Leviticus 17

Laws forbidding to offer sacrifice any where, but only in the Tabernacle, v. 1, etc and to none else, but unto to the LORD alone, 5. by no means unto Devils, on pain of being cut off, 7. Item, forbidding to eat blood, on like pain, 10. or any dead carcass, being torn, 15.

1. Moreover the LORD spoke to Moseh, saying:

2. Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them; This is the word [or, thing] which the LORD hath commanded, saying:

3. Every one [Heb. man, man, i.e. every man, or every one, whoever he be; so above chapter 15. verse 2. and below verse 8. and 10.] of the house of Israel, that shall slay an ox, or lamb, or goat, [viz. to offer the same unto the LORD, as doth plainly appear by the sequel, verse 4.] in the Camp; [understand, without the Court of the Tabernacle, as the next verse showeth] or, that shall slay (them) without the Camp.

4. And shall not bring the same to the door of the Tent of the Congregation for to offer an offering to the LORD, before the Tabernacle of the LORD: the blood shall be imputed to that man, he hath spit blood; [i.e. he is to be reputed, as if he had spilt or shed innocent blood. See the reason hereof, below verse 11.] therefore shall that man be destroyed but of the midst of his people: [see Gen. 17. on verse 14. and below chapter 18. on verse 29.]

5. That, when the children of Israel bring their slay-offerings, which they slay in the field, [Heb. upon the face of the field. This is the Israelites practiced before the setting up of the Tabernacle, Exodus 5:3. and chapter 8. 27. which now the LORD forbiddeth on pain of cutting off the transgressor from his people, above ver. 4. and below verse 9.] that they do bring them to the LORD, at the door of the Tent of the Congregation, unto the Priest: and slay the same for thank-offerings to the LORD.

6. And the Priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the Altar of the LORD, at the door of the Tent of the Congregation; and he shall kindle the fat, for a pleasant smell to the LORD. [see Gen. 8. on verse 21.]

7. Neither shall they any more offer their slay-offerings unto Devils, [The Hebrew word signifieth properly such as are rough and hairy, like goats, in which or such like shapes the Devils sometimes appear to men; and thus likewise they are pictured, or fashioned by the Heathens, and also worshipped: see likewise of these, 2 Chron. 11. verse 15.] whom they go a whoring after; [i.e. with whom they do commit Idolatry. For like as a woman playeth the whore, communicating her body to any man, besides her lawful husband; so it is spiritual whoredom, when a man doth yield and attribute that love and honour, which he oweth to none but God, unto Idols, or any creature, whether it be outwardly, or inwardly. See Exodus 34:15. Leviticus 20:5. 6. with the Annot. Judges 8:33. Ezech. 16. verse 16, 26. and ch. 23. 8, 19, 21, & c.] that shall be an everlasting institution for their generations.

8. say then unto them; Every one of the house of Israel, and of the strangers, which sojourn in the midst of them as strangers; he that shall offer a burnt-offering, or a slay-offering.

9. And shall not bring the same to the door of the Tent of the Congregation, for to prepare the same to the LORD, the same man shall be cut off out of his people.

10. And every one out of the house of Israel, and out of the strangers, that sojourn as strangers, in the midst of them, that shall have eaten that blood, against his soul, that shall have eaten that blood, I will set my face, [Heb. I will give my face against the soul, i.e. I shall be highly offended with such a one, and become his enemy, and shall make it my work to execute my just Judgements and vengeance upon him: so below chapter 20. 3. and 26. 17. Ezech. 14. 8, etc.] and shall cut him off out of the midst of his people.

11. For the Soul of the flesh [i.e. the life thereof understood of any beast, see Gen. 9. on verse 4.] is in the blood: therefore have I given it you upon the Altar, for to make expiation for the soul. [viz. Sacramentally, pointing at, or typifying the blood of Jesus Christ, the immaculate Lamb, which was to be slain for man upon the Altar of the Cross, Romans 3:25. Colossians 1:20. Hebrews 9:12.]

12. Therefore have I said to the children of Israel; No soul of you shall eat blood: neither shall the stranger, that sojourneth in the midst of you, eat blood.

13. Every one likewise of the children of Israel, and of the strangers which sojourn in the midst of them, that shall have taken a wild beast or fowl that is eaten, in hunting; [Heb. that shall have hunted the hunting of the wild beast, etc. i.e. taken in, or by hunting. Compare with this, gen. 27. the Annot. on verse 3.] he shall pour out the blood thereof, and cover the same with dust.

14. For it is the soul of all flesh; his blood is for [or, in, or, with] his soul: therefore have I said to the children of Israel; ye shall eat the blood of no flesh: for the soul of all flesh [see above verse 11.] that is his blood, who so eateth the same, shall be cut off.

15. And every soul among the in-born, or among the strangers, that shall have eaten a dead carcass; [viz. through ignorance, or inadvertency; not of deliberation, or set purpose: see above chapter 11. on verse 40.] he shall wash his clothes, and bath himself with water, and be unclean until the even: after that he shall be clean.

16. But if he do not wash (them), [viz. his clothes] nor bath his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity. [see above chapter 5. on verse 1.]