A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Leviticus · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
Verſ. 1. ANd if a ſoul ſinne, and hear the voice of ſwearing, and is a witneſſe, whether he hath ſeen or known of it, &c.]
In this chapter ſome inſtances are given of ſinnes committed by private perſons, for which they were to bring a ſinne-offering to the Lord; and that eſpecially as I conceive, to ſhew in what caſes the offerings which they brought for their ſinnes were to be of that ſort which were more particularly called and eſteemed trespaſſe-offerings: for of ſuch it is evident that Moſes ſpeaks, at leaſt principally in this chapter. Much arguing there is amongſt Expoſitours to ſhew the difference between ſinne-offerings and treſpaſſe-offerings: ſome hold that the ſinne-offerings mentioned in the former chapter were for ſins of commiſſion, the treſpaſſe-offerings ſpoken of in this chapter were for ſinnes of omiſſion: ſome again hold that the ſinne-offerings were for greater tranſgreſſions, and others quite contrary, that the treſpaſſe-offerings were for greater tranſgreſſions, and the ſinne-offerings for ſmaller offences. But the truth is that theſe opinions on both ſides are no other then groundleſſe conjectures: Evi…ent it is that theſe treſpaſſe-offerings are alſo called ſinne-offerings, as we may ſee in the 6. verſ. of this chapter, He ſhall bring his trespaſſe-offering unto the Lord for his ſinne which he hath ſinned, a female from the ſlock a lambe, or a kid of the goats, for a ſinne-offering. All treſpaſſe-offerings were therefore ſinne-offerings though all ſinne-offerings were not called treſpaſſe-offerings. Herein onelyonly I conceive the difference lay, that for ſome particular ſinnes a ſinne-offering was appointed, different from the ordinary ſinne-offerings injoyned particular perſons in the former chapter, which becauſe it was for ſuch ſinnes wherein ſome treſpaſſe was committed upon the goods of their neighbour, or upon the holy things of the Lord, which belonged unto the prieſts, therefore they were more particularly called trespaſſe-offerings. The firſt particular inſtance given in the firſt verſe of the chapter is concerning him that ſinneth in concealing his knowledge, when he might have witneſſed the truth, If a ſoul ſinne (ſaith the text) and heare the voyce of ſwearing, and is a witneſſe, &c. for the meaning of this place, ſo diverſely expounded, I con…ive to be this, that when an oath is given for the clearing of any controverſie, for any wrong done by one man to another, and thoſe to whom the oath is given do either forſwear themſelves, or cannot diſcover the truth, if one that knows the truth, and might be or is called to be a witneſſe, ſtands by, conceals his knowledge, and doth not reveal the truth, he is guilty and muſt offer a treſpaſſe-offering, becauſe his neighbour ſuffers dammage in his eſtate through his ſilence; whether he hath ſee… or known of it, that is, whether he was an eye-witneſſe of that which is in queſtion, or came any other way to the knowledge of it, he muſt reveal all he knows, or be guilty, and ſo o…fer a treſpaſſe-offering.
Verſ. 2. Or if a ſoul touch any unclean thing, &c.]
The ſecond inſtance of ſins for which they were to bring a treſpaſſe-offering is concerning thoſe legall pollutions which are afterward… fully expreſſed, chap. 11. & 12. &c. The law is this; The man or woman that had touched any ſuch unclean thing, he was unclean and guilt…e of a ſinne, verſe 2. ſo ſoon as he had touched it, though for the time it was …id from him, his doing it unwittingly ſhould not quit him of the guilt of it; but yet when he ſhould come to the knowledge of it, verſ. 3. then he ſhould …e guilty in his own apprehenſion, and ſo muſt offer a treſpaſſe-offering, not ſo much to cleanſe him from this legall uncleanneſſe (for in this caſe there was another way of legall purifying appointed, Numb. 19. 11. &c.) as to expiate his ſinne, becauſe for want of due conſideration he had ſo defiled himſelf; and through ignorance or unadviſedneſſe had neglected thoſe legall purifyings, or had come into the ſanctuary and intermeddled with Gods holy things whileſt his uncleanneſſe was upon him. And indeed this was as I conceive the reaſon why a treſpaſſe-offering was in this caſe impoſed, becauſe the unclean perſon did by this ſinne treſpaſſe upon Gods holy things, and as it were impair the worth of them. Now theſe things alſo figured that we are to be cleanſed by the ſacrifice and death of Chriſt, even from that pollution which is contracted by partaking with other mens ſinnes, of which the Apoſtle ſpeaks, 1. Tim. 5. 22. Lay hands ſuddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other mens ſins: keep thy ſelf pure; and again, 2. Cor. 6. 17. Come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.
