Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 3 · Chapter 1
CHAPTER I.
1, God giveth by Moses a Law unto Israel, touching the Burnt-offerings, 3, of the herd, 10, of the flock, 13, of the fowles.
AND hee called, unto Moses: and Iehovah spake unto him out of the Tent of the Congregation, saying. Speake unto the sons of Israel, & say unto thē; when any man of you, shal offer an oblation, to Iehovah: of the cattell, of the herd, & of the flock, ye shall offer your oblation. If his oblation be a Burnt-offring of the herd; let him offer it, a male perfect: at the doore of the Tent of the congregation, shall he offer it: for his favourable acceptation, before Iehovah. And he shall lay his hand, upon the head of the Burnt-offring: and it shall be favourably accepted for him, to make-atonement for him. And hee shall kill the yongling of the herd, before Iehovah: and the sons of Aaron, the Priests, shall bring neere the blood, and shall sprinkle the blood upon the Altar round about: which is by the doore of the Tent of the congregation. And he shall flay the Burnt-offring: and shall cut it, into the peices therof. And the sons of Aaron the priest, shall put fire, upon the Altar: and shall lay the wood in-order, upon the fire. And the sonnes of Aaron, the priests, shall lay in order the pieces, the head, & the fat: upon the wood wch is on the fire, which is upon the altar. And the inwards thereof, and the legs thereof, hee shall wash in water: and the priest, shall burne all upon the Altar; it is a Burnt-offring, a Fire-offring, of a favour of rest, unto Iehovah.
And if his oblation be of the flocke: of the sheepe or of the goats, for a Burnt-offring: he shall offer it, a male perfect. And he shall kill it, at the side of the altar, northward, before Iehovah: and the sonnes of Aaron, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood therof upon the altar, round about. And hee shall cut it into the pieces thereof, and the head therof, and the fat thereof: and the Priest shall lay them in order; upon the wood, which is on the fire, which is upon the altar. And the inwards and the legs, he shall wash in water: and the Priest shall offer all, and burne it upon the altar: it is a Burnt-offring, a Fire-offring, of a savour of rest, unto Iehovah.
And if the Burnt-offring his oblation to Iehovah, be of the fowle: then hee shall offer his oblation, of turtle-doves, or of yong pigeons. And the Priest shall bring it neere, unto the altar; and he shall cut-with his naile the head thereof, and burne it on the altar: and the blood thereof, shall bee wrung out, upon the side of the altar. And hee shall plucke away the crop thereof, with the feathers of the same: and shall cast it beside the altar, eastward; into the place of the ashes. And he shall cleave it, with the wings therof, he shal not divide-it-asunder: and the Priest shall burne it, upon the altar; upon the wood which is upon the fire: it is a Burnt-offring, a Fire offring, of a savour of rest, unto Iehovah.
Annotations.
LEviticus] this name the booke hath from the Greeke translation; because it chiefly treateth of the service and sacrifices, which the Levites used in the Tabernacle. The Hebrew name, is of the first word of the booke Vajikra, that is, And he called. See the like noted upon Genesis & Exodus.
Vers. 1. And he] namely the Lord (whose glory had filled the Tabernacle, Exod. 40. 35.) called unto Moses. So the Greeke also explaineth it: and Thargum Ierusalemy thus, And the word of the Lord called unto Moses. This booke is by the word And, joyned to the former, as a continuance of the historie. And here beginneth the 24. Section or lecture of the Law, wherof see, Gen. 6. 9. called] The last letter of this word, in Hebrew is written extraordinarily small; where in the Hebrew Doctors suppose some mystery to bee implyed. The manner of calling, was by a voice from the mercy-seat upon the Arke, Numb. 7. 89. Exod. 25. 22. that being a figure of Christ, signified how God by him would teach Israel, how they should serve him in spirit and truth, Ioh. 1. 17. Heb. 1. 1. And God spake not with a lowd thundering voice, as he did on mount Sinai, but with a soft low voice: which the small letter seemeth to intimate. The phrase he called, and Iehovahs name being mentioned after, is like that in Exod. 24. 1. he said, come up unto Iehovah. Tent] or as the Chaldee translateth it Tabernacle, where God and his people met at appointed times, as he promised, Exodus 25. 22. and 30. 36. In Greeke it is, the Tent, (or Tabernacle) of testimonie: by which name Moses also calleth it, in Numb. 1. 53. and Stephen, in Act. 7. 44. As the Tabernacle principally figured Christ, Heb. 9. 11. Ioh. 2. 19 21. so God speaking now from it, who before had spoken on mount Sinai, signified how in the last dayes hee would speake unto us in the Sonne, who by himselfe should purge our sins, Heb. 1. 1. 2. 3.
