mh_parser/vol_split/3 - Leviticus/Chapter 11.xml

<div2 id="Lev.xii" n="xii" next="Lev.xiii" prev="Lev.xi" progress="55.04%" title="Chapter XI">
<h2 id="Lev.xii-p0.1">L E V I T I C U S</h2>
<h3 id="Lev.xii-p0.2">CHAP. XI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Lev.xii-p1">The ceremonial law is described by the apostle
(<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.9.9-Heb.9.10" parsed="|Heb|9|9|9|10" passage="Heb 9:9,10">Heb. ix. 9, 10</scripRef>) to
consist, not only "in gifts and sacrifices," which hitherto have
been treated of in this book, but "in meats, and drinks, and divers
washings" from ceremonial uncleanness, the laws concerning which
begin with this chapter, which puts a difference between some sorts
of flesh-meat and others, allowing some to be eaten as clean and
forbidding others as unclean. "There is one kind of flesh of men."
Nature startles at the thought of eating this, and none do it but
such as have arrived at the highest degree of barbarity, and become
but one remove from brutes; therefore there needed no law against
it. But there is "another kind of flesh of beasts," concerning
which the law directs here (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.1-Lev.11.8" parsed="|Lev|11|1|11|8" passage="Le 11:1-8">ver.
1-8</scripRef>), "another of fishes" (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.9-Lev.11.12" parsed="|Lev|11|9|11|12" passage="Le 11:9-12">ver. 9-12</scripRef>), "another of birds" (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.13-Lev.11.19" parsed="|Lev|11|13|11|19" passage="Le 11:13-19">ver. 13-19</scripRef>), and "another of
creeping things," which are distinguished into two sorts, flying
creeping things (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.20-Lev.11.28" parsed="|Lev|11|20|11|28" passage="Le 11:20-28">ver.
20-28</scripRef>) and creeping things upon the earth, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.29-Lev.11.43" parsed="|Lev|11|29|11|43" passage="Le 11:29-43">ver. 29-43</scripRef>. And the law concludes
with the general rule of holiness, and reasons for it, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.44-Lev.11.47" parsed="|Lev|11|44|11|47" passage="Le 11:44-47">ver. 44</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Lev.xii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11" parsed="|Lev|11|0|0|0" passage="Le 11" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.1-Lev.11.8" parsed="|Lev|11|1|11|8" passage="Le 11:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.11.1-Lev.11.8">
<h4 id="Lev.xii-p1.10">Distinction of Meats. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xii-p1.11">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xii-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xii-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,   2 Speak
unto the children of Israel, saying, These <i>are</i> the beasts
which ye shall eat among all the beasts that <i>are</i> on the
earth.   3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted,
<i>and</i> cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
  4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the
cud, or of them that divide the hoof: <i>as</i> the camel, because
he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he <i>is</i> unclean
unto you.   5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but
divideth not the hoof; he <i>is</i> unclean unto you.   6 And
the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he
<i>is</i> unclean unto you.   7 And the swine, though he
divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud;
he <i>is</i> unclean to you.   8 Of their flesh shall ye not
eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they <i>are</i> unclean
to you.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xii-p3">Now that Aaron was consecrated a high
priest over the house of God, God spoke to him with Moses, and
appointed them both as joint-commissioners to deliver his will to
the people. He spoke both to Moses and to Aaron about this matter;
for it was particularly required of the priests that they should
put a difference between clean and unclean, and teach the people to
do so. After the flood, when God entered into covenant with Noah
and his sons, he allowed them to eat flesh (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.9.13" parsed="|Gen|9|13|0|0" passage="Ge 9:13">Gen. ix. 13</scripRef>), whereas before they were
confined to the productions of the earth. But the liberty allowed
to the sons of Noah is here limited to the sons of Israel. They
might eat flesh, but not all kinds of flesh; some they must look
upon as unclean and forbidden to them, others as clean and allowed
them. The law in this matter is both very particular and very
strict. But what reason can be given for this law? Why may not
God's people have as free a use of all the creatures as other
people? 1. It is reason enough that God would have it so: his will,
as it is law sufficient, so it is reason sufficient; for his will
is his wisdom. He saw good thus to try and exercise the obedience
of his people, not only in the solemnities of his altar, but in
matters of daily occurrence at their own table, that they might
remember they were under authority. Thus God had tried the
obedience of man in innocency, by forbidding him to eat of one
particular tree. 2. Most of the meats forbidden as unclean are such
as were really unwholesome, and not fit to be eaten; and those of
them that we think wholesome enough, and use accordingly, as the
rabbit, the hare, and the swine, perhaps in those countries, and to
their bodies, might be hurtful. And then God in this law did by
them but as a wise and loving father does by his children, whom he
restrains from eating that which he knows will make them sick.
