Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 3 · Chapter 14

Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs · Biblical commentary 3 · Chapter 14

p. 73CHAP. XIV.

1, The rites and sacrifices, in cleansing of the Leper: with two birds, cedar wood, scarlet, …yzop, and living water. 10, with lambs, flowre, and oile. 21, Lesser sacrifices for the poore leper. 33, The signes of leprosie in an house: 40, the pulling out of the stones thereof, & putting in new. 45, The breaking downe of the leprous house. 49, The cleansing of it, if the plague be healed; with birds, cedar, scarlet, eyzop, and living water.

foreign

ANd Iehovan spake, unto Moses saying. 12This shall be, the law of the Leper; in the day, of his clensing: that he shall be brought, unto the Priest. And the 3Priest shall goe forth, out of the campe: and the Priest shall see; and behold, if the plague of leprosie be healed, in the leper. Then the 4Priest shall command, and hee shall take for him that is to be clensed, two birds alive, and cleane: and Cedar wood, and scarlet, and eyzop. And the Priest shall command; & he 5shal kill, one of the birds: in an earthen vessel, over living water. As for the living bird, hee 6shall take it; and the Cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the eyzop: and shall dip them, and the living bird, in the blood of the bird that was killed; over the living water. p. 74And he shall sprinkle, upon him that is to be 7cleansed from the leprosie, seven times: and shall make him cleane; and shall let goe the living bird, upon the face of the field. And 8hee that is to bee cleansed, shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his haire; and wash himselfe in water, that he may be cleane; and after, he shall come into the campe: and shall tary, abroad out of his tent, seven dayes. And it shall be, in the seventh day, hee shall 9shave off all his haire; his head and his beard, and his eye-browes; even all his haire, he shal shave off: and he shall wash his clothes; and he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be cleane. And in the eight day, he shall take 10two hee-lambs, perfect; and one ewe-lambe, of the first yeere, perfect: and three tenth-deales, of fine-flowre for a Meat-offring, mingled with oile; and one Log of oile. And the 11Priest that maketh him cleane, shall present the man that is to be made-cleane, and those things: before Iehovah; at the doore, of the Tent of the congregation. And the Priest 12shall take, one hee-lambe; and offer him, for a Trespasse-offring, and the Log of oile: and he shall wave them, for a Wave-offring, before Iehovah. And he shall kill the hee-lamb, in the place where he shal kill the Sin-offring, 13and the Burnt-offring, in the place of holinesse: for as the Sin-offring, so the Trespasseoffring is the Priests; it is holy of holies. And 14the Priest shall take, of the blood of the Trespasse-offring; and the Priest shall put it, upon the tip of the right eare, of him that is to be cleansed: and upon the thumbe, of his right hand; and upon the great toe, of his right foot. And the Priest shall take, of the 15Log of oile: and poure it, upon the Priests palme of the left hand. And the Priest shall 16dip, his right finger; in the oile, that is on the palme of his left hand: and shall sprinkle of the oile with his finger, seven times before Iehovah. And of the rest of the oile, that is 17on the palme of his hand; shall the Priest put, upon the tip of the right eare of him that is to be cleansed; and upon the thumbe, of his right hand; and upon the great-toe, of his right foot: upon, the blood of the Trespasse-offring. And the remnant, of the oile 18that is on the Priests palme of the hand; hee shall put, upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the Priest, shall make-atonement for him, before Iehovah. And the 19Priest shall make, the Sin-offring; and make-atonement, for him that is to be cleansed, from his uncleannesse: and after, hee shall kill the Burnt-offring. And the Priest shall 20offer-up, the Burnt-offring and the Meatoffring, upon the Altar: and the Priest, shall make-atonement for him, and hee shall bee cleane.

And if hee be poore; and his hand attaine it not: then hee shall take one hee-lambe for a Trespasse-offring, for a waving, to make atonement for him: and one tenth-deale of fine-flowre, mingled with oile for a Meatoffring, and a Log of oile. And two turtle-doves, or two yong pigeons; which his hand can attaine: and the one shall be a Sinoffring; and the other, a Burnt-offring. And he shall bring them, in the eight day, for his cleansing, unto the Priest: unto the doore, of the Tent of the congregation, before Iehovah. And the Priest shall take, the heelambe of the Trespasse-offring, and the Leg of oile: and the Priest shall wave them, for a wave-offring before Iehovah. And he shall kill, the hee-lambe of the Trespasse-offring and the Priest shall take, of the blood of the Trespasse-offring: and put it, upon the tip of the right eare, of him that is to be cleansed and upon the thumbe, of his right hand; and upon the great toe, of his right foot. And of the oile, shall the Priest poure; upon the Priests palme of the left hand. And the Priest shall sprinkle, with his right finger; of the oile, that is in his left hand: seven times, before Iehovah. And the Priest shall put, of the oile, that is on the palme of his hand: upon the tip of the right eare, of him that is to be cleansed; and upon the thumbe, of his right hand; and upon the great-toe, of his right foot: upon the place, of the blood of the Trespasse-offring. And the remnant, of the oile, which is on the Priests palme of the hand; he shall put, upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: to make-atonement for him, before Iehovah. And he shall make the one, of the Turtle-doves; or of the yong pigeons: of that which his hand can attaine. That which his hand can attaine, the one for a Sin-offring, and the other for a Burnt-offring, with the Meat-offring: and the Priest shall make-atonement, for him that is to be cleansed, before Iehovah. This is the law, of him in whom is the plague of leprosie: whose hand cannot attaine, to his cle… sing.