Vers. 2. offer an oblation] or, an offring, or bring neere a gift: called in Hebrew Korban, of comming neere unto God thereby: the Greek usually translateth it doron, a gift; and so doth the Holy Ghost in Mark. 7. 11. Mat. 5. 23. and 8. 4. and 23. 18. Hebr. 5 1. And to bring-neere, to weet, unto God, is to offer unto him: for one of these, is used for another; as in 1 Chor. 16. 1. they brought neere Burntoffrings: for which in 2 Sam. 6. 17. is written, David offred Burnt offrings. These offrings under the Law, were figures of Christs offring, who gave himselfe for us, Heb. 10. and by whom wee also present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, Rom. 12. 1. and doe draw nigh unto God, Heb. 7. 19. and offer by him, the sacrifice of praise unto God, continually, Heb. 9. 11. 12. 14. and 13. 15. For the legal sacrifices, could not make him that did the service, perfect as pertaining to the conscience, Heb. 9. 9. And so the wise among the Hebrewes doe acknowledge their ignorance concerning the truth of these mysteries, untill the spirit from above be powred out upon them: yet supposing that they signified the offrings which Michael offreth of the soules of the just; as saith R. Menachem on Levit. 1. But unto us the Apostles have opened these parables, and shewed their full accomplishment by Michael, that is, Christ, Heb. 7. and 8. and 9. and 10. Rev. 12. 7. the herd] or, the Beeves, or Bulls, as the Chaldee expounds them. These cattel of the herd and flock, were the principall sacrifices, both among Iewes and Gentiles: as the law here, and Balaams historie, Numb. 23. 1. 14. 29. and heathen writers manifest. Homer, Iliad. 1. flocke] the word comprehendeth sheepe and goats, as is explained in verse 10. No beasts might bee sacrificed to God, but these three sorts, beeves, sheepe, or goats: nor any fowles, but turtle-doves and pigeons, verse 14. These five kindes of living creatures, (which onelyonly might bee offred to God,) are of the most tame and meeke, profitable and serviceable, harmelesse, sociable, &c. and so were fittest to signifie the like things, in Christ and his people. God appointed not that men should bee killed for sacrifices, (although the heathens and idolatrous Israelites sometimes killed such, Psalme. 106. 37. 38.) because as it was not possible that the blood of Bulls and of Goats should take away sins, Heb. 10. 4 so neither could the blood of men: but God (that is, Christ,) was to purchase his Church with his owne blood, Act. 20. 28.
Verse 3. Burnt-offring] called in Hebrew G… lah, that is, an Ascension; in Greeke Holocautoma (Hebrewes 10. 6.) that is, an whole-burnt-offring: this was the first and principall sacrifice, wherewith God was served every day by the Church of Israel, Numbers 28. 3. The reason of the name is shewed on Genesis 8. 20. where also it appeareth, that this kinde of sacrifice was not now first instituted, but observed from the beginning: and kept among the Gentiles, Numbers 23. 1. 2. 3. 2 Kings 3. 27. and 5. 17. The signification was of Christ, that through the eternall spirit offred himselfe, unto God, Hebrewes 9. 14. and 10. 8. 10. and of Christians, that present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable service. Romanes 12. 1. There were five sorts of sacrifices ordinary, instituted of God: Burnt-offrings (commanded here,) Meatoffrings (in Leviticus 2.) Peace-offrings, (in Leviticus 3.) Sinne-offrings, (in Leviticus 4.) and Trespasse-offrings (in Leviticus 5. 15. &c.) a male] so must all burnt offrings of beasts bee, verse 10. but the like is not said of the foules, verse 14. And by the Iewish canons, the fowles might be male or female, Maimony, in Mis. tom. 3. in Maasch hakorbanoth (or treat. of offring the Sacrifices,) Chapt. 1. Sect. 8. perfect] not having any deformitie, want or superfluity of parts without or within; nor other corruption. The Greeke translateth it, without blemish: set the notes on Exodus 12. 5. and Leviticus 22. 21. Thus are we to understand the Prophet, when he saith, Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flocke a male, [that is, a perfect male,] and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing, Malac. 1. 14. It figured Christs perfection in himselfe, and ours in him, Heb. 9. 13. 14. Ephes. 5 27. and teacheth us to honour God with our best things, and to serve him with a perfect heart, 1 Chron. 28. 9. at the doore] within the court, where the Altar was, vers. 5. see this law explained in Leviticus 17. 3. 4. &c. As it was the way of honour unto God, for the Offerer to bring his sacrifice himselfe unto the Sanctuary, and not to send the Priest to take a beast out of his house and offer it for him: so the doore might also lead them unto Christ (who saith, I am the doore of the sheepe, Iohn 10. 