Note, The Lord is for the body, and it is not only folly, but sin
against God, to prejudice our health for the pleasing of our
appetite. 3. God would thus teach his people to distinguish
themselves from other people, not only in their religious worship,
but in the common actions of life. Thus he would show them that
they must not be numbered among the nations. It should seem there
had been, before this, some difference between the Hebrews and
other nations in their food, kept up by tradition; for the
Egyptians and they would not eat together, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.43.32" parsed="|Gen|43|32|0|0" passage="Ge 43:32">Gen. xliii. 32</scripRef>. And even before the flood
there was a distinction of beasts into clean and not clean
(<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.7.2" parsed="|Gen|7|2|0|0" passage="Ge 7:2">Gen. vii. 2</scripRef>), which
distinction was quite lost, with many other instances of religion,
among the Gentiles. But by this law it is reduced to a certainty,
and ordered to be kept up among the Jews, that thus, by having a
diet peculiar to themselves, they might be kept from familiar
conversation with their idolatrous neighbours, and might typify
God's spiritual Israel, who not in these little things, but in the
temper of their spirits, and the course of their lives, should be
governed by a sober singularity, and not be conformed to this
world. The learned observe further, That most of the creatures
which by this law were to be abominated as unclean were such as
were had in high veneration among the heathen, not so much for food
as for divination and sacrifice to their gods; and therefore those
are here mentioned as unclean, and an abomination, which yet they
would not be in any temptation to eat, that they might keep up a
religious loathing of that for which the Gentiles had a
superstitious value. The swine, with the later Gentiles, was sacred
to Venus, the owl to Minerva, the eagle to Jupiter, the dog to
Hecate, &amp;c., and all these are here made unclean. As to the
beasts, there is a general rule laid down, that those which both
part the hoof and chew the cud were clean, and those only: these
are particularly mentioned in the repetition of this law (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.14.4-Deut.14.5" parsed="|Deut|14|4|14|5" passage="De 14:4,5">Deut. xiv. 4, 5</scripRef>), where it appears
that the Israelites had variety enough allowed them, and needed not
to complain of the confinement they were under. Those beasts that
did not both <i>chew the cud and divide the hoof</i> were unclean,
by which rule the flesh of swine, and of hares, and of rabbits, was
prohibited to them, though commonly used among us. Therefore,
particularly at the eating of any of these, we should give thanks
for the liberty granted us in this matter by the gospel, which
teaches us that <i>every creature of God is good,</i> and we are to
<i>call nothing common or unclean.</i> Some observe a significancy
in the rule here laid down for them to distinguish by, or at least
think it may be alluded to. Meditation, and other acts of devotion
done by the hidden man of the heart, may be signified by the
chewing of the cud, digesting our spiritual food; justice and
charity towards men, and the acts of a good conversation, may be
signified by the <i>dividing of the hoof.</i> Now either of these
without the other will not serve to recommend us to God, but both
must go together, good affections in the heart and good works in
the life: if either be wanting, we are not clean, surely we are not
clean. Of all the creatures here forbidden as unclean, none has
been more dreaded and detested by the pious Jews than swine's
flesh. Many were put to death by Antiochus because they would not
eat it. This, probably, they were most in danger of being tempted
to, and therefore possessed themselves and their children with a
particular antipathy to it, calling it not by its proper name, but
<i>a strange thing.</i> It should seem the Gentiles used it
superstitiously (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.65.4" parsed="|Isa|65|4|0|0" passage="Isa 65:4">Isa. lxv.