And Iehovah spake, unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying. When ye be come, into the land of Canaan; which I give unto you, for a possession: and I put, the plague o… leprosie; in a house, of the land of your possession. Then hee shall come, who … p. 75the house is; and tell the Priest, saying: as it went the plague, appeareth to mee in the house. And the Priest shall command, and 36they shal emptie the house; before the Priest goe-in, to see the plague; that all which is in the house, be not made-uncleane: and afterward; the Priest shall goe in, to see the house. And he shall see the plague; and behold if the plague, be in the walls of the house; with hollow 37strakes, greenish; or reddish: and the sight of them, be lower then the wall. Then the Priest, shall goe out of the house, to the 38doore of the house: and shut-up the house, seven dayes. And the Priest shall returne, in 39the seventh day: and shall see, and behold, if the plague bee spred, in the walles of the house. Then the Priest, shall command; and 40they shall take-away, the stones; in which, the plague is: and cast them, into (a place) without the citie; into an uncleane place. And he shall cause the house, to bee scraped within, round-about: and they shall poureout, 41the dust which they have scraped off; in (a place) without the citie; in an uncleane place. And they shall take, other stones; and 42put them in the place of those stones: and he shall take, other dust, and shall plaister the house. And if the plague returne, and breakout 43in the house; after, that hee hath taken-away the stones: and after hee hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered. Then 44the Priest, shall come; and shall see, and behold, if the plague be spred, in the house: it is, a fretting leprosie in the house, it is uncleane. And he shall breake-down the house; the stones of it, and the timber of it; and all 45the dust of the house: and he shall cary them forth, to (a place) without the citie; to an uncleane place. And hee that commeth, into 46the house; all the dayes, that he hath shut it up: he shall be uncleane, untill the evening. And hee that lieth in the house; shall wash his clothes: and he that eateth in the house, 47shall wash his clothes. And if the Priest, comming, shall come in; and see, and behold 48the plague hath not spred, in the house; after, the house was plaistered: then the Priest, shall pronounce the house cleane; because, the plague is healed. And he shall take, 49to purifie the house, two birds: and Cedar wood, and scarlet, and hysope. And he shall 50kill; the one bird: in an earthen vessell, over living water. And hee shall take the Cedar wood, and the hysope, and the scarlet, and the living bird: and dip them, in the blood of the killed bird; and in the living water: and he shall sprinkle the house, seven times. And hee shall parifie the house, with the 52blood of the bird; and with the living water: and with the living bird, and with the Cedar wood, and with the hysope, and with the scarlet. And he shall let-goe the living 53bird, out of the citie, upon the face of the field: and shall make-atonement for the house, and it shall be cleane. This is the law; 5455for every plague of leprosie, and skall. And for the leprosie of a garment, and of an house. And for a swelling, and for a scab; 5657and for a bright-spot. To teach, in the day of the uncleane; and in the day of the clean: this is the law, of Leprosie.

Annotations.

foreign Here beginneth the 28. section or lecture of the Law, called in Hebrew Metsorangh, that is, the Leper. See Gen. 6. 9.

THat he shall be brought] The leper dwelt without 2the host, and in the day of his cleansing, hee was brought to the utmost part of the host; (and in ages following to the gates of Ierusalem,) and the Priest went out thither to meet him, and performed certaine rites for him, and after that, he came into the host or citie, and so by degrees into the Sanctuarie, as after is explained. And this comming to the Priest, was requisite for every leper, though he were never so well healed: wherefore Christ said to him whom hee had cured, Goe shew thy selfe to the Priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded: Matth. 8. 4.

Vers. 3. be healed] The Priest healed it not, but 3looked upon it when it was healed, and directed and assisted the patient in duties of thankefulnesse to God, who is both the striker and the healer, Deut. 32. 39. Exod. 15. 26. Neither doth the Law, send the Leper to the Physician, or prescribe salves or medicines to cure him; but leaveth him unto the worke of Gods grace, which should after bee fully manifested in Christ, who himselfe tooke our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses, Matth. 8. 16. 17. And the rites and sacrifices following, which were a profession of thankes unto God in Christ, closely taught them this: but the Gospell declareth the way of curing to be by faith, as unto the Samaritane that was healed of his leprosie, Christ said, Thy faith hath made thee whole, Luke 17. 19. which faith, causeth Lepers, though they stand a farre off, to lift up their voices, and cry unto Iesus for mercy, Luk. 17. 12. 13. who sendeth his word, and healeth them, and delivereth them from their corruptions, Psal. 107. 20. Matth. 10. 7. 8. For, being moved with compassion, hee putteth forth his hand, toucheth and speaketh; and immediately the leprosie departeth, Mark. 1. 41. 42. and so healeth he the soules of sinners, that come unto him. The Heb. say. Leprosie is the finger of God, therefore it is unlawfull to endevour to heale it, &c. the only healing of it, is by the hand of the p. 76Priest that maketh atonement; for, by mercy, atonement is made for iniquity; (Prov. 16. 6.) even as uncleannesse, which is not done away but by water. R. Menachem on Levit. 13. This being the judgment of the Iewes themselves, the Lepers whom Christ healed, were a good testimonie against them, that he was the son of God; Matth. 8. 4. and by that and other like workes, hee declared himselfe to be he that should come, Matth. 11. 3 4. 5. And he is the Priest, who cleanseth us all leprous sinners, and bringeth us into the true Sanctuary, being washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Iesus, and by the Spirit of our God; 1 Cor. 6. 11.

