Westminster Annotations, Leviticus · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
Vers. 2. SEparate themselves] Meaning, that the Priests abstaine from eating holy things, as long as themselves are polluted; which requires a separation from them for a certain time, untill they be cleansed. See vers. 4.
V. 3. goeth unto] That is, to eat thereof.
from my presence] Hebr. from my face; From me, or by me; so that he shall not live in my sight, nor have a being as he hath had.
V. 4. What man soever] the Hebrew is, man, man; That is, any man, this or that, if he may be called man, or be of mankind; and so it extends to women also, who had no more priviledge of …ating holy things in a condition of uncleannesse then men had.
that is unclean] By touching any dead thing, or being at the buriall of any dead body.
or a man whose] That man shall be unclean: not he that toucheth him; though touching other unclean things, do cause a ceremoniall uncleannesse.
V. 6. The soul] That is, by an ordinary Syneedoche, the person; the better part being put for the whole. See Annot. on chap. 21. vers. 1.
V. 10. no stranger] That is, not a Priest, or of the family of the Priests, though living in the same house, for sometimes in one house there may bee two families; and herein there is difference between the portion of the Priests, and of the people, though in the same sacrifice, that the Priests portion is to be eaten only by them of his family, but the portion which belonged to him who brought the offering, might be imparted to any Hebrews, if they were not debarred from a part by some legall uncleannesse.
V. 11. he shall eate] He that is but a Sojourner, or Guest, may not eate of the holy things; nor he that is hired by the day, for such an hired servant is meant, vers. 10. but the bought servant, and he that was born in his house, as constant persons in the Priests family, might eat thereof.
V. 12. stranger] See Annot. on vers. 10.
she may not eate] But the Priests wife may eate, as in the right of her husband, being with him one flesh by the bond of marriage.
V. 14. fift part] That is, he shall repay the principall, and a fift part over and above, as a forfeiture for the offence, and a caveat against the like in future time: see Chap. 5. 15. & 16. And this satisfaction was to be made to the Sanctuary, if the wrong were in any thing belonging to it, and to the Priest, if it were in that which was his peculiar portion.
V. 16. or suffer them] Or load themselves with the iniquitie of trespasse in their eating what they should not.
V. 18. strangers] That is, Proselytes, or Converts to the Religion of the Hebrewes.
V. 19. a male] The whole burnt-offering was to be onelyonly of the male kinde, Chap. 1. 10. the peace-offering, Chap. 3. 1. and sinne-offering might be of the females, Chap. 4. 32. & Chap. 5. 6.
V. 23. but for a vow] The lesser blemishes, as the lack of a tayl, (which in stinted sacrifices was not to be wanting, Exod. 29. 22. Levit. 8. 25. Levit. 9. 19. and the like may be said of the eares) did not hinder the acceptation of a free-will-offering; but that which was offered by vow, was to be perfect, as that which was required by obligation of the law; which was to minde the offerer of the perfection of Christ, of whom the sacrifice was a figure; and of that perfection which every one was to presse after, as in imitation of him. Some take this exception to be onelyonly of such blemishes, as were either excessive or defective in quantitie, for length or shortnesse, for greatnesse or smalnesse; but if there were an excesse on defect in the number of parts, as if a sheepe had more or fewer then foure legges, it was to be rejected as monstrously mis-shapen. And there be some who take this free-will-offering for a gift. for the use of the Priest, not to be sacrificed unto God; nor so tendered, as to be turned into money to buy somewhat which is fit to be presented in sacrifice to God. If that which was offered were in its owne kinde fit to be rejected.
V. 25. strangers hand] The sacrifices of God must be offered, and are accepted without respect of any person, but his whom they typi…ie, Jesus Christ; therefore a blemished sacrifice will not serve, or be received from an Israelite, or from a Proselyte; but they might receive money from strangers, whether in Nation or Religion, which might be converted to some service of the Sanctuary, whether for sacrifice or otherwise; Josephus lib. 2. of the Warres of the Jewes, Chap. 17. But no uncircumcised person might by himself present any thing; though in it selfe perfect, to be offered to God.
V. 27. seven dayes] See Annot. on Exod. 22. 30.
V. 28. in one day] By this, as by the ordinance against eating bloud, God meant to admonish his people of mercy, and to restraine them from crueltie.
V. 30. leave none] See Annot. on Chap. 7. vers. 15.
V. 32. profane my holy Name] By bringing it into contempt with the Nations, by your profane and corrupt manners: See Annot. on Chap. 18. vers. 21.
which hallow you] Who give you holy Laws to live by, and the grace you have to live according to those Laws.