the Ark which is called the Ark of the Testimony Exod 25.22 because it contained the Tables of the Law called the Testimony Exod. 25.16 And that the Rods were laid in the Holy of Holies is farther evident from this That Moses was Commanded to bring again Aaron's Rod before the Testimony v. 10. which was laid up in the Holy of Holies Heb. 9.4 Where I will meet Exod. 25.22 5. Whom I shall choose viz. To minister to me in the Priesthood 6. A rod a-piece Heb. A rod for one Prince a rod for one Prince 10. Aaron's rod Heb. 9.4 To be kept for a token That is to be reserved or laid up for a token and perpetual Memorial For there were two Signs or Tokens of this matter The Covering of the Altar which was exposed as a sign or token unto the Children of Israel ch 16.38 And the Rod of Aaron a reserved token against the Rebels Rebels Heb. Children of Rebellion 12. We die By this Miracle they are convinced of the danger they were in if they should at any time invade the Office of the Priesthood or press beyond their allowed limits CHAP. XVIII The ARGUMENT The Charge and Office of the Priests and of the Levites The several Portions or Dues to the Priests and to the Levites 1. AND the LORD said unto Aaron Thou and thy sons and thy fathers house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood 2. And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi the tribe of thy father bring thou with thee that they may be joyned unto thee and minister unto thee but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness 3. And they shall keep thy charge and the charge of all the tabernacle onely they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar that neither they nor you also die 4. And they shall be joined unto thee and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation for all the service of the tabernacle and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you 5. And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary and the charge of the altar that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel 6. And I behold I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel to you they are given as a gift for the LORD to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation 7. Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priests office for every thing of the altar and within the veil and ye shall serve I have given your priests office unto you as a service of gift and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death 8. And the LORD spake unto Aaron Behold I also have given thee the charge of mine heave-offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing and to thy sons by an ordinance for ever 9. This shall be thine of the most holy things reserved from the fire every oblation of theirs every meat-offering of theirs and every sin-offering of theirs and every trespass-offering of theirs which they shall render unto me shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons 10. In the most holy place shalt thou eat it every male shall eat it it shall be holy unto thee 11. And this is thine the heave-offering of their gift with all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel I have given them unto thee and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee by a statute for ever every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it 12. All the best of the oyl and all the best of the wine and of the wheat the first-fruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD them have I given thee 13. And whatsoever is first ripe in the land which they shall bring unto the LORD shall be thine every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it 14. Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine 15. Every thing that openeth the matrice in all flesh which they bring unto the LORD whether it be of men or beasts shall be thine nevertheless the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem 16. And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem according to thine estimation for the money of five shekels after
the shekel of the sanctuary which is twenty gerahs 17. But the firstling of a cow or the firstling of a sheep or the firstling of a goat thou shalt not redeem they are holy thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire for a sweet savour unto the LORD 18. And the flesh of them shall be thine as the wave-breast and as the right shoulder are thine 19. All the heave-offerings of the holy things which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD have I given thee and thy sons and thy daughters with thee by a statute for ever it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee 20. And the LORD spake unto Aaron thou shalt have no inheritance in their land neither shalt thou have any part among them I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel 21. And behold I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance for their service which they serve even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation 22. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation lest they bear sin and die 23. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation and they shall bear their iniquity It shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance 24. But the tithes of the children of Israel which they offer as an heave-offering unto the LORD I have given to the Levites to inherit therefore I have said unto them Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance 25. And the LORD spake unto Moses saying 26. Thus speak unto the Levites â—â—d say unto them When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance then ye shall offer up an heave-offering of it for the LORD even a tenth part of the tithe 27. And this your heave-offering shall be reckoned unto you as though it were the corn of the threshing-floor and as the fulness of the wine-press 28. Thus you also shall offer an heave-offering unto the LORD of all your tithes which ye receive of the children of Israel and ye shall give thereof the LORD 's heave-offering to Aaron the priest 29. Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave-offering of the LORD of all the best thereof even the hallowed part thereof out of it 30. Therefore thou shalt say unto them When ye have heaved the best thereof from it then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshing-floor and as the increase of the wine-press 31. And ye shall eat it in every place ye and your housholds for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation 32. And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it when ye have heaved from it the best of it neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel lest ye die 1. SHall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary That is Shall be liable to punishment for the Profanation of the Sanctuary of which they have the charge 2. Before the tabernacle of witness That is Not onely at the Altar but in the Holy Place as also which was the Office of the High-priest in the Most Holy Place on the day of Expiation Levit. 16.2 whereas the outer Services of the Sanctuary were left to the Levites 3. They shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary i. e. They shall not approach to them to minister though they were to carry them in the Wilderness Numb 4.15 By the Vessels of the Sanctuary here are meant the Ark Candlestick Golden Altar and Table of Shew-bread Numb 4.5 7 9 11. with v. 15. They nor you They for presuming and you for permitting them 4. Charge Or Custody A stranger i. e. One who is not a Levite 5. Sanctuary Where was the Altar of Incense Candlestick and Table of Shew-bread c. Here the Priests were obliged to minister Exod. 30.7 and ch 27.21 2 Chron. 13.11 Altar i. e. The Altar of Burnt-offerings Levit 1.5 7 8 9. 6. Taken Chap. 3.45 7. And within the veil In the Most Holy Place where the High-priest onely was allowed to enter Levit. 16.2 And from that place to the Brazen Altar inclusively the inferior Priests were allowed to minister A service of gift i. e. That which is at once a Favour and Priviledge and such an one as imports Duty and Service 1 Tim. 3.1 The Priests Office might well be called a Gift and was a great Priviledge The Imployment it self was a great Honour and Favour And though the Priests had not an Inheritance with the rest yet were they very plentifully provided for that they might indistractedly attend upon their Holy Function I have elsewhere spoken of their Work See the Notes on Levit. ch 1. I shall here shew what were their Allowances for that Work by the Law of Moses And they were as follow I. The Tithe of the Levites Tithe This was very considerable they being but one Family of the Tribe of Levi and that Tribe of Levi but small in comparison with the great number of the other twelve Tribes v. 28. II. They had the Skins of the Burnt-offerings Levit. 7.8 This was generally theirs There is some Exception Levit. 4.11 12 20 21. which is inconsiderable III. The Sin and Trespass-offering was due to them and so was the Meat-offering v. 9. There were some few excepted Cases Levit 6.23 30. IV. The Breast and Shoulder of the Peace-offering Levit. 7.31 and the other Shoulder also Levit. 7.32 33. To which was afterward added as a farther Allowance the Cheeks and Maw Deut. 18.3 V. The Shew-bread Levit. 24.9 VI. Things or Persons devoted or separated by a Vow Levit. 27.21 anâ— v. 14. of this Chapter VII The Restitution Money c. mentioned Num. 5.8 VIII All the Heave and Wave-offerings v. 8.11 IX First-fruits v. 12. X. First-born v. 15. XI The Tribute mentioned Numb 31.29 Stranger i. e. He who is not a Priest of the House of Aaron 8. The charge of mine heave-offerings i. e. The right to them to be employed as I have appointed See Levit. 7.32 Numb 5.9 By reason of the anointing i. e. Upon the score of the Office to which by anointing thou hast been set a-part 9. Every oblation Or Every gift This seems to be the general Head comprehending under it the several Most Holy Things which presently follow Which they shall render Or Which they shall restore This seems to referr to the Trespass-offering named last when the Offerer made Restitution for the wrong he had done Levit. 5.15 16. Numb 5.8 10. In the most holy place Not in the Holy of Holies Levit 16.2 Heb. 9.7 but in the Holy Place in the Court Levit. 6.16 26.24.9 Or the
Court of the Priests which with respect to the outer Court 2 Chron. 4.9 and much more to the Camp of Israel c. was a most holy Place as not receiving any but the most holy and separated sort of Persons Holy unto thee Consecrated to thee says the Vulgar That is None â—ut the Priest's Family might eat thereof Levit. 6.18 11. And this Here follows an account of what was the Priest's due from those Sacrifices which were less Holy which might be eaten by Women and Servants Levit. 22.10 11 12 13. with ch 10.14 Levit 7.34 12. Best Heb. Fat. Given thee Deut. 18.4 13. Which they shall bring i. e. Which they shall bring of their Good-will 14. Every thing devoted Lev. 27.28 15. The matrice Exod. 13.2 and 22.29 Lev. 27.26 chap. 3.13 And the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem If we look into the Book of Exodus we shall find it said Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem ch 13.13 This makes it highly probable that an Ass is put there for other Beasts which were unclean for Sacrifice See the Note on that place 16. From a month old See Numb 3.47 Which is twenty gerahs Exod. 30.13 Levit. 27.23 ch 3.47 Ezek. 45.12 17. Holy i. e. Separated or set a-part See Deut. 15.19 18. Wave-breast Exod. 29.26 19. A covenant of salt i. e. a sure and lasting one 2 Chron. 