Vers. 4. and he shall take] the Greeke saith, and they shall take, speaking indefinitely, of the leper or 4any of his friends, that might procure these things for his cleansing. birds] whether doves or turtles, commonly used in sacrifices (which are called birds in Gen. 15. 9. 10.) or any other cleane fowles; for the scripture determineth them not otherwise, then that they must be cleane; such as all are, save those excepted, in Lev. 11. 13. &c. and all that are cleane for meat, are called birds, in Deut. 14. 11. The Hebrew canons say of these, they must bee free birds, that is, such as are not tame, or any mans owne, but at libertie to flie from place to place: and as God saith, he shall take them for him; so they expound it, they must be taken in the name of cleansing of leprosie, that is, designed for that purpose onelyonly. Maimony, in treat. of Lepr. chap. 11. sect. 1. These two birds, of which one was killed, the other let goe alive; were to figure out Christ, who should be killed for our offences, and rise againe for our justification, Rom. 4. 25. The like was figured by the two goats, on expiation day, Levit. 16. Cedar wood] or, a Cedar sticke; which the Hebrewes say was to be a cubit (that is, a foot and an halfe) long, and so thicke as the square foot of a bed. Maimony, ibidem: and Thalmud. Bab. in Negagnim, chap. 14. sect. 6. Cedar wood rotteth not; the pitch that runneth out of it, is said to keepe dead bodies from corrupting, but corrupteth living bodies; and it us good against the Leprosie, and other foule ulcers: Plinie hist. lib. 24. cap. 5. and Dioscorides, l. 1. …. 89. scarlet] this the Iewes say was wooll died in scarlet or crimsin colour: (and so the Apostle in an other like case, calleth it scarlet wooll, Heb. 9. 19) and there was to be of it a shekel weight: (which weighed 320. graines of barley:) Maimony ibidem. This scarlet colour resembled Christs blood; and the essicacie therof in the soule, restoring the naturall lively colour and vigour; which the pale white leprosie of sinne had done away. hysope] or, hyssope: whereof see the notes on Exod. 12. 22. This was for length, not to be lesse then an hand-bredth, and (they say) it might not be Greeke hysope, nor Roman hysope, nor wilde hysope, nor any other sort that was surnamed by the place, but the common hysope that grew in gardens. Talmud in Negagnim, chap. 14. sect. 6. These two plants, were the greatest and the smallest that grew: and so the Cedar is opposed to the bysope, 1 King. 4. 33. The Cedar that will not rot, figured incorruption and immortalitie; and the Cedar is used to signifie Christ him-selfe, in Ezek. 17. 22. 23. The hysope, of sweet savour, was used to sprinkle with and cleanse from sin: see Psal. 51. 9. And the Cedar wood, or the hysope, that had the barke pilled off, was unlawfull: faith Maimony, treat. of Lepr. chap. 11. sect. 1.

Verse 5. and he shall kill] in Greeke, and they shall 5kill; meaning some man. Chazkuni saith, The commandement was by the Priest, and the killing, by any man. earthen vessell] the Hebrew doctors say, by tradition, it was to be a new earthen cup. It figured the basenesse and infirmitie of the Ministers of the Gospell, 2 Cor. 4. 7. See further in Num. 5. 17. living water] that is, spring water, as the Chaldee translateth it; called living, because of the continuall motion. See the notes on Gen. 26. 19. And thus Christ expoundeth living water, to bee a well of water springing up unto eternall life, Ioh. 4. 10. 14. The Rabbines here say, it might not bee water that had beene used about any businesse, nor salt water, nor water that had beene melted (or warmed) nor of waters that lie [or faile, as in Ieremie 15. 18. that is, whose course or spring doth cease at any time;] nor raine water, but living water, which alwaies springeth and ceaseth not: R. Sampson, comment, in Thalmud, in Negagnim. c. 14. And that of this water, there was a quarter of a Log, put into a new earthen vessell. That quarter was as much as an egge and a halfe: see the notes on Exod. 30. 24. They killed the fairest of the two birds, (though they were as much as might be, of equall bignesse and price) over the water in the earthen vessell, and wrung it so that the blood might be discerned in the water; and then they digged and buried the bird there before the…. Maimony treat. of Lepr. chap. 11. sect. 1. And Chazkuni noteth, that the living water was mixed with the blood, because the blood of it selfe was un inough to dip the cedar, scarlet and hysope in.

Vers. 6. dip them, and the living bird] He bound together 6the hysope and the cedar, with the scarlet (wooll) wound up lengthwise, and about them he put the tops of the wings and tip of the taile of the living bird, and dipped them foure, in the water and blood that was in the vessell, and sprinkled seven times upon the hand of the Leper, [and some say, on his forehead] and so let the b… loose. Maimony ibidem. This manner, of cleansing the leper, figured the cleansing of us sinners by Christ; who (as the killed bird) was put to death in the flesh, but (as the living bird,) quickned by the spirit, 1 Pet. 3. 18. For though he was crucified through weakenesse, yet he liveth by the power of God, 2 Cor. 13. 4. who came, not by water onelyonly, but by water and blood, 1 Ioh. 5. 6. whose blood (sprinkled) purgeth our conscience from dead workes to serve the living God, Heb. 9. 14. and 12. 24. But we have this treasure … earthen vessels: that the excellencie of the power, may be of God, and not of us, 2 Cor. 4. 7. By the Hebrew doctors opinion the mixing of the blood of the bird and of living water, signified judgment and me…y joyned together. R. Menachem on Levit. 14.