Verſ. 4. Or if a ſoul ſwear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil or to d… good, &c.]
In this third inſtance of ſinnes for which they were to bring a treſpaſſe-offering, it is not eaſily diſcerned what the ſinne here intended is: ſome conceive it to be the careleſſe neglect of doing that which a man had ſworn to do, to clear himſelf of the guilt whereof he was to bring a treſpaſſe-offering to the Lord; and becauſe there is expreſſe mention of ſwearing to do evil, and it cannot be a ſinne to omit the doing of that which he had ſworn he would do, if he had ſworn to do any evil to his neighbour, or generally any thing evil, that is, ſinfull and againſt Gods law, but rather it would be commendable to break ſuch an oath, therefore by doing …vil they underſtand the doing of ſomething which is hurtf…ll or irkſome to himſelf, as if a man hath ſworn to do what may bring ſome damage to his eſtate, or deprive him of ſomething that is pleaſing and delightfull to him: Again others conceive that the ſinne here intended is raſh and unadviſed ſwearing to do either good or evil to others, to wit, when it is ſinfull ſo confidently to undertake it, as when he undertakes to do that which is not in his power to do, or which he knows not whether he ſhall be able to do or no; or to do ſome evil to his neighbour, which is againſt the rule of charity, and cannot be done without ſinning againſt God, as when David ſware tha… he would utterly deſtroy Naball and all his family, 1. Sam. 5. 22. And this Expoſition I conceive is the more probable, firſt, becauſe the ſinne of not doing what a man hath ſworn he would do is not ſo clearly intimated in theſ… words, as is the ſinne of raſh and unadviſed ſwearing: for theſe words, pronouncing with his lips to do evil or to do good, do indeed manifeſtly imply an ove…bold undertaking to do that which happely he may not or cannot do: and ſecondly, becauſe they that expound this place of the ſinne of not doing what a man hath ſworn to do, are conſtraind to underſtand that clauſe concerning ſwearing to do evil of doing that which is evil or hurtfull to himſelf, whereas I conceive it muſt neceſſarily be underſtood of doing evil to his neighbour, becauſe for it he was to bring a treſpaſſe-offering,▪ which implyes at leaſt an intention of treſpaſſing upon his neighbour: ſo that I ſay the ſinne here intended is, I conceive, raſh and unadviſed ſwearing; and becauſe if a man ſwore to do good to his neighbour when it was not in his power, he did thereby engage himſelf for ſome good to his neighbour which afterwards his neighbour could not enjoy; and if he ſwore to do evil to his neighbour, there was at leaſt a purpoſe of treſpaſſing upon him, which was in Gods eye as if he had done it, therefore he is enjoyned for this ſinne to bring a treſpaſſe-offering: though at firſt it be hid from him, that is, when at firſt he bound himſelf by this oath through paſſion or unadviſedneſſ… he did not know or conſider that he ſinned in ſo ſwearing, yet when he knows of it, ſaith the …ext, that is, when he i… once convinced that he hath ſinned herein, then he ſhall be guilty in one of theſe, then the guilt ſhall lye upon his conſcience, whether he hath ſworn to do good or evil, and for his atonement he muſt bring a treſpaſſe-offering unto the Lord, as is added in the following verſes.
Verſ. 5. And it ſhall be when he ſhall be guilty in one of theſe things.]
That is, when he ſhall be guilty in one of theſe three caſes before named, he ſhall confeſſe his ſin, laying his hand upon the ſacrifices head, & ſo ſhall make an atonement for himſelf.
Verſ. 6. And he ſhall bring his treſpaſſe-offering, &c.]