4</scripRef>), <i>they eat swine's flesh;</i> and therefore God
forbids all use of it to his people, lest they should learn of
their neighbours to make that ill use of it. Some suggest that the
prohibition of these beasts as unclean was intended to be a caution
to the people against the bad qualities of these creatures. We must
not be filthy nor wallow in the mire as swine, nor be timorous and
faint-hearted as hares, nor dwell in the earth as rabbits; let not
man that is in honour make himself like these beasts that perish.
The law forbade, not only the eating of them, but the very touching
of them; for those that would be kept from any sin must be careful
to avoid all temptations to it, and every thing that looks towards
it or leads to it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.9-Lev.11.19" parsed="|Lev|11|9|11|19" passage="Le 11:9-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.11.9-Lev.11.19">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xii-p4">9 These shall ye eat of all that <i>are</i> in
the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the
seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.   10 And all that
have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all
that move in the waters, and of any living thing which <i>is</i> in
the waters, they <i>shall be</i> an abomination unto you:   11
They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of
their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
  12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that
<i>shall be</i> an abomination unto you.   13 And these <i>are
they which</i> ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they
shall not be eaten, they <i>are</i> an abomination: the eagle, and
the ossifrage, and the ospray,   14 And the vulture, and the
kite after his kind;   15 Every raven after his kind;  
16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk
after his kind,   17 And the little owl, and the cormorant,
and the great owl,   18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the
gier eagle,   19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and
the lapwing, and the bat.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xii-p5">Here is, 1. A general rule concerning
fishes, which were clean and which not. All that had fins and
scales they might eat, and only those odd sorts of water-animals
that have not were forbidden, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.9-Lev.11.10" parsed="|Lev|11|9|11|10" passage="Le 11:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. The ancients accounted
fish the most delicate food (so far were they from allowing it on
fasting-days, or making it an instance of mortification to eat
fish); therefore God did not lay much restraint upon his people in
them; for he is a Master that allows his servants not only for
necessity but for delight. Concerning the prohibited fish it is
said, <i>They shall be an abomination to you</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.10-Lev.11.12" parsed="|Lev|11|10|11|12" passage="Le 11:10-12"><i>v.</i> 10-12</scripRef>), that is, "You
shall count them unclean, and not only not eat of them, but keep at
a distance from them." Note, Whatever is unclean should be to us an
abomination; <i>touch not the unclean thing.</i> But observe, It
was to be an abomination only to Jews; the neighbouring nations
were under none of these obligations, nor are these things to be an
abomination to us Christians. The Jews were honoured with peculiar
privileges, and therefore, lest they should be proud of those,
<i>Transeunt cum onere—They were likewise laid under peculiar
restraints.</i> Thus God's spiritual Israel, as they are dignified
above others by the gospel-covenant of adoption and friendship, so
they must be mortified more than others by the gospel-commands of
self-denial and bearing the cross. 2. Concerning fowls here is no
general rule given, but a particular enumeration of those fowls
that they must abstain from as unclean, which implies an allowance
of all others. The critics here have their hands full to find out
what is the true signification of the Hebrew words here used, some
of which still remain uncertain, some sorts of fowls being peculiar
to some countries. Were the law in force now, we should be
concerned to know with certainty what are prohibited by it; and
perhaps if we did, and were better acquainted with the nature of
the fowls here mentioned, we should admire the knowledge of Adam,
in giving them names expressive of their natures, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.2.20" parsed="|Gen|2|20|0|0" passage="Ge 2:20">Gen. ii. 20</scripRef>. But the law being
repealed, and the learning in a great measure lost, it is
sufficient for us to observe that of the fowls here forbidden, (1.)