Vers. 7. seven times] signifying hereby a f… cleansing; for seven is a perfect number, see the notes on Lev. 4. 6. So Naaman the Leper, washed himselfe seven times in Iordan, 2 King. 5. 10. 14. And David praying to be cleansed of his spirituall p. 77leprosie, saith, wash me throughly from mine iniquitie, Psal. 51. make him cleane] that is, pronounce him cleane; or by these rites cleanse him: the Greeke translateth, and he shall be cleane. let goe] or, …se, and send away. The like was done with the two goats on atonement day; the one was killed, the other let goe into the wildernesse; Levit. 16. 7.—10. These figured the deliverance of Christ from death, and of all such as are cleansed from their sinnes by his blood: for he bare our griefes, and cari…d our sorrowes (or sicknesses:) Esa. 53. 4. Matth. 8. 17. And Solomon likeneth the escaping of the curse, to the flying away of a bird, Prov. 26. 2. Chazkuni maketh this comparison, that the Leper had sitten as a bird solitarie on the house top, and was … and restrained from conversing with other men; but now was permitted to come among his fellowes; even as the bird had been bound in the hands of men; but now was let goe, and set free to goe among her fellowes. the face of the field] that is, the open field: like that phrase in Genes. 1. 20. on the face of the firmanent. The Greeke translateth it, into the field. Hence the Hebrew doctors say, hee that letteth the bird loose, may not turne his face towards the sea, nor to the citie, nor to the wildernesse: for it is said (in Levit. 1453.) out of the citie, into the face of the field. If when be lets it goe, it comes againe: he shall let it goe againe, though it be an hundred times. Moreover they say; the Cedar wood, and hysope, and scarlet, with which one lep…r was cleansed; he may with them cleanse other lepers: and so the bird that is let goe, he may cleanse other lepers with it, after it hath beene sent away; and it is lawfull to be eaten. But the bird that was killed, is unlawfull to be used for any thing; and who so eateth ought thereof transgresseth. Maimony, treat. of Lepr. chap. 11. sect. 1. 7. These legall ordinances, led the people unto Christ; for, if the blood of birds, and water, with cedar, hysope and scarlet, sprinkling the uncleane, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternall Spirit offred himselfe without spot unto God, purge the conscience from dead workes, to serve the living God? Heb. 9. 13. 14.

Vers. 8. all his haire] on every part of his bodie: 8so the Hebrewes say, he must cause the rasour to passe ever all his flesh that is seene, even his secret parts, and the haire all over his body: Maimony ibidem. The haire naturally springeth of hot & grosse matter or fume, and argueth strength of nature: so in the Leprous and uncleane, the haire signified the strength of uncleannesse, which was to be cut off: for it is needfull to beat downe the power of uncleannesse, which aboundeth in him; saith R. Menachem, on Levit. 14. So at the consecration of the Levites, they were to cause a rasour to passe over all their flesh, Numb. 8. 7. and Sampson when hee lost his haire, lost his strength, Iudg. 16. 17. And God threatning to weaken the state of his people, useth this similitude of shaving them with a rasour; Esa. 7. 20. Contrariwise, the Nazirite, whiles hee was to be holy unto the Lord, by his vow, no rasour might come upon his head: Num. 6. 5. that he may be cleane] or, and he shall be cleane, to weet, in part, or in the end, after the performing of these and the rites following; for hee was not cleane all at once, but by degrees; and was to bee shaven againe seven daies after, verse 9. Therefore the Iewes explaine it thus, he shall be cleane from polluting by comming in, and from polluting his bed and seat. Maimony, treat. of Lepr. chap. 11. sect. 1. This figured the endevour which Gods people should have to cleanse themselves, that they may bee againe received of the Lord, when they have perfected holinesse in his feare; 2 Cor. 7. 1. And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himselfe, even as he is pure: 1 Ioh. 3. 3. out of his tent] and so as the Greeke translateth, out of his house; for Tents are often used for houses, or dwelling places, Ios. 22. 4. Deut. 33. 18. 1 Sam. 13. 2. 1 King. 8. 66. and from these words the Hebrewes gather, that it was unlawfull for him to company with his wife in bed, these 7. daies. Maim. ibidem, and Thalmud in Negagnim. chap. 14. sect. 2.

