Leviticus 17

Leviticus 17:1-9

No sacrifice must be offered by any other but the priest, nor any where but at the door of the tabernacle, and this upon pain of death, ver. 1—9. no blood must be eaten, nor anything that dieth of itself, 10—16.

1. AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2. Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying, 3. What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killed an ox, or lamb, or goat in the camp, or that killed it out of the camp, 4. And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD, before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man, he hath shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people: 5. To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace-offerings unto the LORD. 6. And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet favour unto the LORD. 7. And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring: This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. 8. ¶ And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt-offering or sacrifice, 9. And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD, even that man shall be cut off from among his people.

Before the erection of the tabernacle they had liberty to sacrifice where they chose, and this had opened the door to abominable idolatries: to prevent this spiritual adultery for the future, God having now espoused them to himself, and set up his abode among them.

1. They are commanded to kill all their sacrifices at the door of the tabernacle, and no where else. Some have thought that

every head that was designed for common food, is included in the command, but that seems rather improbable. 2. Death is the punishment of the transgressor, whether an Israelite or a prophets. God will thus remove temptation to idolatry from them, and unite them in one holy worship to himself, the only worthy object of worship. Note, (1.) As there is no access to or acceptance with God but through Jesus Christ, all our services must be brought to him, to be presented before the Lord. (2.) We should maintain unity of worship: our unhappy variances are much to be lamented; which we are praying for their healing, let us endeavour to be drawing nearer to each other in love, which will be the readself way to unite us, that with one mouth, as well as one heart, we may glorify God.

¶ 10. And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; ¶ I will even let my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar, to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. 12. Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, his soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you, eat blood. 13. And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which I hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust: 14. For it is the life of all flesh, the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it, shall be cut off. 15. And every soul that eateth it that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts (whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger) be shall both wash his clothes, and bathe beasts in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall be be clean. 16. But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.

Leviticus 17:10-16

The former law, concerning blood, is again repeated: God threatens to set his face against the transgressor; and woe to the man against whom his wrath be kindled, yea but for a moment. The reason is, because the blood, which is the life of the beast, is appointed as the atonement for the souls of men. The sinner’s life was forfeited to God; He accepted the life of the beast instead of it. Because of this vicarious sublimation, the blood was sacred. But since the true blood is shed, which cleanseth from all sin, the reason of the prohibition ceases. And they who are now called to feed upon Christ’s blood spiritually, need fear no uncleanness from eating blood, properly prepared for food, and temporarily used.

Leviticus 17:13

Some precepts are added, with respect to the same thing; they must cover the blood of the beast or fowl they took in hunting. And because what died of itself, or was torn of a beast, could not be cleansed properly of its blood, they must abstain from it. If they did ignorantly eat it, they were ceremonially defiled, and must wash themselves and their clothes, and be unclean till even; neglect of which being wilful disobedience, was to be punished severely. Note, If our iniquity be not taken away by the washing of regeneration, it will be a burden we can never bear ourselves, but which must crush us into the belly of hell.