Some are birds of prey, as the eagle, vulture, &amp;c., and God
would have his people to abhor every thing that is barbarous and
cruel, and not to live by blood and rapine. Doves that are preyed
upon were fit to be food for man and offerings to God; but kites
and hawks that prey upon them must be looked upon as an abomination
to God and man; for the condition of those that are persecuted for
righteousness' sake appears to an eye of faith every way better
than that of their persecutors. (2.) Others of them are solitary
birds, that abide in dark and desolate places, as the owl and the
pelican (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.102.6" parsed="|Ps|102|6|0|0" passage="Ps 102:6">Ps. cii. 6</scripRef>), and
the cormorant and raven (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.34.11" parsed="|Isa|34|11|0|0" passage="Isa 34:11">Isa. xxxiv.
11</scripRef>); for God's Israel should not be a melancholy people,
nor affect sadness and constant solitude. (3.) Others of them feed
upon that which is impure, as the stork on serpents, others of them
on worms; and we must not only abstain from all impurity ourselves,
but from communion with those that allow themselves in it. (4.)
Others of them were used by the Egyptians and other Gentiles in
their divinations. Some birds were reckoned fortunate, others
ominous; and their soothsayers had great regard to the flights of
these birds, all which therefore must be an abomination to God's
people, who must not learn the way of the heathen.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xii-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.20-Lev.11.42" parsed="|Lev|11|20|11|42" passage="Le 11:20-42" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.11.20-Lev.11.42">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xii-p6">20 All fowls that creep, going upon <i>all</i>
four, <i>shall be</i> an abomination unto you.   21 Yet these
may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon
<i>all</i> four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal
upon the earth;   22 <i>Even</i> these of them ye may eat; the
locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the
beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.  
23 But all <i>other</i> flying creeping things, which have four
feet, <i>shall be</i> an abomination unto you.   24 And for
these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them
shall be unclean until the even.   25 And whosoever beareth
<i>ought</i> of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be
unclean until the even.   26 <i>The carcases</i> of every
beast which divideth the hoof, and <i>is</i> not clovenfooted, nor
cheweth the cud, <i>are</i> unclean unto you: every one that
toucheth them shall be unclean.   27 And whatsoever goeth upon
his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on <i>all</i> four,
those <i>are</i> unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase
shall be unclean until the even.   28 And he that beareth the
carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the
even: they <i>are</i> unclean unto you.   29 These also
<i>shall be</i> unclean unto you among the creeping things that
creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise
after his kind,   30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and
the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.   31 These <i>are</i>
unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them,
when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.   32 And
upon whatsoever <i>any</i> of them, when they are dead, doth fall,
it shall be unclean; whether <i>it be</i> any vessel of wood, or
raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel <i>it be,</i> wherein
<i>any</i> work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be
unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.   33 And
every earthen vessel, whereinto <i>any</i> of them falleth,
whatsoever <i>is</i> in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.
  34 Of all meat which may be eaten, <i>that</i> on which
<i>such</i> water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may
be drunk in every <i>such</i> vessel shall be unclean.   35
And every <i>thing</i> whereupon <i>any part</i> of their carcase
falleth shall be unclean; <i>whether it be</i> oven, or ranges for
pots, they shall be broken down: <i>for</i> they <i>are</i>
unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.   36 Nevertheless a
fountain or pit, <i>wherein there is</i> plenty of water, shall be
clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.
  37 And if <i>any part</i> of their carcase fall upon any
sowing seed which is to be sown, it <i>shall be</i> clean.  
38 But if <i>any</i> water be put upon the seed, and <i>any
part</i> of their carcase fall thereon, it <i>shall be</i> unclean
unto you.   39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he
that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.
  40 And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his
clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the
carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the
even.   41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the
earth <i>shall be</i> an abomination; it shall not be eaten.  
42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon
<i>all</i> four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping
things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they
<i>are</i> an abomination.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xii-p7">Here is the law, 1. Concerning flying
insects, as flies, wasps, bees, &amp;c.; these they might not eat
(<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.20" parsed="|Lev|11|20|0|0" passage="Le 11:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>), nor indeed
are they fit to be eaten; but there were several sorts of locusts
which in those countries were very good meat, and much used: John
Baptist lived upon them in the desert, and they are here allowed
them, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.21-Lev.11.22" parsed="|Lev|11|21|11|22" passage="Le 11:21,22"><i>v.</i> 21, 22</scripRef>.