Vers. 9. all his haire] In the seventh day, the Priest 9shall shave him the second time, as at the first. Both times when he shaveth him, it must not be but with a rasour; if he shave him not with a rasour, and if he leave but two haires, he hath not done any thing. And none may shave him, but a Priest. And if there be left but two haires, at the first shaving, and he shave them off the second time; it serveth him but for one shaving onelyonly, and that is, for the first. The killing of the bird, and the shaving, and the sprinkling; are to be done by day: and all his other workes, either by day or by night. These are to be done by men; and all the other workes; eyther by men or by women. These, by Priests, and all other works, either by Priests or (other) Israelites. Maimony, treat. of Lepr. chap. 11. sect. 2. 3. 5. wash his clothes] as being yet uncleane: whereupon the Hebrewes gather, All these seven daies (to weet, from his first shaving,) he is yet one of the chiefe uncleane persons, defiling men, and vessels by touching, not by bearing; for it is said, in the seventh day he shall wash his clothes, &c. to teach that he had made his clothes uncleane, &c. and whatsoever defileth clothes, defileth men. Maim. ibid. The washing of the Lepers garments was to signifie that the spirit of uncleannesse should be put away from him: saith R. Menachem, on Levit. 14. shall be cleane] from defiling other men: and loe he is as other uncleane in the day they are washed, and may eat of the tithes; and when his sun is set, he may eat of the heave-offring; and when he brings his atonement, he may eat of the holy things. Maim. ibidem. And Thalmud in Negagnim. chap. 14. sect. 3. where this is added, there are found three cleansings of the Leper, and three of the women in childbed.

Vers. 10. two hee lambs] one for a Trespasse-offring, 10verse 13. 14. & the other for a Burnt-offring: v. 19. 20. For both these sacrifices must be males: see the notes on Levit. 1. 3. and 5. 18. perfect] that is, as the Greeke translateth unblemished. See the notes on Exod. 12. 5. and Lev. 1. 3. of the first yeere] Hebr. daughter of her yeere: which the Greeke translateth a yeereling: but it must not be more then a yeere old: see the notes on Exod. 12. 5. and Genesis 5. 32. This ewe-lambe was for a Sin-offring, verse 19. Levit. 4. 32. three tenth deales] to weet, of an Ephah or Bushell; (as is expressed in Numb. 28. 5.) that is, three Omers or Pottles: p. 78an Omer for every of the three sacrifices forementioned. log] or halfe pinte: the log, is an Hebrew measure, containing so much as sixe hennes egges; as is noted on Exod. 30. 24. The Greeke calleth it …yle, which was a measure of about nine ounces. This Log of oile figured the measure of grace, and joy of the Spirit, bestowed upon us in our sanctification. Esa. 61. 1. Psal. 45. 8. 2 Cor. 1. 21. 22. It was, to sprinkle 7. times before the Lord, to sanctifie the eare, hand, foot and head of the Leper, and for the Priests to eat the remainder.

Vers. 11. of the congregation] the Greeke translateth it, the Tent of the testimonie. Herein the worke 11of Christ our Priest, was figured: who hath sanctified and cleansed us leprous sinners, with the washing of water, by the word; that he might present us to himselfe. glorious. Eph. 5. 26. 27.

Vers. 12. Trespasse-offring] or, guilt-offring: wherof see the notes on Levit. 5. 6. &c. It was to teach, 12that their atonement was to be made by the sacrifice of Christ; whose soule was made a Trespasse-offring, Esa. 53. 10. wave] that is, move to and fro: see the notes on Exod. 29. 24. This ram was to be waved alive, as Sol. Iarchi here noteth.

Vers. 13. where he shall kill] that is, where he useth to kill: which was on the north side of the Altar: 13see Levit. 1. 11. place of holinesse] in Greeke, the holy place, meaning the courtyard of the Sanctuarie.

Vers. 14. tip of the right eare] These rites were to signifie how by the blood of Christ, the eare should 14be sanctified to obey, the hand to worke, the foot to walke in the commandements of God; and so the whole man to be renewed: 2 Cor. 7. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 14. 15. The like was done at the consecration of the Priests, whereof see Exodus 29. 20. Leviticus 8. 24. If the leper had no thumbe on his right hand, or toe on his right foot, or no right eare: he was never cleansed; saith Maimony, in Mechosrei capporah, chap. 5. sect. 1.