7.) by whom wee enter into the holy place, Heb. 10. 19. 20. His body was the true Tabernacle and Temple, called a greater and more perfect tabernacle, which the Lord pitched & not man, Heb. 9. 11. and 8. 2. Ioh. 2. 19. 21. The Church was secondarily figured by the Temple and Tabernacle, Ephesians 2. 21. 22. for his favourable-acceptation] or, for acceptation of him; that hee and his offering may bee favourably accepted of God. This sense, both the Greeke and Chaldee versions yeeld, also the old Latine: and the promise in verse 4. confirmeth it; and the like phrase in Leviticus 23. 11. is so interpreted of all: the contrary whereof, is in Ieremy 6. 20. Your Burnt-offrings are not to favourable-acceptation: that is, they are not acceptable. And the Apostle exhorteth, present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, Romans 12. 1. Some take the words of this Law here to meane, according to the good will of him that offereth; that he should not sacrifice to God by compulsion, but of his owne voluntary will, for God loveth a chearfull giver, 2 Corinth. 9. 7. In the former sense, it taught men to offer in the faith of Christ, without which it is unpossible to please God. Hebrewes 11. 6. and by faith, Abel offred unto God, a more excellent sacrifice then Cain, Hebr. 11. 4.
Vers. 4. shall lay his hand] or, impose his hand; and by hand seemeth to be meant his hands; as else-where is expressed, Leviticus 16. 21. The man that brought the offring, was to lay or impose hands himselfe upon it while it was alive; thereby disburdening himselfe of sinne, and laying it upon the sacrifice, Leviticus 16. 21. and testifying his faith in Christ the true sacrifice to bee slaine for him. The Hebrew Doctors say, All oblations of beasts, which a particular person offreth either of debt or voluntarily, hee layeth hands on them whiles they are alive; except it bee the first-borne, and the tithe, and the Passeover. All doe impose hands, excepting the deafe, the foole, and a childe, and a servant, and a woman, and the blinde, and the stranger. Neither may a messenger impose hands, for there is no imposition but by the owners; as it is written, AND HEE SHALL LAY HIS HAND; not his wives hand, nor his servants, nor his messengers. Five that bring one sacrifice, all doe lay hands upon it, one after another, not all together. Who so dyeth, and leaveth oblations, burnt-offring, or peace-offrings; his heyre is to bring the same, and lay hands upon it, &c. There is no imposition of hands on the sacrifices of the Congregation, save two; on the scape Goat, Leviticus 16. 21. and the Sinne-offring, Leviticus 4. 15. They lay on no hands but in the court: if they doe it without the court, they must lay on hands againe within. And in the place where they impose hands, they kill it. And the killing is immediately after the imposition. And hee that imposeth, must doe it with all his might, with both his hands upon the head of the beast, not upon the necke or sides: and nothing may bee betweene his hands and the beast. Hee layeth his hands betweene the two hornes, and confesseth upon the sinoffring, the iniquity of sinne, and upon the trespasseoffring, the iniquity of trespasse: and upon the burnt offring hee confesseth the iniquity of doing that hee should not, and not doing that hee ought, &c Maimony, in treat. of offring sacrifices, Chapt. 3. Sect. 6. 8. 9. &c. But as for sacrifices of fowles (verse 14.) there was no charge to impose hands on them: Maimony, ibidem, Sect. 7. make-atonement] or, expiate, make-reconciliation, which is usually meant in regard of mans sinne, and Gods wrath for the same, Leviticus 4. 20. &c. The Hebrew Capper, signifieth covering; not as with a garment (which may easily be taken off,) but as with plaister that cleaveth, Genesis 6. 14. and is applyed to the covering, that is, the appeasing of an angry countenance, Genesis 32. 20. and so for the anger of God, which is appeased by the burnt-offring of Christs body, for he is the Atonement (or, Reconciliation) for our sinnes: Dan. 9. 24. 1 Iohn 2. 2. Heb. 10. 8. 10. Thus the Burnt-offring was for atonement and remission of sinnes, Iob 42. 8. to weet, generall sinnes, and such as often are unknowne to men, (as Iob offred burnt offrings, saying, it may be that my sonnes have sinned, Iob 1. 5.) Whereas for speciall sinnes, there was a speciall sacrifice and sinne-offring, Leviticus 4. And both the Burnt-offring, and Sinne-offring are joyned in Christs offring up of his owne body for us, Psal. 40. Hebr. 10. 5. 6. &c. Also Burnt-offrings were given in signe of thankfulnesse to God, and so betokened a new creature and holy life, Psalm. 51. 19. 20. 21. and 66. 13. 14. 15. Gen. 8. 20. For this cause the Burnt-offring is first taught, as being the principall and most common, offred daily for the Church: and when other sorts of sacrifices were brought, this burnt-offring was alwayes one; See Leviticus 9. 8. 12. 15. 16. and 12. 6. and 14. 19. 20. and 16. 15. 24. Num. 6. 10. 11. and 7. 15. 16. and 29. 2. Iudg. 20. 26.