2. Concerning the creeping things on the earth; these were all
forbidden (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.29-Lev.11.30" parsed="|Lev|11|29|11|30" passage="Le 11:29,30"><i>v.</i> 29,
30</scripRef>, and again, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.41-Lev.11.42" parsed="|Lev|11|41|11|42" passage="Le 11:41,42"><i>v.</i>
41, 42</scripRef>); for it was the curse of the serpent that
<i>upon his belly he should go,</i> and therefore between him and
man there was an enmity put (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.3.15" parsed="|Gen|3|15|0|0" passage="Ge 3:15">Gen. iii.
15</scripRef>), which was preserved by this law. Dust is the meat
of the creeping things, and therefore they are not fit to be man's
meat. 3. Concerning the dead carcasses of all these unclean
animals. (1.) Every one that touched them was to be unclean until
the evening, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.24-Lev.11.28" parsed="|Lev|11|24|11|28" passage="Le 11:24-28"><i>v.</i>
24-28</scripRef>. This law is often repeated, to possess them with
a dread of every thing that was prohibited, though no particular
reason for the prohibition did appear, but only the will of the
Law-maker. Not that they were to be looked upon as defiling to the
conscience, or that it was a sin against God to touch them, unless
done in contempt of the law: in many cases, somebody must of
necessity touch them, to remove them; but it was a
<i>ceremonial</i> uncleanness they contracted, which for the time
forbade them to come into the tabernacle, or to eat of any of the
holy things, or so much as to converse familiarly with their
neighbours. But the uncleanness continued only till the evening, to
signify that all ceremonial pollutions were to come to an end by
the death of Christ in the evening of the world. And we must learn,
by daily renewing our repentance every night for the sins of the
day, to cleanse ourselves from the pollution we contract by them,
that we may not lie down in our uncleanness. Even unclean animals
they might touch while they were alive without contracting any
ceremonial uncleanness by it, as horses and dogs, because they were
allowed to use them for service; but they might not touch them when
they were dead, because they might not eat their flesh; and what
must not be eaten must not be touched, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.3.3" parsed="|Gen|3|3|0|0" passage="Ge 3:3">Gen. iii. 3</scripRef>. (2.) Even the vessels, or other
things they fell upon, were thereby made unclean until the evening
(<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.32" parsed="|Lev|11|32|0|0" passage="Le 11:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>), and if they
were earthen vessels they must be broken, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.33" parsed="|Lev|11|33|0|0" passage="Le 11:33"><i>v.</i> 33</scripRef>. This taught them carefully to
avoid every thing that was polluting, even in their common actions.
