mh_parser/vol_split/3 - Leviticus/Chapter 15.xml

<div2 id="Lev.xvi" n="xvi" next="Lev.xvii" prev="Lev.xv" progress="56.83%" title="Chapter XV">
<h2 id="Lev.xvi-p0.1">L E V I T I C U S</h2>
<h3 id="Lev.xvi-p0.2">CHAP. XV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Lev.xvi-p1">In this chapter we have laws concerning other
ceremonial uncleannesses contracted either by bodily disease like
that of the leper, or some natural incidents, and this either, I.
In men, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.1-Lev.15.18" parsed="|Lev|15|1|15|18" passage="Le 15:1-18">ver. 1-18</scripRef>. Or,
II. In women, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.19-Lev.15.33" parsed="|Lev|15|19|15|33" passage="Le 15:19-33">ver.
19-33</scripRef>. We need not be at all curious in explaining these
antiquated laws, it is enough if we observe the general intention;
but we have need to be very cautious lest sin take occasion by the
commandment to become more exceedingly sinful; and exceedingly
sinful it is when lust is kindled by sparks of fire from God's
altar. The case is bad with the soul when it is putrefied by that
which should purify it.</p>
<scripCom id="Lev.xvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15" parsed="|Lev|15|0|0|0" passage="Le 15" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.1-Lev.15.18" parsed="|Lev|15|1|15|18" passage="Le 15:1-18" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.15.1-Lev.15.18">
<h4 id="Lev.xvi-p1.5">Ceremonial Purification. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvi-p1.6">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xvi-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvi-p2.1">Lord</span>
spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,   2 Speak unto the
children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running
issue out of his flesh, <i>because of</i> his issue he <i>is</i>
unclean.   3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue:
whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from
his issue, it <i>is</i> his uncleanness.   4 Every bed,
whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing,
whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.   5 And whosoever
toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe <i>himself</i>
in water, and be unclean until the even.   6 And he that
sitteth on <i>any</i> thing whereon he sat that hath the issue
shall wash his clothes, and bathe <i>himself</i> in water, and be
unclean until the even.   7 And he that toucheth the flesh of
him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe
<i>himself</i> in water, and be unclean until the even.   8
And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he
shall wash his clothes, and bathe <i>himself</i> in water, and be
unclean until the even.   9 And what saddle soever he rideth
upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.   10 And whosoever
toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the
even: and he that beareth <i>any of</i> those things shall wash his
clothes, and bathe <i>himself</i> in water, and be unclean until
the even.   11 And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue,
and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes,
and bathe <i>himself</i> in water, and be unclean until the even.
  12 And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the
issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in
water.   13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his
issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his
cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running
water, and shall be clean.   14 And on the eighth day he shall
take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvi-p2.2">Lord</span> unto the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:
  15 And the priest shall offer them, the one <i>for</i> a sin
offering, and the other <i>for</i> a burnt offering; and the priest
shall make an atonement for him before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvi-p2.3">Lord</span> for his issue.   16 And if any man's
seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his
flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.   17 And every
garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall
be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.   18 The
woman also with whom man shall lie <i>with</i> seed of copulation,
they shall <i>both</i> bathe <i>themselves</i> in water, and be
unclean until the even.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvi-p3">We have here the law concerning the
ceremonial uncleanness that was contracted by running issues in
men. It is called in the margin (<scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.2" parsed="|Lev|15|2|0|0" passage="Le 15:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>) the <i>running of the reins:</i>
a very grievous and loathsome disease, which was, usually the
effect and consequent of wantonness and uncleanness, and a
dissolute course of life, filling men's bones with the sins of
their youth, and leaving them to mourn at the last, when all the
pleasures of their wickedness have vanished, and nothing remains
but the pain and anguish of a rotten carcase and a wounded
conscience. And what fruit has the sinner then of those things
whereof he has so much reason to be ashamed? <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.6.21" parsed="|Rom|6|21|0|0" passage="Ro 6:21">Rom. vi. 21</scripRef>. As modesty is <i>an ornament of
grace to the head and chains about the neck,</i> so chastity is
<i>health to the navel and marrow to the bones;</i> but uncleanness
is a <i>wound and dishonour,</i> the consumption of the flesh and
the body, and a sin which is often its own punishment more than any
other. It was also sometimes inflicted by the righteous hand of God
for other sins, as appears by David's imprecation of a curse upon
the family of Joab, for the murder of Abner. <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.3.29" parsed="|2Sam|3|29|0|0" passage="2Sa 3:29">2 Sam. iii. 29</scripRef>, <i>Let there not fail from
the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or is a leper.</i> A vile
disease for vile deserts. Now whoever had this disease upon him, 1.