Vers. 15. the Priests palme] meaning either into his owne, or anothers Priests; for by the Hebrew 15canons, both were allowable: they describe the order of this cleansing thus. When a Leper is healed of his leprosie, after they have cleansed him with cedar wood, and isope, and scarlet, and the two birds, and sheved all his flesh, and baptised him; after all this, hee commeth into Ierusalem, and reckoneth seven dayes. And in the 7. day he is shaved the second time, as at the first, and baptised, &c. And on the morrow, in the 8. day, he is baptised the second time, and afterwards they offer his offrings. And he is baptised in the womens court, in the …p…s chamber that is there. If he be not sheven in the 7. day. but in the 8. or some dayes after; in the day that he is sheven, he is to be baptised; and when his Sunis set, on the morrow he brings his offrings, after he is baptised the second time, as is before said. Then unto the leper, they doe thus. He standeth without the court of Israel, (that is, the mens court) over against the …sterne doore, in the porch of the gate of Nicanor, with his face to the west. And there stand all they that … their atonement, in the time of their cleansing, and there they give the suspected women, the bitter waters to drinke. (Numb. 5.) And the Priest takes the Lepers Trespasse-offring, whiles it is alive, and waveth it, with the Log of oile, towards the east, as all wave-offrings, &c. After this, he brings the Lepers Trespasse-offring unto the doore, and hee brings in both his hands into the court, and layeth them upon the (offring) and they kill it out of hand. And two Priests take the blood of it: the one takes it in a vessell, and sprinkleth it upon the top of the altar; and the other in his right hand, and poureth it into his left hand, and sprinkleth with the finger of his right hand: and if he doe otherwise, and take it with his left hand, it is unlawfull. The Priest that takes some of the blood in a vessell, carieth and sprinkleth it upon the altar first. Afterwards the Priest that tooke the blood in the palme of his hand, commeth unto the leper, the Priest standing within, and the leper without. And the leper putteth in his head, and the Priest putteth of the blood that is in his hand, upon the tip of his right eare: afterward he putteth in his right hand, and he putteth of it upon the thumbe of his hand; and after that, he setteth in his right foot, and he putteth of it upon his …. And if he put it upon the left, it availeth not. And afterwards he offreth his sin-offring, and his burnt-offring. After that hee hath put of the blood, upon his thu… and toe; the Priest taketh of the logge of oile, and poureth into the left hand of his fellow (Priest,) and if …ee poure it into his owne hand, it will serve. And he dippeth the finger of his right hand into the oile that is in his hand, and sprinkleth seven times towards the most holy place; every time that he sprinkleth, he dippeth his finger in the oile. Then he commeth to the leper and purteth of the oile, upon the place of the blood of the trespasse-offring, to weet, on the tip of his eare, and on his thumbe and toe. And the residue of the oile in his hand, he putteth on the head of him that is to be cleansed, and if he put it not, atonement is not made: and the remnant of the log of oile, is divided among the Priests. And that remnant of the log of oile, is not eaten but in the court, by the males of the Priests, as other the most holy things: and it is unlawfull to eat thereof, untill he hath sprinkled of it 7. times, and put of it upon the thumbe and toe, &c. Maimony, in Mechosrei capporah, chap. 4. and Talmud Bab. in Negagnim, c. 14. s. 7. &c. The gate of Nicanor forementioned (wherof s… the annotations on Num. 2. 27.) was the East gate betweene the womens court, and the court of Israel, (the mens court:) and into Israels court, none might enter, that wanted his atonement, and the blood of the Trespasse-offring, might not be caried out of the courtyard; therefore the leper stood without, in the gate, and put in his head, hand, and foot into the court of Israel, that the blood might be laid upon them.

Vers. 16. in the oile] or, of the oile; that is, taking some of it. But of, is here in stead of in; as Chazkuni also noteth. before Iehovah] that is, towards the Sanctuarie; as before is shewed.

Vers. 17. upon the blood] that is, the same pl… where the blood was put; as is explained in verse 28. and so the Greeke translateth here: wherefore the Hebrewes say, whether hee put the oile upon the blood it selfe, above; or put it by the bloods side; and … though the blood be wiped off, it will serve the …. Maimony, in Mechosrei capp. chap. 5. sect. 1.

Vers. 18. shall make-atonement] but with… p. 79this …i…e in speciall, no atonement was made, by the H… canons, as is before noted. This putting of …le upon all these parts of the body, figured the g…ces of the spirit of Christ, for the sanctifying of su… as are redeemed from their sins by his blood, 1 Iohn 2. 20. 2 Corinth. 1. 21. See the notes on Exodus 30. 26.

Ver. 19. make the Sin-offring] or, doe, that is, offer the Sin-offring; a figure of Christ, made sinne for us 19sinners, 2 Cor. 5. 21. the Burnt-offring] which figured also Christs oblation of himselfe, Heb. 10. 8, 9. 10. and the reasonable service of a sanctified person, acceptable to God, Rom. 12. 1. therfore before it, the Sinne-offring was made (or offred,) because reconciliation for sinne, must be before any service be accepted.

Vers. 20. the Meat-offring] that of three tenth-deales 20of floure, vers. 10. which served both for expiation of sinne, and to be a signe of sanctification, and a new creature: see the notes on Lev. 2. 1. The Hebr. doctors write (from the Law in Num. 15. 5.) that with every tenth deale of floure, there was also the fourth part of an Hin of wine; and that no sinne or trespasse offring save this of the Lepers, had the Meat offring and Drink offring added unto them. Maimony in Magnaseh hakorbaneth, ch. 2. sect. 5. 6. See the annotations on Num. 15.

Ver. 21. attaine it not] or, reach, get it not; the Gr. 21expounds it, find it not: it meaneth, want of ability. So after ver. 22. 30. 31. & Lev. 27. 8. a waving] or, wave-offring, to be waved alive, as before, in ver. 12. and after, in v. 24. 25. tenth-deale] of an Ephah; as verse 10. In this and the rest which follow, there was the same order, and rites to be used, as in the former.

Ver. 29. to make atonement] the Greeke explaineth 29it, and the Priest shall make-atonement: so Moses wrot before, in vers. 18. See the like, noted on Gen. 2. 3. Exod. 17. 10. and otherwhere.

Vers. 30. shall make] or doe; that is, shall offer. 30hand can attaine] in Greeke, as his hand hath fo…d.