13.5 20. No Inheritance The Levites in the distribution of the Land had not a portion of the Land with the other Tribes but had their Cities to dwell in Josh 21.4 I am thy part Deut. 10.9.18.2 Josh 13.14 33. Ezek. 44.28 God may be said to be the part of the Priests both as he gave them those Gifts which were presented to him and as he would more especially bless them Deut. 18.1 Psal 73.26 21. For an inheritance i. e. instead of a Portion of the Land which the other Tribes received v. 23 24. 22. And die Heb. To die 26. For the LORD viz. To be given to the Priest who was the Lord's Receiver See v. 28. and the Note on v. 20. 27. And this your c. That is This payment of yours shall be accepted as well as if you had received Lands with the other Tribes and had paid the Tithe out of the Increase of them as they were obliged to do 29. Best Heb. Fat. 30. As the increase c. i. e. What remains shall be as much the Levites and as freely to be used by them as any other part of any Man's increase is at the owners liberty See v. 31. 32. And ye shall bear no sin c. i. e. Then ye shall be free from Guilt upon this account CHAP. XIX The ARGUMENT Of the Red Heifer burnt to Ashes The Water of Separation and the use of it for the Purification of the clean 1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron saying 2. This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded saying Speak unto the children of Israel that they bring thee a red heifer without spot wherein is no blemish and upon which never came yoke 3. And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest that he may bring her forth without the camp and one shall slay her before his face 4. And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times 5. And one shall burn the heifer in his sight her skin and her flesh and her blood with her dung shall he burn 6. And the priest shall take cedar-wood and hyssop and scarlet and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer 7. Then the priest shall wash his clothes and he shall bathe his flesh in water and afterward he shall come into the camp and the priest shall be unclean until the even 8. And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his flesh in water and shall be unclean until the even 9. And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and lay them up without the camp in a clean place and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation it is a purification for sin 10. And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the even and it shall be unto the children of Israel and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them for a statute for ever 11. He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days 12. He shall purifie himself with it on the third day and on the seventh day he shall be clean but if he purifie not himself the third day then the seventh day he shall not be clean 13. Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead and purifieth not himself defileth the tabernacle of the LORD and that soul shall be cut off from Israel because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him he shall be unclean his uncleanness is yet upon him 14. This is the law when a man dieth in a tent all that come into the tent and all that is in the tent shall be unclean seven days 15. And every open vessel which hath no covering bound upon it is unclean 16. And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields or a dead body or a bone of a man or a grave shall be unclean seven days 17. And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the 〈◊〉 heifer of purification for sin and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel 18. And a clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water and sprinkle it upon the tent and upon all the vessels and upon the persons that were there and upon him that touched a bone or one slain or one dead or a grave 19. And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day and on the seventh day he shall purifie himself and wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and shall be clean at even 20. But the man that shall be unclean and shall not purifie himself that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him he is unclean 21. And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even 22. And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even 2. Which the LORD hath commanded i. e. Which God commanded Moses before For the Law required that the Unclean should be kept out of the Camp ch 5. and it may well be supposed that the Water of Purification
4. to v. 15. And after the Captivity Ezra was of his Line Ezra 7.1 2 3 4 5. and we have no reason to doubt of its continuance afterward 14. Chief house Heb. House of a father 17. Vex Ch. 31.2 The Moabites are not named See Deut. 2.9 It is probable the Midianites were the greatest Offenders See v. 6. and ch 31.16 CHAP. XXVI The ARGUMENT The Summ of all the Israelites is taken from Twenty years old and upward The Number of each Tribe The Summ total The Law concerning Dividing the Land The Families of Levi numbred The total Summ of them None of them that were Numbred in the Wilderness of Sinai remained now beside Caleb and Joshua 1. AND it came to pass after the plague that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron the priest saying 2. Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel from twenty years old and upward throughout their father's house all that are able to go to war in Israel 3. And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho saying 4. Take the sum of the people from twenty years old and upward as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel which went forth out of the land of Egypt 5. Reuben the eldest son of Israel the children of Reuben Hanoch of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites of Pallu the family of the Palluites 6. Of Hesron the family of the Hesronites of Carmi the family of the Carmites 7. These are the families of the Reubenites and they that were numbred of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty 8. And the sons of Pallu Eliab 9. And the sons of Eliab Nemuel and Dathan and Abiram This is that Dathan and Abiram which were famous in the congregation who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah when they strove against the LORD 10. And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men and they became a sign 11. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not 12. The sons of Simeon after their families of Nemuel the family of the Nemuelites of Jamin the family of the Jaminites of Jachin the family of the Jachinites 13. Of Zerah the family of the Zarhites of Shaul the family of the Shaulites 14. These are the families of the Simeonites twenty and two thousand and two hundred 15. The children of Gad after their families of Zephon the family of the Zephonites of Haggi the family of the Haggites of Shuni the family of the Shunites 16. Of Ozni the family of the Oznites of Eri the family of the Erites 17. Of Arod the family of the Arodites of Areli the family of the Arelites 18. These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbred of them forty thousand and five hundred 19. The sons of Judah were Er and Onan and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan 20. And the sons of Judah after their families were Of Shelah the family of the Shelanites of Pharez the family of the Pharzites of Zerah the family of the Zarbites 21. And the sons of Pharez were of Hesron the family of the Hesronites of Hamul the family of the Hamulites 22. These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbred of them threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred 23. Of the sons of Issachar after their families of Tola the family of the Tolaites of Pua the family of the Punites 24. Of Jashub the family of the Jashubites of Shimron the family of the Shimronites 25. These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbred of them threescore and four thousand and three hundred 26. Of the sons of Zebulun after their families of Sered the family of the Sardites of Elon the family of the Elonites of Jahleel the family of the Jahleelites 27. These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbred of them threescore thousand and five hundred 28. The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim 29. Of the sons of Manasseh of Machir the family of the Machirites and Machir begat Gilead of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites 30. These are the sons of Gilead of Jeezer the family of the Jeezerites of Helek the family of the Helekites 31. And of Asriel the family of the Asrielites and of Shechem the family of the Shechemites 32. And of Shemida the family of the Shemidaites and of Hepher the family of the Hepherites 33. And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons but daughters and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah and Noah Hoglah Milcah and Tirzah 34. These are the families of Manasseh and those that were numbred of them fifty and two thousand and seven hundred 35. These are the sons of Ephraim after their families of Shuthelah the family of the Shuthalhites of Becher the family of the Bechrites of Tahan the family of the Tahanites 36. And these are the sons of Shuthelah of Eran the family of the Eranites 37. These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbred of them thirty and two thousand and five hundred These are the sons of Joseph after their families 38. The sons of Benjamin after their families of Bela the family of the Belaites of Ashbel the family of the Ashbelites of Ahiram the family of the Ahiramites 39. Of Shupham the family of the Shuphamites of Hupham the family of the Huphamites 40. And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman of Ard the family of the Ardites and of Naaman the family of the Naamites 41. These are the sons of Benjamin after their families and they that were numbred of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred 42. These are the sons of Dan after their families of Shuham the family of the Shuhamites These are the families of Dan after their families 43. All the families of the Shuhamites according to those that were numbred of them were threescore and four thousand and four hundred 44. Of the children of Asher after their families of Jimna the family of the Jimnites of Jesui the family of the Jesuites of Beriah the family of the Beriites 45. Of the sons of Beriah of Heber the family of the Heberites of Malchiel the family of the Malchielites 46. And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah 47. These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbred of them who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred 48. Of the sons of Naphtali after their families of Jahzeel the families of the Jahzeelites of Guni the family of the Gunites 49. Of Jezer the family of the Jezerites of Shillem the family of the Shillemites 50. These are the families of Naphtali according to their