He was himself unclean, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.2" parsed="|Lev|15|2|0|0" passage="Le 15:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>. He must not dare to come near the sanctuary, it was
at his peril if he did, nor might he eat of the holy things. This
signified the filthiness of sin, and of all the productions of our
corrupt nature, which render us odious to God's holiness, and
utterly unfit for communion with him. Out of a pure heart well kept
are the issues of life (<scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Prov.4.23" parsed="|Prov|4|23|0|0" passage="Pr 4:23">Prov. iv.
23</scripRef>), but out of an unclean heart comes that which is
defiling, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Matt.12.34-Matt.12.35" parsed="|Matt|12|34|12|35" passage="Mt 12:34,35">Matt. xii. 34,
35</scripRef>. 2. He made every person and thing unclean that he
touched, or that touched him, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.4-Lev.15.12" parsed="|Lev|15|4|15|12" passage="Le 15:4-12"><i>v.</i> 4-12</scripRef>. His bed, and his chair, and
his saddle, and every thing that belonged to him, could not be
touched without a ceremonial uncleanness contracted, which a man
must remain conscious to himself of till sunset, and from which he
could not be cleansed without washing his clothes, and bathing his
flesh in water. This signified the contagion of sin, the danger we
are in of being polluted by conversing with those that are
polluted, and the need we have with the utmost circumspection to
<i>save ourselves from this untoward generation.</i> 3. When he was
cured of the disease, yet he could not be cleansed from the
pollution without a sacrifice, for which he was to prepare himself
by seven days' expectation after he was perfectly clear from his
distemper, and by bathing in spring water, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.13-Lev.15.15" parsed="|Lev|15|13|15|15" passage="Le 15:13-15"><i>v.</i> 13-15</scripRef>. This signified the great
gospel duties of faith and repentance, and the great gospel
privileges of the application of Christ's blood to our souls for
our justification and his grace for our sanctification. God has
promised to sprinkle clean water upon us, and to cleanse us from
all our filthiness, and has appointed us by repentance to wash and
make ourselves clean: he has also provided a sacrifice of
atonement, and requires us by faith to interest ourselves in that
sacrifice; for it is <i>the blood of Christ his Son that cleanses
us from all sin,</i> and by which atonement is made for us, that we
may have admission into God's presence and may partake of his
favour.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.xvi-p3.9" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15" parsed="|Lev|15|0|0|0" passage="Le 15" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.xvi-p3.10" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.19-Lev.15.33" parsed="|Lev|15|19|15|33" passage="Le 15:19-33" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.15.19-Lev.15.33">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.xvi-p4">19 And if a woman have an issue, <i>and</i> her
issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and
whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.   20
And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be
unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.
  21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes,
and bathe <i>himself</i> in water, and be unclean until the even.
  22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall
wash his clothes, and bathe <i>himself</i> in water, and be unclean
until the even.   23 And if it <i>be</i> on <i>her</i> bed, or
on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be
unclean until the even.   24 And if any man lie with her at
all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days;
and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.   25 And if
a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her
separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the
days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her
separation: she <i>shall be</i> unclean.   26 Every bed
whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as
the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be
unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.   27 And
whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash
his clothes, and bathe <i>himself</i> in water, and be unclean
until the even.   28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then
she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be
clean.   29 And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two
turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.   30 And the
priest shall offer the one <i>for</i> a sin offering, and the other
<i>for</i> a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement
for her before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.xvi-p4.1">Lord</span> for the
issue of her uncleanness.   31 Thus shall ye separate the
children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in
their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that <i>is</i>
among them.   32 This <i>is</i> the law of him that hath an
issue, and <i>of him</i> whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled
therewith;   33 And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of
him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him
that lieth with her that is unclean.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvi-p5">This is concerning the ceremonial
uncleanness which women lay under from their issues, both those
that were regular and healthful, and according to the course of
nature (<scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.19-Lev.15.24" parsed="|Lev|15|19|15|24" passage="Le 15:19-24"><i>v.</i>
19-24</scripRef>), and those that were unseasonable, excessive, and
the disease of the body; such was the bloody issue of that poor
woman who was suddenly cured by touching the hem of Christ's
garment, after she had lain twelve years under her distemper, and
had spent her estate upon physicians and physic in vain. This made
the woman that was afflicted with it unclean (<scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.25" parsed="|Lev|15|25|0|0" passage="Le 15:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>) and every thing she touched
unclean, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.26-Lev.15.27" parsed="|Lev|15|26|15|27" passage="Le 15:26,27"><i>v.</i> 26,
27</scripRef>. And if she was cured, and found by seven days' trial
that she was perfectly free from her issue of blood, she was to be
cleansed by the offering of two turtle-doves or two young pigeons,
to make an atonement for her, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.28-Lev.15.29" parsed="|Lev|15|28|15|29" passage="Le 15:28,29"><i>v.</i> 28, 29</scripRef>. All wicked courses,
particularly idolatries, are compared to the uncleanness of a
<i>removed woman</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.36.17" parsed="|Ezek|36|17|0|0" passage="Eze 36:17">Ezek. xxxvi.