Vers. 5. he shall kill] in Greeke, they shall kill: meaning the Priests or Levites. For whereas it followeth, the sonnes of Aaron the Priests, shall offer the blood; this killing is not restrained to them as the offring of the blood, but might be performed also by the Levites, that were given to helpe the Priests in their service, Num. 8. 19. So though the Priests killed, in 2 Chron. 29. 24. yet the like is said also of the Levites, that they killed, and the Priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed, 2 Chron. 35. 10. 11. Also in 2 Chr. 30. 17. The Levites had the charge of the killing of the Passeovers. This killing therefore, and the slaying after mentioned in vers. 6. was not strictly tied to the Priests office, as some other things were, in Numb. 3. 10. So in the Hebrew Canons they say, The killing of the holy things may be done by strangers, [such as are not of Aarons seed,] even of the most holy things; whether they be the holy things of a particular person, or of the congregation: Maimony in Biath hamikdash, Chap. 9. Sect. 6. The place of killing was on the North side of the Altar, V. 11. And the Iewes have a tradition, that the morning sacrifice was killed at the Northwest, and the evening sacrifice at the Northeast, that it might bee over against the Sunne: Maimony in Tamidin (or, treat. of the Daily sacrifices,) chap. 1. Sect. 11. The slaying of the sacrifices, figured the death of Christ, of whom it is prophesied, Messiah shall be cut off, (or slaine) Daniel 9. 26. for, without shedding of blood, there is no remission. Heb. 9. 22. It figured secondly, the mortifying of Gods people, by his Word, Spirit, and participation of Christs afflictions; as, Mortifie (or kill) therefore your members which are upon the earth, Colossians 3. 5. and If ye through the spirit doe mortifie the deeds of the bodie, ye shall live, Roman. 8. 13. whereby is meant a ceasing from sinne, 1 Peter 4. 1. 2. And, For thy sake, we are killed all the day; wee are accounted as sheepe of slaughter, Rom. 8 36. yongling of the herd] that is, the yong bull, or calfe, as the Greeke translateth it: Hebrew, sonne of the herd: see Genesis 18. 7. In Mich. 6. 6. such sacrifices are called sonnes of a yeere, that is, young bulls, or bullockes of the first yeere, not older: see the notes on Exodus 12. 5. and 29. 1. before Iehovah] in the court of the Sanctuary, where all sacrifices must be slaine, Levit. 17. 3. 4. and unto God onelyonly, not to creatures: for he that sacrificed to any, save unto Iehovah onelyonly, was utterly to be destroyed, Exodus 22. 20. bring neere] unto the altar: or offer it. And this immediately; and out of the court it might by no meanes be caried. The blood of the holy things, that goeth out of the court, becomes unallowable for sacrifice; and though they bring it in again, and sprinkle it on the altar, it is not acceptable: saith Maimony, in treat of holy things polluted, chapt. 1. Sect. 35. sprinkle] or, as the Greeke translateth, poure-on; for the originall word signifieth a pouring-on with sprinkling; and this was in large measure, that the corners of the Altar were filled with blood, Zach. 9. 15. Therefore the Iewish canons say, that the sacrificers were to indeavor to receive all the blood; and the sacrifices of which lesse blood was received then sufficed for the sprinkling, the blood was not sanctified. When the Priest tooke the blood in the bowle, he sprinkled thereof two sprinklings, upon the two corners of the Altar overthwartly on the northeast borne, and on the southwest horne. And this must bee so thicke, that by the twice sprinkling, the blood may be found on the foure sides of the Altar, as it is written (Leviticus 1.) ROVND ABOVT. And the rest of the blood, is poured at the bottome of the Altar on the south side. Maimony treat. of offring the sacrifices, chap. 4. Sect. 8. and Chapter 5. Sect. 6. This sprinkling had a foreshadowing of the sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ, 1 Peter 1. 2. Esay 52. 15. And unto this rite of powring the blood at the bottome of the Altar, (commanded in Leviticus 4. 7.) that mystery hath reference, of the soules of them that were slaine for the word of God, seene under the Altar, Rev. 6. 9.