and the Preserver of thy Life And so he is of thy Prosperity which Life sometimes signifies see v. 19. and all the Comforts of Life CHAP. XXXI The ARGUMENT Moses does greatly encourage the Israelites and Joshua their Leader Moses delivers a Copy of the Law to the Priests with a command to read it every seventh Year God foretells the Apostacy of the Israelites and declares his displeasure thereupon He appoints a Song as a witness against them He encourageth Joshua The Law to be put into the Ark. Moses foretells the Apostacy of the Israelites 1. AND Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel 2. And he said unto them I am an hundred and twenty years old this day I can no more go out and come in also the LORD hath said unto me Thou shalt not go over this Jordan 3. The LORD thy God he will go over before thee and he will destroy these nations from before thee and thou shalt possess them and Joshua he shall go over before thee as the LORD hath said 4. And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og kings of the Amorites and unto the land of them whom he destroyed 5. And the LORD shall give them up before your face that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you 6. Be strong and of a good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the LORD thy God he it is that doth go with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee 7. And Moses called unto Joshua and said unto him in the sight of all Israel Be strong and of a good courage for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them and thou shalt cause them to inherit it 8. And the LORD he it is that doth go before thee he will be with thee he will not fail thee neither forsake thee fear not neither be dismayed 9. And Moses wrote this Law and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD and unto all the elders of Israel 10. And Moses commanded them saying At the end of every seven years in the solemnity of the year of release in the feast of tabernacles 11. When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing 12. Gather the people together men and women and children and thy stranger that is within thy gates that they may hear and that they may learn and fear the LORD your God and observe to do all the words of this law 13. And that their children which have not known any thing may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it 14. And the LORD said unto Moses Behold thy days approach that thou must die call Joshua and present your selves in the tabernacle of the congregation that I may give him a charge And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation 15. And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle 16. And the LORD said unto Moses Behold thou shalt sleep with thy fathers and this people will rise up and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land whither they go to be among them and will forsake me and break my covenant which I have made with them 17. Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day and I will forsake them and I will hide my face from them and they shall be devoured and many evils and troubles shall befall them so that they will say in that day Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not amongst us 18. And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought in that they are turned unto other gods 19. Now therefore write ye this song for you and teach it the children of Israel put it in their mouths that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel 20. For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers that floweth with milk and honey and they shall have eaten and filled themselves and waxen fat then will they turn unto other gods and serve them and provoke me and break my covenant 21. And it shall come to pass when many evils and troubles are befallen them that this song shall testifie against them as a witness for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed for I know their imagination which they go about even now before I have brought them into the land which I sware 22. Moses therefore wrote this song the same day and taught it the children of Israel 23. And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge and said Be strong and of a good courage for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them and I will be with thee 24. And it came to pass when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book until they were finished 25. That Moses commanded the Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD saying 26. Take this book of the law and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God that it may be there for a witness against thee 27. For I know thy rebellion and thy stiff neck behold while I am yet alive with you this day ye have been rebellious against the LORD and how much more after my death 28. Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes and your officers that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to record against them 29. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt your selves and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you and evil will befall you in the latter days because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands 30. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song until they were ended 2. I can no more go out and come in See the Note on Numb 27.17 The strength of Moses was at present vigorous chap. 34.7 but he could not think it could last long besides this God had declared that he should not go over Jordan as it follows here 9. This law i. e. The whole body of it Vnto the priests the sons of Levi which bare the ark c. The fairest account of these words and the most unexceptionable is this That there is here an Ellipsis of