V. 32. to his clensing] that is, to the greater sacrifices, 32foreordained for the clensing of lepers; none of which might bee omitted, or changed, but for meere povertie. Wherefore the Hebrewes write, The poore man that brings the offring of the rich; it may posse: but the rich that brings the offring of the poore, it passeth not, Talmud in Negagn. ch. 14. sect. 12. Also they say; If a rich man vow and say, the oblation of this leper be upon me; & the leper be poore: yet must be bring the offrings of the rich; because the hand of him that …eth, can reach unto it. And if a poore man say, the oblation of this leper be upon me; and the leper be rich: … also must bring the offrings of the rich; because hee … voweth is bound for the offrings of the rich. Mai…o… in Mecho…rcicapporah, ch. 5. sect. 11. By all these …i…es about the cleansing of a Leper, after hee was healed; God taught his people thankfulnesse unto himselfe in Christ, for whose sake, by whose dea…, resurrection and mediation, their sin (which was …use of their plague,) was forgiven and purged; and by whose grace and spirit, the corrup… of nature is done away, and the man made a new creature, to serve the Lord in holines. Wherefore when Christ had healed tenne lepers, and but one of them turned backe, and with alowd voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at (Iesus) feet, giving him thanks: then Iesus answering said; were there not ten cleansed: but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glorie to God, save this stranger, Luk. 17. 15.—18.

Vers. 34. and I put &c.] by mentioning before, 34the land of Canaan, and now saying if I put (or give:) he teacheth this to be an extraordinary and supernaturall plague, peculiar to that land and people; unknowne in any other place: and so the Hebrew doctors doe confesse, that the Leprosie of garments, and of houses, is not wont to bee in the world, but was a signe and miracle in Israel, to give them warning of an evill tongue, &c, Maimony treat. of Leprie, chap. 16. sect. 10. From Maries example in Numb. 12. they gather that leprosie is a punishment for an evill tongue. of your possession] or t…nement: firm-hold. Hence the Hebrewes gather, that Ierusalem, and (houses) without the land, were not defiled with plagues; for Ierusalem was not parted unto the tribes (of Israel:) the houses also of heathens which were in the land of Israel, were not defiled with plagues. Maimony treat. of Leprie, ch. 14. sect. 11.

Vers. 35. as it were the plague] to weet, of leprosie: 35the speech is doubtfull, because the sentence was to come from the Priest. Although hee bee a wise man, and knoweth certainely that it is the plague, hee may not determine and say, The plague appeareth to me in the house; but he shall say, As it were the plague &c. saith Maim in treat. of Lepr. ch. 14. sect. 4. and Sol. Iarchi on Lev. 14 35.

Ver. 36. and they shall empty] or, that they empty: 36which phrases are shewed to be one, on Gen. 27. 4. The word empty properly signifieth to prepare, by removing all things out of sight. that all &c.] because the leprous house, was one of the most contagious things; defiling all things, as after shall appeare: therefore all things were to bee taken out, though stackes of wood, or of reed, as the Hebrew doctors observe, Maimony in Lepr. ch. 14. sect. 4. And God in mercy, would thus preserve the stuffe from pollution, by being removed in time.

V. 37. hollow-strakes] or deep-strakes: concavities, as 37the Greeke translateth the word, which is never found, but in this one place. Hence the Hebrewes say; no plagues in houses doe make them uncleane, till the appearance of the plague be lower then the well; as it is said, hollowstrakes, that they be deepe in the walls; Maimony in Lepr. chap. 14. sect. 3. or reddish] these two colours, and the spreading ver. 39. are the three signes of lepry in houses. By the Hebrew canons, if the house were darke, they opened not the windowes, to see the plague; but if the plague appeared not init, it was cleane. Maimony ibidem, ch. 14. sect. 5.

Vers. 38. to the doore] there without the house, 38by the post of the doore, the priest was to shut it up, (that is, cōmand it to be shut up) or pronounce it uncleane, or cleane; and not in any other place. Maimony ibidem, ch. 14. sect. 5. seven dayes] though he see the plague to bee deepe, greenish or reddish, and so find it all at the first, yet he shutteth p. 80it up 7. dayes. Maimony ibidem. c. 15. s. 2.

Ver. 39. be spred] then the things after commanded 39must be done: but if not, and the plague bee dim, and I need not say, if it be gone away; hee scrapeth the place of the plague onelyonly, and the house is cleans. If he find that it standeth at a stay in his eyes, and is not spread, he shuts it up seven daies more, and looketh on it the thirteene day; if the plague be dim, or gone away, hee scrateth the place of the plague, and maketh the house cleane with the birds. And if hee finde that the plague is spred, at the end of the second seven dayes, or that it standeth at a stay in his eyes; then hee pulleth out the stones, wherein the plague is, and some of the dust, carying them out of the citie, and plaistereth all the house, and shutteth it up the third seven dayes, and in the nineteenth day he looketh on it; if the plague come againe into it, this is spreading after the plaistering, and he pulleth downe all the house, If the plague returne not into it, he maketh it cleane with the birds. Maimony treat▪ of Leprie, cha. 15. sect. 2. Thus there were three weekes for the shutting up of houses, whereas for men, or garments, there were but two weekes, and in some cases but one, as is noted on Lev. 13. 21. And so the Hebrews say, Plagues of houses, there is for them a shutting up three weekes, which are 19. dayes; for the seventh day is reckned for the last of the first weeke, and first of the second weeke; and the thirteenth day is reckoned for the last of the second weeke, and first of the third weeke, ibidem. chap. 15. sect. 1. As the plague was greater, and Gods judgement more se…re upon an house, then on a person or garment: so the Law requireth more care in the discerning, and longer respit before it was pronounced uncleane and destroyed.

