Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11:1-8

This chapter appoints the different kinds of flesh, which might or might not be eaten. 1. Of beasts, ver. 1—8. 2. Of fishes, ver. 9—12. 3. Of birds, ver. 13—19. 4. Of creeping things, which are distinguished into two facts, flying creeping things, ver. 20—28, and creeping things upon the earth, ver. 29—43. And the love concludes with the general rule of holiness, and reopens for it, ver. 44—47.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 2. Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, ‘These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chewerth the cud among the beasts, that shall ye eat. 4. Nevertheks, these shall ye not eat, of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he chewerth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5. And the cony,

because he chewerth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 6. And the hare, because he chewerth 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 chewerth 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 unto you.

The distinction of clean and unclean beasts was before the flood, and, no doubt, continued afterwards, See Gen. xliii. 12. God now expressly prescribes rules to his people in this point, v. 3; and if they had no other reason than God’s will, it were sufficient for them to acquiesce in his disposition. But the beasts forbidden were either for the most part unwholesome, or disagreeable; and God would make no hence strong between his people and the nations around them, who either regarded many of these beasts as holy to their divinity, or used them for food, which would prevent the Israelites from frequenting their houses and tables. Note, (1.) God’s people must always be separated from the world. Though these ceremonial distinctions are ceased, yet the table of the godly man, and of the profane, will afford as great a difference (fill) not only in the temperance of the one and the luxury of the other, but also in the prayer which condensates the one, and the religious neglect of it which produces the other. (2.) The beasts which answered but half the description, v. 3, were unclean. Those who with some marks of children of God, carry evident proofs of the want of others, are only almost Christians, and as sorely perish, unless altogether such, as they who make no pretences to religion. (3.) They must not touch, when dead at least, what they may not eat when living, v. 8. If we keep not out of the way of temptation, we shall not long keep from evil.

9. These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 10. And all that have not fins 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 carcasses in abomination. 12. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Leviticus 11:9-12

A general rule concerning fishes, v. 9, 10. We never heard of unclean fish before; but the Jews, who were to be kept separate for God, were fenced with peculiar refractions. Nor, God’s Israel will still deny themselves many things, in which others indulge themselves.

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 offimage, and the ofspray. 14. And the vulture, and the kite after his kind: 15. Every raven after his kind: 16. And the owl, and the night-hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk 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 frock, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

Leviticus 11:13-19

The fowls which are unclean, are particularly specified. Their names are uncertain now, and the inflection has ceased. They were in general birds of prey, or unclean feeders, or birds of the night. Nor, God’s people must not be rapacious, nor allow themselves in any deeds of impunity or darkness. These are still forbidden things.

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 withal 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 grasshopper 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 toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. 25. And whosoever beareth again of the carcase of them, shall ‘wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 26. The carcasses of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chewerth

the

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: whofo toucheth their carcafe, shall be unclean until the even. 28. And he that beareth the carcafe of them, shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you. 29. ¶ Thefe also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth: the weasel, and the mould, and the tortoise after his kind. 30. And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. 31. Thefe are unclean to you among all that creep; whosoever doth touch them when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. 32. And upon whatsoever any of them when they are dead doth fall, it shall be unclean, whether it be any veffel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever veffel is he, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. 33. And every earthen veffel 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 veffel, shall be unclean. 35. And every thing, whereupon any part of their carcafe falleth, shall be unclean; whether it be even, 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 carcafe shall be unclean. 37. And if any part of their carcafe 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 carcafe fall thereon; it shall be unclean unto you. 39. And if any beasts of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcafe thereof shall be unclean until the even. 40. And he that eateth of the carcafe of it, shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcafe of it, shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until 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.

Leviticus 11:20-42

Further laws concerning infests, v. 20—23. Flying creeping animals are all forbidden, and particular injunctions given concerning their carcafes. Every one who touched them was unclean; and whatever they touched or fell upon must be washed, or, if earthen, must be broken, and the liquor split, except it be a fountain or pit, where there was plenty of water. And if a clean beast die, he who removed him was unclean till the even that he washed himself. In all which, God’s Israel must learn the necessity of a holy walk and conversation. We ought at least to be as careful of moral defilement, as they were of ceremonial.

43. Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. 44. For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy, for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves 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 beasts that may be eaten, and the beasts that may not be eaten.

Leviticus 11:43-47

The great reason of all these injunctions is here given: Be ye holy, for I am holy. God designs in his ordinance to sanctify his people for himself; and he who had separated them, by bringing them forth from Egypt, might well enjoin them thus to separate themselves from the heathen around them. Acts, (1.) They who are God’s people, desire confer-

miry to him in holiness. (2.) For this end they carefully observe all his institutions, that in the means of grace they may grow in grace. (3.) We need be thankful that all these ceremonies are abolished, and that now nothing is unclean of itself. When their forbidden meat comes on our tables, it should excite fresh gratitude. (4.) Let us beware only of making that unholy by intemperance or forgetfulness of God, which in itself is good, when sanctified by the word of God and prayer.