Leviticus 22

Laws touching the cleanness of the Priests in the eating of hallowed things: being unclean, they might not eat thereof, v. 1, etc. but being well cleansed, 6. they might eat no dead carcass, nor that which was torn, 8. who might eat with them of the holy things, who not, 10. a Law concerning such as had eaten of holy things through errour, 14. Laws of free-will-offerings, how they were to be conditioned, 17. from whose hand to be received, 25. of what age, 26. to offer no beast with its dam, 28. of the offerings to be eaten the same day, 29. all which is concluded with an exhortation to obedience, 31.

1. After that, the LORD spoke unto Moseh, saying:

2. Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy (things) of the children of Israel, [viz. not eating thereof, when they are defiled with anything, or are otherwise unfit for it. By the holy things here, are understood those which by the children of Israel were offered to God: see above on verse 15.] which they hallow unto me: [that is said to be hallowed unto God; which is set apart from the common use, and dedicated or appointed for an holy end and purpose. So in the next verse. Item, Exodus 13:2. Numbers 3:13. Deuteronomy 15:19. Oth. because they hallow (them) unto me] that they do not prophane the Name of my Holiness: [see above chapter 18. on verse 21.] I am the LORD.

3. Say to them; Every man among your generations, which out of all your seed shall approach [viz. for to thereof] to the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD; when his uncleanness is upon him; [whereof was spoken above chapter 11. and instances are given here, in the next verse] that same man shall be extirpated from before my face, [Heb. that soul, and so below verse 6, & c. See Gen. 12. on verse 5.] I am the LORD.

4. None of the seed [i.e. children, progeny posterity: see Gen. 9. on verse 9.] of Aaron, which is leprous, or hath a running (issue), shall eat of those holy things, until he be clean: as likewise he that toucheth somewhat, that is unclean of a dead body, [Heb. the unclean of soul, i.e. of a dead body, see above chapter 19. on verse 28.] or any, to whom the seed of copulation issueth. [Heb. the copulation of seed.]

5. Or who so shall have touched any creeping creature, whereof he is unclean, or a man whereof he is unclean, according to all his uncleanness. [i.e. whatsoever uncleanness he may be defiled withal.]

6. The man that shall have touched the same, shall be unclean until the even: and he shall not eat of those holy things; but shall bath his flesh with water.

7. When the Sun shall be gone down, then he shall be clean; and after that he shall eat of those holy things; for that is his meat. [Or, bread; see above chapter 3. on verse 11.]

8. The dead carcass, and the torn he shall not eat, to be made clean therewith: I am the LORD.

9. They shall therefore observe my command, [Heb. keep my keeping, or, observe my observing] that they may bear [see chapter 5. on verse 1] no sin therefore, [viz. for, or by reason of those holy things spoken of before, verse 7. see above chapter 21. on verse 22. and so in the sequel] and die therein, [viz. in that sin, or in the punishment of their sin as happened to Nadab and Abihu; above chapter 10. 1, 2. oth. for them, i.e. for the holy things spoken of, verse 7.] when they shall have unhallowed them: [i.e. those holy things] I am the LORD, that sanctifieth them. [viz. the Priests. See above chapter 21. on verse 8.]

10. Also no stranger shall eat the holy (thing), [i.e. none, that is not of the Priestly generation; such as were the rest of the Levites, and children of Israel. See below verse 12. and Matth. chapter 12, 4.] a Co-habitant of the Priest, [understand such a one as being come from abroad, doth take up his dwelling or sojourning place for a time, with the Priest. Some do understand by these co-habitants the menial servants: whereof we read, Exodus 21:2, 3, & c.] and a day-labourer shall not eat the holy thing.

11. However yet when the Priest shall have bought a soul with his money, [Heb. with the buying, (or, purchase) of his money] the same shall it of it: and the in-born of his house, they shall eat of his meat.

12. But when the Priest’s daughter shall belong to a stranger (or, alien) man (husband); [i.e. be married to one, that is not of the Priest’s family or generation, as above verse 10.] she shall not eat of the heave-offering of the holy things.