Not only the vessels of the sanctuary, but every pot in Jerusalem
and Judah, must be <i>holiness to the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.10" osisRef="Bible:Zech.14.20-Zech.14.21" parsed="|Zech|14|20|14|21" passage="Zec 14:20,21">Zech. xiv. 20, 21</scripRef>. The laws in these
cases are very critical, and the observance of them would be
difficult, we should think, if every thing that a dead mouse or
rat, for instance, falls upon must be unclean; and if it were an
oven, or ranges for pots, they must all be broken down, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.11" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.35" parsed="|Lev|11|35|0|0" passage="Le 11:35"><i>v.</i> 35</scripRef>. The exceptions also are
very nice, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p7.12" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.36" parsed="|Lev|11|36|0|0" passage="Le 11:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>,
&amp;c. All this was designed to exercise them to a constant care
and exactness in their obedience, and to teach us, who by Christ
are delivered from these burdensome observances, not to be less
circumspect in the more weighty matters of the law. We ought as
industriously to preserve our precious souls from the pollutions of
sin, and as speedily to cleanse them when they are polluted, as
they were to preserve and cleanse their bodies and household goods
from those ceremonial pollutions.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xii-p7.13" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.43-Lev.11.47" parsed="|Lev|11|43|11|47" passage="Le 11:43-47" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.11.43-Lev.11.47">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xii-p8">43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with
any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves
unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.   44 For
I <i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xii-p8.1">Lord</span> your God: ye
shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I
<i>am</i> holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner
of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.   45 For I
<i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xii-p8.2">Lord</span> that bringeth you
up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be
holy, for I <i>am</i> holy.   46 This <i>is</i> the law of the
beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth
in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
  47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean,
and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not
be eaten.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xii-p9">Here is, I. The exposition of this law, or
a key to let us into the meaning of it. It was not intended merely
for a bill of fare, or as the directions of a physician about their
diet, but God would hereby teach them to sanctify themselves and to
be holy, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.44" parsed="|Lev|11|44|0|0" passage="Le 11:44"><i>v.</i> 44</scripRef>. That
is, 1. They must hereby learn to put a difference between good and
evil, and to reckon that it could not be all alike what they did,
when it was not all alike what they ate. 2. To maintain a constant
observance of the divine law, and to govern themselves by that in
all their actions, even those that are common, which ought to be
performed <i>after a godly sort,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:3John.1.6" parsed="|3John|1|6|0|0" passage="3Jo 1:6">3
John 6</scripRef>. Even eating and drinking must be by rule, and
<i>to the glory of God,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.10.31" parsed="|1Cor|10|31|0|0" passage="1Co 10:31">1 Cor. x.
31</scripRef>. 3. To distinguish themselves from all their
neighbours, as a people set apart for God, and obliged not to walk
as the Gentiles: and all this is holiness. Thus these <i>rudiments
of the world</i> were their tutors and governors (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Gal.4.2-Gal.4.3" parsed="|Gal|4|2|4|3" passage="Ga 4:2,3">Gal. iv. 2, 3</scripRef>), to bring them to that
which is the revival of our first state in Adam and the earnest of
our best state with Christ, that is, <i>holiness,</i> without which
no man shall see the Lord. This is indeed the great design of all
the ordinances, that by them we may sanctify ourselves and learn to
be holy. Even This law concerning their food, which seemed to stoop
so very low, aimed thus high, for it was the statute-law of heaven,
under the Old Testament as well as the New, that <i>without
holiness no man shall see the Lord.</i> The caution therefore
(<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.43" parsed="|Lev|11|43|0|0" passage="Le 11:43"><i>v.</i> 43</scripRef>) is, <i>You
shall not make yourselves abominable.</i> Note, By having
fellowship with sin, which is abominable, we make ourselves
abominable. That man is truly miserable who is in the sight of God
abominable; and none are so but those that make themselves so. The
Jewish writers themselves suggest that the intention of this law
was to forbid them all communion by marriage, or otherwise, with
the heathen, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.7.2-Deut.7.3" parsed="|Deut|7|2|7|3" passage="De 7:2,3">Deut. vii. 2,
3</scripRef>. And thus the moral of it is obligatory on us,
forbidding us to <i>have fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness;</i> and, without this real holiness of the heart and
life, <i>he that offereth an oblation</i> is <i>as if he offered
swine's blood</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.66.3" parsed="|Isa|66|3|0|0" passage="Isa 66:3">Isa. lxvi.
3</scripRef>); and, if it was such a provocation for a man to eat
swine's flesh himself, much more it must be so to offer swine's
blood at God's altar; see <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Prov.15.8" parsed="|Prov|15|8|0|0" passage="Pr 15:8">Prov. xv.
