Leviticus 5

Laws concerning the manner of offering guilt-offerings, to make Expiation for having heard and concealed cursing, v. 1. For touching unawares any unclean thing, 2. Or swearing in vain, 4. Of that which he was to do or offer, that was guilty of one or any of these, 6. As also he that had trespassed against the hallowed or consecrated things of the LORD, 14.

1. Now when a man (homo) [Heb. Soul, and so in the Sequel. See Gen. 12. On verse 5.] shall have sinned, having heard a voice of the people, [viz. of blasphemy, or cursing, uttered against God (as below chapter 24. 10, 11.) or his neighbor, (as 2 Sam. 16. 7.)] whereof he is witness, whether he saw it, [viz. having been personally present, when the sin was committed] or knew (it): [having heard it reported by others] if he make it not known [viz. to the Magistrate, being kept back through any human infirmity of either timorousness, or want of courage, or for affections sake, or out of neglect, & c.] then he shall bear his iniquity. [i.e. he shall undergo and suffer punishment, which by this trespass of concealment he hath deserved: see this phrase below, verse 17. And chapter 17. 16. And chapter 20. 20. Numbers 14:33. Isaiah 53:11, etc. and this sin, or iniquity is taken of punishment, Genesis 19:15. Numbers 18:1. See Gen. 4. On verse 13.]

2. Or when a man shall have touched any unclean thing, [Understand this of the Ceremonial uncleanness, whereof see further below, chapter 11. And Deut. 14.] whether it be the dead carcass of a wild unclean beast, or the dead carcass of unclean cattle, or the dead carcass of an unclean creeping creature; [See Gen 1. On verse 20.] although it were unknown to him, [viz. that he had touched any of those] nevertheless he is unclean and guilty.

3. Or when he shall have touched the uncleanness of a man, according to all his uncleanness, whereby he is made unclean, [i.e. in any kind of uncleanness, whereby a man may become unclean, according to the Ceremonial Law. See of the several kind of this uncleanness, below chapters 11, 12, 13, 15. And 17.] and it was hid before him: and he is made aware of it; [Heb. Hath known it, and so verse 4.] he is guilty:

4. Or if a man shall have sworn unadvisedly with his lips, uttering (the same) to do evil, or to do well, [to wit, to his neighbor; of the evil, see an example, 1 Samuel 25:22. Item, Acts 23:22. Of the good, Mark 6:23.] according to all what a man uttereth unadvisedly in an oath, and it was hidden before him, [viz. through distemper and trouble of his spirit] and he is made aware of it; he is guilty of one of those. [i.e. of one of the foresaid misdeeds.]

5. It shall be then, [i.e. then shall this following Law be observed by and with him] when [oth. Because] he is guilty of one of those: that he shall confess, wherein he hath sinned: [i.e. in which of the foresaid particulars; oth. That he hath sinned therein.]

6. And shall bring for his guilt-offering to the LORD for his sin, which he hath sinned, [Understand the sacrifice, to be made for the sin committed of infirmity, and making a man guilty nevertheless before God; see and chapter 7. 1, 19.] a female of small cattle [See above chapter 1. On verse 2.] a Lamb, or a young Goat for the sin: [oth. For sin-offering. See above chapter 4. On v. 2.] then the Priest shall make Expiation for him by reason of his sin.

7. But if his hand he not able to compass so much, [i.e. if he be not able to do it by reason of his poverty, thus below verse 11. And chapter 25. Verse 26.] as is sufficient for a small cattle, [Heb. The sufficiency of a small cattle] then shall he (for) his offering, for the guilt which he hath sinned, bring unto the LORD two Turtle-doves, or two young Pigeons [Heb. Sons of the dove, and so verse 11. See above chapter 1. On verse 14.] one for a sin offering, and one for a burnt-offering.

8. And he shall bring them to the Priest, who shall first offer that which is for the sin-offering: and shall split her head with his nail beside her neck, but not cut (it) off.

9. And of the blood of the sin-offering he shall sprinkle on the wall of the altar: but the remainder of that blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin-offering.

10. And the other he shall make for a burnt-offering, after that manner; [Or, according to the right, i.e. after the manner and order appointed in this behalf, being accordingly right and lawful: thus the word is taken elsewhere too. Compare Genesis 40:13. And see the Annotations thereupon] then the Priest shall make Expiation for him because of his sin, which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.

11. But if his hand cannot compass two Turtle-doves, or two young Pigeons, than he that hath sinned [Oth. Than he, because he hath sinned] shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an Epha [called Gomer, Exodus 16:36. Holding forty hen-egg-shells, ten of them made upon Epha, holding ten times as much, that is to say, as much as four hundred thirty two hen-egg-shells. They were measures for dry wares] of meal-flower for a sin offering: he shall do no oil over it, nor lay frankincense thereupon, because it is a sin-offering.

12. And he shall bring that to the Priest, and the Priest shall gripe his handful thereof for remembrance of the same, and kindle that with fire upon the altar, upon the fire-offerings. See above chapter 3. On verse 5.] it is a sin-offering.

13. Then the Priest shall make Expiation for him over his sin, which he hath sinned in any of those (things), [viz. of the sins mentioned above, verse 1.] and it shall be forgiven him: and it [viz. the remainder] shall be the Priests, like unto the meat-offering.

14. Moreover the LORD spoke to Moseh, saying;

15. When a man [Heb. Soul] shall have transgressed through transgression, and sinned through straying from [oth. (in ought) of, or, about, or, because of] the holy things of the LORD, and separated for an holy use, and so in the next verse, & c. and compare chapter 22. 2. And chapter 16. 4. And 19. 24.] then shall he bring for his guilt-offering to the LORD, [Heb. His guilt, i.e. the sacrifice for his guilt. See above ch. 4. On verse 3.] a perfect Ram out of the flock with thy estimation in silver shekels, [i.e. with as much money, as the purloined thing shall be worth. Compare below chapter 22. 14. And chapter 27.] according to the shekel of Sanctuary, [which was as much again as the common shekel, to wit, about half a Rix-dollar, (two shillings three pence)] for a sin-offering.

16. Thus shall he restore that which sinning he (hath purloined) of the holy things, and shall add over and above the same the fifth part thereof, which he shall give unto the Priest: thus shall the Priest make Expiation for him, with Ram of the guilt-offering, [see above on verse 6.] and it shall be forgiven him.

17. And if a man shall have sinned, and done (against) one of all the Commandments of the LORD, which should be done; howheit he knew not of it, yet he is guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. [See above verse 1.]

18. And he shall bring a perfect Ram out of the flock unto the Priest, with thy estimation for a guilt-offering; and the Priest shall make Expiation for him, over his straying, through which he hath strayed, not knowing the same; then it shall be forgiven him.

19. It is a guilt-offering; he hath assuredly made himself guilty to the LORD. [Heb. Making guilty, he hath made guilty himself, i.e. notwithstanding that he trespassed through ignorance, or unadvisedness, inconsiderateness, or forgetfulness, or hate and passion, or any other weakness and infirmity, yet he hath committed sin, and is liable to punishment for it. Compare Luke 12:48.]