Vers. 6. he shall] the Greeke translateth, they shall flay; it is meant of the Priests and Levites which were to assist the Priests in offring all burnt sacrifices, 1 Chron. 23. 31. as before they helped to kill, verse 5. and as appeareth, by 2 Chronic. 29. 34. where the Priests were too few, and not able to flay all the burnt-offrings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them. The Priest also had the skinne of the burnt-offring which hee offred, Leviticus 7. 8. They flayed not untill the blood was sprinkled: saith Maimony, treat. of offring the sacrifices, ch. 5. sect. 18. This flaying signified also the afflictions of Christ and his people, Mic. 3. 3. Matth. 27. 28. and the opening and making bare of the mystery of Christ by the Gospell, Galat. 3. 1. the pieces thereof] the naturall pieces, or members (as the Greeke translateth it,) as head, brest, legges, &c. it might not bee a confused or disordered mangling. The manner of it, Maimony sheweth particularly, in his said treat. of offring sacrifices, chap. 6. where he mentioneth the cutting off of the head first, then of the legges or thighes, of the forefeet, and or the hinder feet, of the brest, of the sides, of the necke; of the Cane (or chanell bone) of the shoulder, of the Chine (or backe bone,) and of the Rumpe. The Liver was left hanging on the right side; the heart and the lungs, on the channell bone; the milt, on the left side; and the kidneyes on the rump. And to this question, why the greater members were not cut into small pieces? he answereth, because it is written, he shall cut it into the pieces thereof, and not, shall cut it into pieces. The Chaldee also here translateth, hee shall divide it by the members thereof. From this custome of dividing the sacrifices, it seemeth the Greeke interpreters thus translated and expounded the words of God to Kain; If thou offer aright, and dividest not aright. hast thou not sinned? Genesis 4. 7. It figured the worke of the Ministery in the Church, rightly dividing the word of truth, 2 Tim. 2. 15. and so preaching the Gospell, that before mens eyes Iesus Christ may be evidently-set-forth, and as it were crucified among them, Galat. 3. 1. Esay 66. 21. It also signified the effect of Gods word in us, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soule and spirit, of the joynts and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4. 12.
Vers. 7. put fire] Hebrew, give fire. This may be understood of making and ordering the fire, which was continually nourished upon the Altar, Leviticus 6. 12. 13. and which at first came downe from heaven, Levit. 9. 24. But the Hebrew Doctors, from these words say, although that fire came downe from heaven, it is here commanded to bring common fire. Maimony, treat. of the Daily oblation Chap. 2. Sect. 1. It figured the continuall ministration of the Spirit, by Christ and his ministers preaching of the Gospell, Matth. 3. 11. Gal. 3. 6. Ier. 23. 29. and especially the preaching of the Crosse, and afflictions of Christ and his people, Gal. 6. 12. 14. 1 Pet. 4. 12. 13. 14. lay the wood] of this ordering see the notes on Levit. 6. 12. Moreover the wood (as also the salt) for all sacrifices, was to be the Congregations publike: and no particular person, might bring salt or wood for his oblation, from his owne house: saith Maimony, in treat. Of things forbidden to come on the Altar, Chap. 5. Sect. 13 Hereupon publike order was taken in Nehem. 10. 34. and 13. 31. for the Wood offring, (or Korban) to have it brought into the house of God, at times appointed. The Hebrew Doctors say, that in the monethmonth Ab (the fift monethmonth, which wee call Iuly) they hewed wood for the Korban (or offring) Iakob ben Aser, in Orach chajim.