This alſo no leſſe then the ſinne-offering was a type of Chriſt, whoſe ſoul was made an offering for ſinne, Iſa. 53. 10. The word in the originall is the ſame that is here tranſlated a treſpaſſe-offering. Now how the treſpaſſe-offering differed from the ſinne-offering, is noted befo…e upon the firſt verſe of this chapter.
Verſ. 7. And if he be not able to bring a lambe, &c.]
This exception was not onelyonly for theſe particular offenſes before named, but for all where a ſinne-offering was to be brought by the common people, that in no caſe poverty ſhould diſable a man to make his peace with God. Now concerning theſe turtle doves and young pigeons, ſee the note upon Levit. 1. 14.
One for a ſinne-offering and the other for a burnt-offering.]
Which wer… alſo or atonement, Levit. 1. 4.
Verſ. 8. And wring off his head from his neck, but ſhall not divide it aſunder.]
This direction concerning the turtle dove▪ or young pigeon, that was to be offered for a ſinne-offering, may be underſtood two ſeverall wayes: either that the prieſt was to wring off the head but not to divide the body of it aſunder; or elſe, which is the commoneſt expoſition, that he was to break the neck of it aſunder, but yet not to p…ll the head quite off from the body, of which ſee the note upon Levit. 1. 15.
Verſ. 11. But if he be not able, &c. then he that ſinned ſhall bring for his offering the tenth part of an Ephah, &c.]
That is, the tenth part of a buſhell, the tenth part whereof was called an O…er, Exod. 16. 36. near about our pottle.
He ſhall put no oyl upon it, &c.]
To diſtinguiſh this ſinne-offering from thoſe other meat-offerings, whereof ſee Lev. 2. 1. Beſides this happely might ſignifie that neither by any grace in us (whereof the oyl was a ſigne) nor by any prayersof ours (whereof the frankincenſe might be a ſigne) but onelyonly by Chriſt we are reconciled unto God, whereof this meat-offering was a type; or elſe becauſe the oyl & frankin…nſe might ſignifie the joy & gladneſſe of him that brought the offering, the Lord might appoint theſe to be left out in the ſinne-offering becauſe of the ſorrow & humiliation of ſpirit required in him that brought this offering, as we may ſee in a like caſe, Num. 5. 15.
Verſ. 15. If a ſ…ul commit a treſpaſſe, and ſinne through ignorance.]
The Hebrew word tranſlated here, comm…t a treſpaſſe, though it be generally uſed for all tranſgreſſion and diſloyalty that the inferiour committeth againſt the ſuperiour, yet for the moſt part it is applyed to evils committed againſt the Lord in his holy things, and ſo …gnifieth ſacrilegiouſly to treſpaſſe upon the Lord and his prie…ts by …ny wrong done to God in his holy things, when by any mans ignorance, unadviſedneſſe, or errour (for it muſt not be underſtood of th… preſumptuous defrauding God of thoſe things which belonged to him) God was damaged in his offerings, as when any man payed not the full tithe due, or did work with his firſt-born bullock, or ſhear his firſt-born ſheep, or keep back ought of the price of things dedicated to holy uſe, or take any of the prieſts portion in the ſacrifices, &c.
Then …e ſhall bring for his treſpaſſ… unto th… Lora a ramme, &c.]
A greater ſacrifice then was brought for other treſpaſſe-offerings, to ſhew the greatneſſe of the ſinne of ſacriledge.
With thy estimation by ſhekels of ſilver, &c.]
That is, with as much money as thou the prieſt ſhalt value the damage at, according to the ſhekels of the Sanctuary: for ſo it is explained ver. 16, 18.
Verſ. 16. And ſhall adde the fifth part thereto, &c.]
For ſo much was alſo added to holy things redeemed, Levit. 27. 13, 15, 19. But if he will at all re…eem it, then he ſhall adde a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation. And if he that ſanctified it will redeem his houſe, then he ſhall adde the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, &c.
Verſ. 17. And if a ſoul ſinne, and commit any of theſe things, &c.]
The ram injoyned for a ſinne-offering makes it clear that Moſes here ſpeaks concerning the ſame ſinne of ſacriledge, whereof before, onelyonly this particular is again more clearly urged, that though he wiſt it not, though he was utterly ignorant, yet he muſt as guilty bring this ſacrifice for his atonement.