Leviticus 4

Leviticus 4:2

IGnorance] Either of the Law, or of the fact, which a man is bound to know, and may know; for ignorance in sinne is no securitie against punishment; it may sometimes extenuate a sinne, but it cannot annihilate it, or take it wholly away, nor procure a totall impunitie to the sinner, Luke 12:48. and if it be wilfull ignorance, it doth rather aggravate the guilt, then abate any part of it: to these sinnes of ignorance may be referred sinnes of infirmitie, proceeding from inconsideration, when a man is suddenly overtaken in a sault, Galatians 6:1. and it is probable it extends not to all in generall, but such for which the conscience would more likely be touched; for of ordinary deviations there was an expiation by the daily burntofferings for the whole Church, and the sacrifice of the day of Atonement, Leviticus 16:30.

Leviticus 4:3

that is anointed] Meaning the High-priest, as the Chaldee, and Seventie render it, anointed with that solemn 〈◊〉, Exodus 29:7. and he onely in the ages following was anointed, Levit, 21. 10. Anointed is especially mentioned, because for any sinne committed before anointing, a peculiar oblation, was not required, but onely such a one as was offered for the Prince, or one of the people.

sinne] This taught them they must looke for another Mediatour which had no need of an offering for sinne, but could make a perfect atonement betwixt God and them, Hebrews 7:26-28.

according to the sinne of the people] That is, if as he is a man, not as a Priest, he sinne, as others of the people doe, as being subject to the like passions as others are, as ?Acts 15. Hebrews 5. 2. 3. or so sinne according to the sinne of the people, as scandalously to draw others to sinne, or to incourage them in sinne by his corrupt teaching of the Law.

sinne-offering] This differs from a peace-offering; because in this the offeter had no part, but the fat and kidneys, and bloud being offered to God, or burned, the est came to the Priest, for they were altogether holy to God, and so could not be carried out of the holy place by any but the Priests; nor eaten any where but in the holy Court, Chap. 6. 26. (whence the Priests were said to eate the sinnes of the people) and this onely in sacrifices for the sinne of private men, or publique Princes; for those which were offered for the High-priest, or all the people, the fat and bloud being offered in the holy

Leviticus 4:4

kill the bullocke] Hereby confessing that he deserved the same punishment which the beast suffered.

Leviticus 4:5

the Priest that is anointed, &c.] Here the sinner himselfe, Hebrews 7:27. is ordered to bring the bloud of his sin-offering into the Tabernacle, which was not yet enjoyned in any sacrifice. This typified our way opened into heaven by the bloud of Christ, Heb. 10. 19, 20.

Leviticus 4:6

sprinkle of the bloud seven times] A mysticall number, signifying our perfect cleansing from sinne by the sprinkling of Christs bloud, Heb. 9. 13, 14. and that our sins require much purgation, Psalms 51:2.

the vaile of the Sanctuary] Which was betwixt the Holiest of all and the Sanctuary, called usually Parocheths in the Hebrew, Leviticus 16:2. to distinguish it from the other vaile at the enterance of the Tabernacle, called Masach, Exodus 26:36.

Leviticus 4:11

the skinne of the bullocke, and his flesh] In this, and the sin-offering for the whole Congregation, wholly burned without the Campe, the Priest did eat no part, Leviticus 6:30. (though he did in other sin-offerings, vers. 26. of this Chap.) because the offerer might not eat of the sin-offering; but in these the Priest was offerer either solely, as here; or inclusively, as in the sin-offering for all the Congregation. This might signifie the detestablenesse of sin, especially of Sacred persons, or of a whole people, which here, as it were, on the back of the bullock, was carried out of the Campe. Secondly, that the True sin-offering should suffer without the gate, Heb. 13. 11, 12. Thirdly, that by Christ his sufferings our sinnes are fully pardoned, removed farre from us: and for the person that was to carry this sinoffering out, though it seeme to be the High-priest, vers. 12. yet he was onely to see it done, and not by doing it himselfe, render himselfe unclean, as you may see in the same case, Chap. 16. 27, 28.