the copulative Particle as there is in some other places Vid. Hab. 3.11 Jud. 5.27 Exod. 15.9 and then Moses is said here to deliver the Law unto the priests and to the sons of Levi which bare the ark c. Numb ch 3. and ch 4. and unto all the elders of Israel So that the Law was delivered to the three Ranks and Degrees of Men of which the whole Congregation consisted viz. the Priests the Levites and the Representatives of the People And this Interpretation of these words will receive some confirmation from the Greek Interpreters in another place not unlike to this viz. Josh 3.3 When ye see the ark c. and the Priests the Levites bearing it There the Greek suppose an Ellipsis and do therefore render it and the Levites supplying the copulative Particle supposed to be wanting here 10. At the end c. See the Note on chap. 15.1 In the solemnity Or rather in the time as the Hebrew word signifies and as it is rendred by the Chaldee Syriack and Greek This appointed time was very convenient for this solemn hearing of the Law For it was at a time of the year when their Harvest was gathered in chap. 16.13 and they were freed from those cares and in a year when they were freed both from the Labours and from the Exactions which in other years they were liable unto chap. 15.1 2. 11. Thou shalt read This care concerned the body of the People and was discharged by the King as the Jews affirm or some other great Man when there was no King See Nehemiah 8. But then that all Israel might hear it was necessary that there should be care taken that it should be done by so many that all might hear it 13. Their children i. e. Their Posterity as appears from what follows May hear and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as ye live in the land 15. In a pillar of a cloud See Exod. 33.9 10. 17. I will hide my face from them i. e. I will remove from them the tokens of my favour and punish them as appears from the following words 19. This song i. e. The Song which follows in the next Chapter which is composed in the form of a Song that they might the more easily learn and remember it Put it in their mouths i. e. Take care that they learn it That it may be a witness for me against or among the children of Israel That is that it may be a perpetual Monitor among them of my Mercy towards and of the justice of my proceedings with them see v. 21. 22. Taught it As he was commanded v. 19. 23. He gave That is God gave as it is evident from the following words 26. Put it in the side of the ark Here it was put for the greater security and as the authentick Copy and Original was laid up in a safe place 30. And Moses spake in the ears of all c. Not that he did this all at once but either at several times or else he did it at once to the Heads and Representatives of the whole Congregation CHAP. XXXII The ARGUMENT The Song of Moses which sets forth the Divine Perfections and the Mercies of God to the Israelites And also lays before them their Rebellions and particularly their Idolatry It gives an account also of the wrath of God upon that account Moses is commanded to go up into Mount Nebo to take a view thence of the Land of Canaan and to die there 1. GIve ear O ye heavens and I will speak and hear O earth the words of my mouth 2. My doctrine shall drop as the rain my speech shall distil as the dew as the small rain upon the tender herb and as the showers upon the grass 3. Because I will publish the name of the LORD ascribe ye greatness unto our God 4. He is the rock his work is perfect for all his ways are judgment a God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he 5. They have corrupted themselves their spot is not the spot of his children they are a perverse and crooked generation 6. Do ye thus requite the LORD O foolish people and unwise is not he thy father that hath bought thee hath he not made thee and established thee 7. Remember the days of old consider the years of many generations ask thy father and he will shew thee thy elders and they will tell thee 8. When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance when he separated the sons of Adam he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel 9. For the LORD's portion is his people Jacob is the lot of his inheritance 10. He found him in a desart land and in the waste howling wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the apple of his eye 11. As an eagle stirreth up her nest fluttereth over her young spreadeth abroad her wings taketh them beareth them on her wings 12. So the LORD alone did lead him and there was no strange god with him 13. He made him ride on the high places of the earth that he might eat the increase of the fields and he made him to suck honey out of the rock and oyl out of the flinty rock 14. Butter of kine and milk of sheep with fat of lambs and rams of the breed of Bashan and goats with the fat of kidneys of wheat and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape 15. But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked thou art waxen fat thou art grown thick thou art covered with fatness then he forsook God which made him and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation 16. They provoked him to jealousie with strange gods with abominations provoked they him to anger 17. They sacrificed unto devils not to God to gods whom they knew not to new gods that came newly up whom your fathers feared not 18. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindfull and hast forgotten God that formed thee 19. And when the LORD saw it he abhorred them because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters 20. And he said I will hide my face from them I will see what their end shall be for they are a very froward generation children in whom is no faith 21. They have moved me to jealousie with that which is not God they have provoked me to anger with their vanities and I will move thew to jealousie with those which are not a people I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation 22. For a fire if kindled in my anger and shall burn undo the lowest hell and shall consume the earth with her encrease and set on fire the foundations of the mountains 23. I will heap mischiefs upon them I will spend mine arrows upon them 24. They shall be burnt with hunger and devoured with burning heat and with bitter destruction I will also send the teeth of beasts upon