Ver. 40. and they shall take away] or, and they shall 40(or that they) pull out the stones. As the law speaketh here of stones, and after of wood▪ and dust: so the Hebrewes understand these strictly, saying that No house is polluted with plagues, unlesse it hath foure wals, and …e builded on the land, of stone & of dust (or earth) and of wood. And bricks▪ and marble are not counted for stones. Maimony in Leprie c. 14. sect. 6. 7. uncleane place] or, place that is uncleane: because of the pollution that commeth hereby: For, A house plagued with leprosie, is one of the principall uncleane things; whosoever toucheth it, is made uncleane Likewise▪ the stones pulled out of it, after it is shut up, or the stones, timber and d…st of the house that is pulled down; all of them are of the principall incleane things; and so much … an olive of them defileth a man by touching, … carying, and by comming in where it is. As, if so much as … of them be brought into a clean house; all that is in the house▪ is made uncleane, both men and vessels: for they all are defiled by the bringing of it in, as by … ▪ and they are all unlawfull for any use▪ A…d if they be burnt, …me made of them, even that is unlawfull to be used, &c. and must all be caried out of the … …though it be a citie without a w…ll. Maimony, treat, of Le…, ch. 16. s. 1. On the …, the ashes caried out of the Sanctuary, were laid in a cleane place, Le…, 6. 11.

Ve… ▪ …2▪ other stones] He may not bring one stone, in … that he pulled out; nor …wo in …ead of one: 42but must bring two for two &c. Maim▪ ibid. c. 15. …. 3.

Vers. 44. be spred] though it bee but so much as 44two graines of barley, (for so much spreading the Hebrewes hold enough to make it unclean. Maimony in Lepr. ch. 15. sect. 2. a fretting leprosie] the Greeke translateth it a continuing, the Chaldee a diminishing leprosie: see Lev. 13. 51.

Vers. 45. he shall breake] in Greek, they shall break (or pull) downe; that is, it shall be broken downe. the timber] or, the stickes: all wood works. he shall carie] in Greeke, they shall carie, meaning some men. The Hebrews (as Chazkuni on Lev. 14) apply the meaning of this Law, against the idolatrous houses of the Canaanites, which were commanded to be destroyed, Deut. 12. and were manifested to bee such, by the plague of leprosie on them. But God speaketh of them also, after the Israelites were come in to dwell there, verse 34. so that for the idolatries and other sinnes of Israel, God would not onelyonly plague their bodies and garments, but their houses also, to their utter destruction. And by this severe judgement, taught men to shun all sinne, and in speciall idolatry; and to abolish all instruments and monuments thereof, Esa. 30. 22. Maimony in Lepr. ch. 16. maketh Leprosies to bee a judgement of God against an evill tongue, and in speciall for lpeaking against the Prophets as did the Israelites, 2 Chron. 36. 16. which he confirmeth by the example of Marie, who for speaking against Moses the Prophet of the Lord, was smitten with this plague of leprosie, Numb. 12.

V. 46. into the house] An house shut up, defileth … 46but (that which commeth) within the same, Lev. 14. 46. all the dayes that (the Priest) hath shut it … ▪ it maketh a man uncleane untill the evening. But that which is pronounced uncleane, defileth both within it and without it; for who so toucheth it on the out par…s of it, is uncleane; as it is written. It is a fretting lepr… sie in the house, it is uncleane, Lev. 14. 44. Maimony, in Lpr. ch. 16. sect. 2. untill the evening] then … evening, after that he hath washed himselfe, he is cleane againe: so Chazkuni here saith, after that he hath washed his flesh, according to the Law.

Ver. 47. wash his clothes] The lying in the house 47(as Chazkuni noteth) is more weightie, for hee the doth so, is bound to wash his clothes; and to wash his flesh: for whosoever is bound to wash his clothes, is bounded to wash himselfe also, and it was not needfull to repeat, he shall be uncleane till evening; for who so eateth or lyeth in the house, he commeth into the same, for which he was uncleane till evening, vers. 46.

Vers. 48. pronounce cleane] Hebrew make cleane, 48in Greeke, purifie; to weet, by his words: see Lev. 13. 3.

Vers. 49. to purifie] to weet, from sinne: as the word properly signifieth. For as persons were plagued with leprosie for sinne, Numb. 12. 1. …0. 2 Chron. 26. 19. 20. so for the same, their garments and houses were likewise plagued: even as the Lords house was made uncleane by the sinnes of the people, Lev. 16. 16. See the notes on Exod. 29. 36. birds] whereof see vers. 4. &c. For the cleansing of the house, was like the cleansing of the man. The Hebrewes say: They cl…se the house, p. 81as they cleanse the man forespoken of, in every point. … that in the man, they sprinkle 7. times upon his …; but in the house they sprinkle seven times upon the …pper do…e post of the house, without: all other … are alike. Maimony, treat. of Leprie, c. 15. s. 8. This is to bee understood of the cleansing with birds, cedar wood, hyssop, scarlet, and living water: but not of the other sacrifices, which the lep…o…s man brought afterward, for the house was cleansed, & atonement made for it, without those sacrifices, vers. 53.

Vers. 54. for every plague] From hence the Hebrewes say of him that judged leprosie, that hee 54might not view the plagues untill hee were expert in them all, and in all their names here written. Chazkuni on Lev. 14▪ 54.

Vers. 57. in the day] that is, concerning the day: meaning, as the Greeke translateth, what day hee 57shall bee uncleane, and what day hee shall bee made cleane.