Leviticus 4:12

where the ashes] The ashes of the sacrifice offered upon the Altar, were first placed in the Court neere the Altar, and thence they were afterwards carried out of the Campe into some stony place, where no dirt nor carrion was cast: and this was done, the better to preserve the service of God from all contempt.

Leviticus 4:13

if the whole Congregation] Or the greater part of the people. The multitude excuseth not from sinne, but if all have sinned, they must all be punished, if Gods justice be not appeased by sound repentance; (which is such a sorrow for sin, as worketh a change both of the minde, and of the manners of the sinner) see Gen. 6. 12, 13. & 19. 0. Hence also we may observe, that not onely particular persons, but particular or Nationall Churches may erre.

Leviticus 4:14

then the whole Congregation shall offer a bullock] This perscription is generall for all sinne; but for omitting some ceremoniall duties enjoyned them, Numbers 15:24. they were to offer a kid of the goats for a sin-offering.

Leviticus 4:15

Elders] Not the Priests in this case, but the heads and Magistrates, which were seventy in number, Exodus 3:16. & Chap. 24. 1. for all the people could not lay on their hands, therefore it was sufficient that the Ancients of the people did it in the name of all the Congregation.

Leviticus 4:16

the Priest that is anointed] That is, the High-priest See Annot. on vers. 3.

Leviticus 4:18

Altar which] That is, the Altar of Incense. See Annot. on vers. 3.

Leviticus 4:20

as he did the bullock for a sin-offering] That is, the bullock offered for the sinne of the Priest, called the first bullocke, vers. 21.

forgiven them] That is, they shall he accquited from their offence, and not onely from the guilt of sinne, but from any ecclesiasticall or externall censure or punishment of the Law.

Leviticus 4:21

without the Campe] All whole burnt-offerings for sinne were to be burned without the Campe, or Host, Exodus 29:14. See Heb. 13. vers. 12, 13.

Leviticus 4:22

When a ruler] Of a Family, or any head of a Tribe, or any Governour; for the word in the Originall signifieth one elevated, or lifted up above others, as Numbers 1:4. & Chap. 7. vers. 2.

and is guilty: Or if his sinne wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge, &c.] That is, whether presently he come to acknowledge it; or afterwards it be disclosed unto him, so soone as he knows of it, he shall bring his sin-offering.

Leviticus 4:24

and kill it] That is, the Priests shall kill it; for it was not lawfull for any out of that office to kill the beast. So vers. 33.

before the LORD] See Annot. on Chap. 1. vers. 11.

Leviticus 4:25

and put it upon the Altar] Neither this for the ruler, nor that for private persons, vers. 30. were sprinkled before the Vaile in the Tabernacle, nor upon the Altar of Incense, as those for the Priest and all the people were, vers. 6, 7, 16, 17, 18. for their sinnes as more hainous required a more solemne manner of atonement.

Leviticus 4:26

an atonement for him] Wherein he represented Jesus Christ.

Leviticus 4:29

in the place] That is, at the doore of the Tabernacle, where all ought to be killed, Leviticus 1:5.

Leviticus 4:32

a female] See Annot. on Chap. 3. vers. 6.

Leviticus 4:33

he shall lay his hand] Meaning, that the punishment of his sinne should be laid upon the beast, and that as he had received all he had from the hand of God; so with his owne hand he offered that sacrifice willingly unto God. It is uncertaine here who should lay his hand; it seemes here, and vers. 15. that the bringer of the sacrifice, or he for whom the sacrifice was offered, was to lay his hand upon the head of it; but for the killing of it, it belonged to the Priest onely.

in the place] That is, a place beside, or neere the Altar.

Leviticus 4:34

according to the offerings] Or upon the offerings, or besides the burnt-offerings, which were daily offered to the Lord. See Chap. 3. vers. 5.