17</scripRef>), and, in allusion to this, it is said of Jerusalem
(<scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Lam.1.9" parsed="|Lam|1|9|0|0" passage="La 1:9">Lam. i. 9</scripRef>), <i>Her
filthiness is in her skirts,</i> so that (as it follows, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.17" parsed="|Lev|15|17|0|0" passage="Le 15:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>) she was shunned as a
menstruous woman.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvi-p6">I. The reasons given for all these laws
(which we are ready to think might very well have been spared) we
have, <scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.15.31" parsed="|Lev|15|31|0|0" passage="Le 15:31"><i>v.</i> 31</scripRef>. 1.
<i>Thus shall you separate the children of Israel</i> (for to them
only and their servants and proselytes these laws pertained)
<i>from their uncleanness;</i> that is, (1.) By these laws they
were taught their privilege and honour, that they were <i>purified
unto God a peculiar people,</i> and were intended by the holy God
for a kingdom of priests, a holy nation; for that was a defilement
to them which was not so to others. (2.) They were also taught
their duty, which was to preserve the honour of their purity, and
to keep themselves from all sinful pollutions. It was easy for them
to argue that if those pollutions which were natural, unavoidable,
involuntary, their affliction and not their sin, rendered them for
the time so odious that they were not fit for communion either with
God or man, much more abominable and filthy were they if they
sinned against the light and law of nature, by drunkenness,
adultery, fraud, and the like sins, which defile the very mind and
conscience. And, if these ceremonial pollutions could not be done
away but by sacrifice and offering, something greater and much more
valuable must be expected and depended upon for the purifying of
the soul from the uncleanness of sin. 2. Thus their dying in their
uncleanness by the hand of God's justice, if while they were under
any of these defilements they should come near the sanctuary, would
be prevented. Note, It is a dangerous thing to die in our
uncleanness; and it is our own fault if we do, since we have not
only fair warning given us, by God's law, against those things that
will defile us, but also such gracious provision made by his gospel
for our cleansing if at any time we be defiled. 3. In all these
laws there seems to be a special regard had to the honour of the
tabernacle, to which none must approach in their uncleanness, that
they <i>defile not my tabernacle.</i> Infinite Wisdom took this
course to preserve in the minds of that careless people a continual
dread of, and veneration for, the manifestations of God's glory and
presence among them in his sanctuary. Now that the tabernacle of
God was with men familiarity would be apt to breed contempt, and
therefore the law made so many things of frequent incidence to be
ceremonial pollutions, and to involve an incapacity of drawing near
to the sanctuary (making death the penalty), that so they might not
approach without great caution, and reverence, and serious
preparation, and fear of being found unfit. Thus they were taught
never to draw near to God but with an awful humble sense of their
distance and danger, and an exact observance of every thing that
was required in order to their safety and acceptance.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.xvi-p7">II. And what duty must we learn from all
this? 1. Let us bless God that we are not under the yoke of these
carnal ordinances, that, as nothing can destroy us, so nothing can
defile us, but sin. Those may now partake of the Lord's supper who
durst not then eat of the peace-offerings. And the defilement we
contract by our sins of daily infirmity we may be cleansed from in
secret by the renewed acts of repentance and faith, without bathing
in water or bringing an offering to the door of the tabernacle. 2.
Let us carefully abstain from all sin, as defiling to the
conscience, and particularly from all fleshly lusts, <i>possessing
our vessel in sanctification and honour, and not in the lusts of
uncleanness,</i> which not only pollute the soul, but <i>war
against it,</i> and threaten its ruin. 3. Let us all see how
indispensably necessary real holiness is to our future happiness,
and get our hearts purified by faith, that we may see God. Perhaps
it is in allusion to these laws which forbade the unclean to
approach the sanctuary that when it is asked, <i>Who shall stand in
God's holy place?</i> it is answered, <i>He that hath clean hands
and a pure heart</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.xvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.24.3-Ps.24.4" parsed="|Ps|24|3|24|4" passage="Ps 24:3,4">Ps. xxxiv. 3,
4</scripRef>); for <i>without holiness no man shall see the
Lord.</i></p>
</div></div2>