8</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xii-p10">II. The reasons of this law; and they are
all taken from the Law-maker himself, to whom we must have respect
in all acts of obedience. 1. <i>I am the Lord your God,</i>
<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.44" parsed="|Lev|11|44|0|0" passage="Le 11:44"><i>v.</i> 44</scripRef>. "Therefore
you are bound to do thus, in pure obedience." God's sovereignty
over us, and propriety in us, oblige us to do whatever he commands
us, how much soever it crosses our inclinations. 2. <i>I am
holy,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.44" parsed="|Lev|11|44|0|0" passage="Le 11:44"><i>v.</i> 44</scripRef>, and
again, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.45" parsed="|Lev|11|45|0|0" passage="Le 11:45"><i>v.</i> 45</scripRef>. If God
be holy, we must be so, else we cannot expect to be accepted of
him. His holiness is his glory (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.15.11" parsed="|Exod|15|11|0|0" passage="Ex 15:11">Exod.
xv. 11</scripRef>), and therefore it <i>becomes his house for
ever,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.93.5" parsed="|Ps|93|5|0|0" passage="Ps 93:5">Ps. xciii. 5</scripRef>. This
great precept, thus enforced, though it comes in here in the midst
of abrogated laws, is quoted and stamped for a gospel precept,
<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.16" parsed="|1Pet|1|16|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:16">1 Pet. i. 16</scripRef>, where it is
intimated that all these ceremonial restraints were designed to
teach us that we must not <i>fashion ourselves according to our
former lusts in our ignorance,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.14" parsed="|Lev|11|14|0|0" passage="Le 11:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. 3. <i>I am the Lord that
bringeth you out of the land of Egypt,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.45" parsed="|Lev|11|45|0|0" passage="Le 11:45"><i>v.</i> 45</scripRef>. This was a reason why they
should cheerfully submit to distinguishing laws, having of late
been so wonderfully dignified with distinguishing favours. He that
had done more for them than for any other people might justly
expect more from them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xii-p11">III. The conclusion of this statute:
<i>This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl,</i> &amp;c.,
<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.11.46-Lev.11.47" parsed="|Lev|11|46|11|47" passage="Le 11:46,47"><i>v.</i> 46, 47</scripRef>. This
law was to them a statute for ever, that is, as long as that
economy lasted; but under the gospel we find it expressly repealed
by a voice from heaven to Peter (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.10.15" parsed="|Acts|10|15|0|0" passage="Ac 10:15">Acts
x. 15</scripRef>), as it had before been virtually set aside by the
death of Christ, with the other ordinances that <i>perished in the
using: Touch not, taste not, handle not,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Col.2.21-Col.2.22" parsed="|Col|2|21|2|22" passage="Col 2:21,22">Col. ii. 21, 22</scripRef>. And now we are sure that
<i>meat commends us not to God</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.8.8" parsed="|1Cor|8|8|0|0" passage="1Co 8:8">1
Cor. viii. 8</scripRef>), and that <i>nothing is unclean of
itself</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xii-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Rom.14.14" parsed="|Rom|14|14|0|0" passage="Ro 14:14">Rom. xiv. 14</scripRef>),
nor does that defile a man which goes into his mouth, but that
which comes out from the heart, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Matt.15.11" parsed="|Matt|15|11|0|0" passage="Mt 15:11">Matt.
xv. 11</scripRef>. Let us therefore, 1. Give thanks to God that we
are not under this yoke, but that to us every creature of God is
allowed as good, and nothing to be refused. 2. <i>Stand fast in the
liberty wherewith Christ has made us free,</i> and take heed of
those doctrines which <i>command to abstain from meats,</i> and so
would revive Moses again, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.4.3-1Tim.4.4" parsed="|1Tim|4|3|4|4" passage="1Ti 4:3,4">1 Tim. iv.
3, 4</scripRef>. 3. Be strictly and conscientiously temperate in
the use of the good creatures God has allowed us. If God's law has
given us liberty, let us lay restraints upon ourselves, and never
feed ourselves without fear, lest our table be a snare. <i>Set a
knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite;</i> and
<i>be not desirous of dainties</i> or varieties, <scripRef id="Lev.xii-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Prov.23.2-Prov.23.3" parsed="|Prov|23|2|23|3" passage="Pr 23:2,3">Prov. xxiii. 2, 3</scripRef>. Nature is content with
little, grace with less, but lust with nothing.</p>
</div></div2>