Vers. 8. the pieces] When they had cut in pieces the burnt offring, they brought all the pieces to the footstall (of the altar) and salted them there, (as is commanded, Levit. 2. 13. Ezek. 43. 24.) Afterwards, they laid all the pieces on the top of the Altar. Then taking away the synew that shranke, (wherof see Gen. 32. 32.) on the top of the Altar, they shrew it upon the ashes which were in the midst of the altar. Then sprinkled (or strowed) they all the pieces upon the fire, as it is written (in Deut. 12. 27.) OF THE FLESH, AND OF THE BLOOD: even as the blood was sprinkled, so all the flesh was sprinkled. And after they were sprinkled, they laid them in order againe upon the fire, as it is written, (Levit. 1. 12.) And the Priest shall lay them in order. Maimony, treat. of offring the sacrifices, chap. 6. sect. 4. This dividing and laying by pieces on the Altar, was observed in all burnt-offrings; see Exod. 29. 17. 18. 1 King. 18. 23. 33. Levit. 8. 20. 21. and 9. 13. the fat] The Hebrew Peder, is used onelyonly here, and in v. 12. and in Levit. 8. 20. and is thought to bee the fat-caule, or midriffe, that parteth the intrailes. The Greeke and Chaldee both translate it fat.
Vers. 9. in water] not in wine, nor in any mixture, or other liquor. And the inwards they washed not lesse then three times: saith Maimony in treat. of offring the sacrific. Chap. 6. Sect. 6. The washing of the inwards, and of the legs (or the feet, as the Greeke translateth; signified our purification by the spirit of Christ, sprinkled in our hearts from an evill conscience, and washed in our bodies with pure water, Ezek. 36. 25. Heb. 10 22. He that is washed, needeth not save to wash his feet; Iohn 1…. 10. the Priest] Michael (that is, Christ, Revel. 12. 7.) he is the great Priest that is on high, and he offreth the soules of the just, like the daily offrings made by fire: saith R. Menachem on Levit. 6. shall burne] to weet, as perfume, as the word implyeth. It burned upon the altar, all night, untill the morning, Levit. 6. 9. Howbeit, they offred no offrings but by day; as it is written (Lev. 7. 38.) in the day that hee commanded the sonnes of Israel to offer, &c. in the day, and not in the night. Therefore they slay no sacrifices, but by day, nor sprinkle any blood, but in the day of the killing: but the sacrifices whose blood is sprinkled by day, they burne their fat, &c. all the night; and so the members of the burnt offring, they burne them in the night, &c. Maimony, treat. of offring the sacrific. ch. 4. sect. 1. 2. This burning of sacrifices, signified the consecrating of Christ through afflictions and sufferings; and the like fiery trials which his people must undergoe: Hebrewes 2. 10. and 13. 11. 12. 1 Peter 4. 1. 12. Zachar. 13. 9. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall bee salted with salt, Marke 9. 49. It figured also the worke of Gods Spirit, Matth. 3. 11. it is] or, it shall bee: these words, it is, are added also in the Greeke version, and rightly from the 13. and 17. verses following. of rest] that is, of sweet savour, as the Greeke translateth. The Chaldee expoundeth it, which shall bee received with favourable-acceptation before the Lord. See the notes on Genesis 8. 21. It figured the sweet savour of Christs sacrifice, (and of ours in him) unto God, Ephesians 5. 2. Romanes 12. 1. 1 Peter 2. 5. For as a sweet smell refresheth and quieteth the senses, so Christs oblation appeaseth Gods Spirit. Therefore the Priest also prayed for the offerer, (figuring Christs mediation) and so by prayer and oblation pacified Gods wrath, as appeareth by Iob 42. 8. where God sayd, Goe to my servant Iob, and offer up for your selves a burnt offring, and my servant Iob shall pray for you, for I will accept his face: lest I deale with you after your folly. So Darius ordained that beasts should be given the Iewes, for the Burnt-offrings of the God of heaven, that they might offer Sacrifices of rest, unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the King, and of his sonnes, Ezr. 6. 9. 10.