13. Yet when the Priest’s daughter shall be a widow, or repudiate, [See above chapter 21. on verse 7.] and have no seed, [i.e. no children; thus this word is taken, Genesis 4:25. and 15. 3. Lev. 20. verse 2. etc] and shall be returned to her father’s house, as in her youth, then she shall eat of her father’s meat; but no strangers shall eat thereof.

14. And when any one shall have eaten the holy(thing), through error; then he shall superadd the first part of it, and shall render it unto the Priest with the Holy; [Oth. shall render the holy to the Priest, i.e. the like of it in substance or value; for that which was eaten once, could not be restored, see above chapter 5. 16.]

15. So they shall prophane (unhallow) the holy things of the children of Israel, which they shall have heavened unto the LORD;

16. And make them bear the iniquity of the guilt, [i.e. the punishment of the guilt or trespass; as above verse 9. and chapter 5. verse 1.] if they should eat their holy things: for I am the LORD, that halloweth them:

17. Moreover the LORD spoke unto Moseh, saying:

18. Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and say to them: Whosoever [Heb. man, man] of the house of Israel, and of the strangers in Israel, [understand such strangers as had embraced and made profession of the Religion of the Israelites] that shall offer his sacrifice according to all their vows, [of these see above chapter 7. on verse 16.] and according to all their free-will-offerings, which they offer to the LORD, for a burnt-offering.

19. It shall be according to your well-pleasing; [see above chapter 1. on verse 3.] a perfect male of the bullocks, of the lambs, or of the goats.

20. Ye shall offer nothing, wherein there is a defect: for it would not be acceptable for you. [Heb. not according to acceptance, or, well-pleasing; and so in the sequel. Understand not acceptable to the LORD; compare herewith above chapter 1. the notes on verse 4.]

21. And when any will offer a Thank-offering unto the LORD, severing forth from the bullocks, or from the sheep, a vow, or free-will-offering; it shall be perfect, that it may be acceptable, there shall be no defect therein.

22. The blind, or broken, or maimed (cripple); or warty, or having a dry scall, [See above chapter 21. on verse 20.] or, a mattery scall: these ye shall not offer to the LORD; and thereof ye shall give no fire-offering unto the LORD, upon the Altar.

23. Nevertheless a bullock, or small cattle, [i.e. sheep, or goats] being too long , or too contracted (shrunk) in members; them that shall prepare; [i.e. them thou maist offer] but for a vow, it would not be acceptable.

24. That which is pressed, (Galled) or hurt, or torn, cut, (slashed) ye shall not offer to the LORD: that ye shall not do, (or sacrifice) in your land.

25. Neither from the hand of the stranger [Heb. the son of the stranger, or foreigner] shall ye offer any meat of all these things: [Hereby God commands, that the sacrifices to be offered by the strangers, (see Ezra 6:8, 9, 10.) were likewise to be perfect and without defect or blemish, as well as the sacrifices of the children of Israel] for their corruption is in them, there is defect in the same, they would not be acceptable for you.

26. Moreover the LORD spoke unto Moseh, saying:

27. When a bullock, or lamb, or goat shall be born, the same shall be seven days under its mother (dam): then, from the eight day, and upwards, it shall be acceptable for a sacrifice of a fire-offering to the LORD.

28. A bullock likewise, or small cattle, it and its young ye shall not slay upon one day.

29. And when ye will slay a praise-offering unto the LORD, ye shall slay it according to your will.

30. It shall be eaten on the same day, ye shall not leave nothing of it, until the morning: I am the LORD.

31. Therefore shall ye keep my Commandments, and do the same; I am the LORD.

32. And ye shall not prophane my holy Name, [i.e. not cause the same to be blasphemed, by disobeying my Commandments] that I may be hallowed in the midst of the children of Israel: [i.e. acknowledged and declared to be that God, which punisheth the transgressors, and rewardeth the well-doers, see above chapter 10. on verse 3.] I am the LORD that halloweth you.

33. That hath carried you forth out of the Land of Egypt, that I may be God unto you. [see Gen. 17. on verse 17.] I am the LORD.