Vers. 10. sheepe] or, young-rammes; which the Greeke here translateth lambes. They were of the first yeere, Exodus 29. 38. For the Hebrew Chesob, (called also Chebes, Levitie. 4. 32. whereupon the Dutch Schaep, and English Sheepe; by transplacing the letters, is derived;) wheresoever these are spoken of in the Law, are sheepe of the first yeere. And wheresoever Ajil er Aelim (Rammes) are mentioned; they are males of the second yeere: saith Maimony, treat. of offring the sacrifices, chap. 1. s. 14 These also figured Christ the lambe of God, Esay 53. 7. Iohn 1. 29. or of the goats] the law expresseth severall kinds by themselves: hereupon the Hebrewes gather, it may not be a beast of divers kinds, part like a sheepe, and part like a goat: nor borne of such mixture, no nor like another kind; as if a sheepe bring forth her young like a goat, or a goat like a sheepe, it is not lawfull to bring such a beast upon the Altar: Maimony in Issureimizbeach, ch. 3. S. 4. 5. &c.
Vers. 11. the side] or, the thigh of the Altar; and so vponupon the ground, as the Altar standeth: whereupon the Hebrew Canons say, That if a Beast bee hanged up and killed in the ayre of the Court, it is polluted. Maimony treat. of holy things polluted, Chapt. 1. Sect. 16. In killing the daily Burnt-offrings of the Church (mentioned in Numbers 28. 3.) they bound the Lambe, and laid his head to the South, his face to the West; the slayer stood on the East side, with his face to the West. The morning sacrifice hee killed by the North-west horne of the Altar; the evening sacrifice, by the North-east horne. Thalmud Bab. in Tamidin, chapter 4. northward] on the North side of the altar; which is also to bee understood of the yong Bull forementioned, and of other the most holy sacrifices, as of the Sin-offring, Lev. 6. 25. and the trespasse-offring, Lev. 7. 1. 2. Of all sacrifices, they receive the blood in a vessell of ministration, by the hand of a Priest: but the place of killing them, and the place of receiving the blood, is not alike in them all. For the holy of holies, they kill not them, nor receive their blood, but on the northside of the Altar: but the light holy things, them they kill, and receive their blood, in any place of the Courtyard: saith Maimony, treat▪ of offring the sacrif▪ chap. 5. sect. 1. 2. The most holy things that are killed on the southside, or whose blood is received on the south side, are polluted, Maimony treat. of holy things polluted, Chap. 1. Sect. 7. The Hebrew Doctors gather a mystery here; that as it is said in Ier. 1. 14. Out of the North, an evill should breake forth, &c. therefore to restraine the evils, or judgements of God, the Burnt-offrings and Sinneoffrings were slayne on the northside of the Altar. R. Menachem: and Baal Hatturim, on Lev. 1.
Vers. 12. the Priest shall lay] Chazkuni observeth, that of the bullock, which was a great beast, it was said, in vers. 8. they (the Priests) shall lay: but of the sheepe which was a small beast, it is written, he (the Priest) shall lay.
Vers. 13. offer all] or, bring neere all, and burne it: see vers. 9. The wool that was on the sheeps head, and the hayre on the Goats beard, and the bones and the sinewes, and the hornes and the hoofes: whiles they cleaved to the members, they burned all: saith Maimony treat. of offring the sacr. chap. 6. sect. 2. It signified all Christ and whatsoever he hath suffered and done, to be ours by faith, Gal. 1. 20. and that wee also give our selves wholly unto God by him, 1 Thessalon. 5. 23.
Vers. 14. Turtle doves] of the Hebrew Tor, the Latine Turtur, and English Turtle are deriued: and the voice of this fowle, agreeth with the name. Here is no difference put of male or female, of perfect or blemished: howbeit, the Hebrew Doctors gather by proportion from the former lawes, that although lesser blemishes disable not doves from sacrifices, yet the greater doe, as if they want an eye, or a foot, &c. it is not lawfull to bring them upon the altar. Also they say, Young Turtles are unlawfull, and old Doves are unlawfull. Yong pigeons are allowable, so long as if one plucke the wing, the place whereout he plucketh, fill up with blood. And turtles are allowable, after that they wexe golden coloured; [as Psalm. 68. 14.] Maimony tom. 3. in Issure Mizbeach. Chap. 3. Sect. 1. 2. yong pigeons] Hebr. sonnes of the dove. The holy Ghost in Greeke translateth these sonnes, young ones, Luke 2. 24. from Levit. 12. The Turtle doves were to be old, not young: the pigeons, young, not old: saith also R. Sol. Iarchi. on Lev. 1. These were sacrifices for the poorer sort, that were not able to bring a lambe, Levit. 5. 7. and 12. 8. Therefore the daily burnt-offring of the Church of Israel, was two Lambes, Numbers 28. 3. and by the Hebrew Canons, The Congregation never offred sowle, Maimony, treat of offring sacrific. chapter 1▪ Sect. 4. The D…ve is a creature sociable, innocent, chaste, mournfull, quiet, fearfull, given to meditation: and unto such, Gods people are often likened: See Song. 2. 14. and 4. 1. Matth. 10. 16. Esay 38. 14. and 59. 11. and 60. 8. Ezekiel 7. 16. Hosea 11. 11. Psal. 74 19.
Vers. 15. bring-it-neere] or, offer it at the Altar▪ cut-with-his-nayle] The Hebrew Malak, is found onelyonly here, and in Leviticus 5. 8. which the Greeke interpreteth Apokniso, to cut with the nayle of ones finger. By this meanes the blood came out, but the head was not thereby parted from the body, Leviticus 5. 8. The manner (as the Hebrew Doctors have recorded) was thus: The Priest went up on the footstall (of the Altar) and turned in compasse and came to the South-east horne, and there hee tooke the head from the necke, and divided them asunder: [and herein the burnt▪ offring differed from the Sinne-offring, which might not be divided, Levit. 5. 8.] and if he devided it not, it was unlawfull. Then wrung he out the blood of the head and the blood of the body, upon the side of the Altar, &c. and hee tooke the head, and returning to that place of the Altar where hee cut it with his nayle, hee rubbed it with salt, and sprinkled it upon the fire-offrings. And hee came to the body, and pluckt away with his hand, the crop and skinne that was upon it, with the meat, and the entrailes that came-out therewith, and threw the… into the place of the ashes. And hee clave it with the wings thereof with his hand without a knife and divided it not asunder: then hee rubbed it with salt, and sprinkled it upon the fire-offrings. Hee that cut the necke with a knife, or (did cut it) on the side…, it was not Melicah [the cutting with the nayle here commanded;] but as if it had beene strangled, or had bled at the nose: [which was an unlawfull way of killing.] Maimony treat. of offring sacrific. chap. 6. Sect. 20. 21. 22. 23.
Vers. 16. fethers of the same] or, filth of the same; to weet, of the crop, for thereunto (by the gender) it hath reference; and is therefore by Onkelos the Chaldee paraphrast translated the meat of the same, which was in the crop; and the Chalde… called Ionathans, expoundeth it, the dung (or, filth) thereof: but the Greeke translateth it, fether…, as elsewhere the Hebrew word signifieth. eastward] that was neerest the doore, and furthest from the Sanctuary: ready to be caried out, Levi…. 6. 10. 11. to teach that all uncleannesse was to be removed out of Gods sight: for holinesse becommeth his house, Psalme 93. 5. And so it figured the holinesse that was in Christ our sacrifice, who without all sinne or uncleannesse offered himselfe unto God for us; by which also hee clensed and purified his people, and their service of God, Heb 9. 14.
Vers. 17. with the wings] that is, having them on. And the not dividing it asunder, might fore-shadow the manner of Christs death, of whom … bone was not broken: Iohn 19. 33. 36. And how we should give up our selves wholly unto God by him, 1 Thess. 5. 23. So in Lev. 5. 8. of rest] Greeke, of sweet-smell: see vers. 9. God comforteth the poore, by promising the like acceptance of, and delight in his small sacrifice; as in the Bulls, Rammes, Goats, of the richer sort: For … there be first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, 2 Cor. 8. 12. These Burnt offrings pleased God, and were a sweet savour unto him, not in themselves, but in Christ, in whose faith the godly offred them, till the time of reformation. As for the outward sacrifices, God testifieth, I desired merciemercy and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God, more then Burnt offrings, Hos. 6. 6. and David saying that the Lord delighted not in sacrifice, nor would accept of a Burnt-offring, addeth, The sacrifices of God, are abroken spirit, &c. Psal 51. 18. 19. And the wisest of the Scribes of old, could say, that to love (God) with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soule, and with all the strength; and to love his neighbour as himselfe: is more then all Burnt-offrings and Sacrifices. Mark. 12. 33.