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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Leviticus, Chapter III].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>L E V I T C U S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have the law concerning the peace-offerings, whether
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they were,
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I. Of the heard, a bullock or a heifer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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Or,
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II. Of the flock, either a lamb
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:6-11">ver. 6-11</A>)
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or a goat,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:12-17">ver. 12-17</A>.
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The ordinances concerning each of these are much the same, yet they are
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repeated, to show the care we ought to take that all our services be
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done according to the appointment and the pleasure God takes in the
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services that are so performed. It is likewise to intimate what need we
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have of precept upon precept, and line upon line.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Le3_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Law of the Peace-Offering.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1490.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And if his oblation <I>be</I> a sacrifice of peace offering, if he
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offer <I>it</I> of the herd; whether <I>it be</I> a male or female, he
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shall offer it without blemish before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and
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kill it <I>at</I> the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and
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Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar
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round about.
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3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an
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offering made by fire unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; the fat that covereth the
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inwards, and all the fat that <I>is</I> upon the inwards,
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4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that <I>is</I> on them, which
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<I>is</I> by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the
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kidneys, it shall he take away.
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5 And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt
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sacrifice, which <I>is</I> upon the wood that <I>is</I> on the fire: <I>it
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is</I> an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The burnt-offerings had regard to God as in himself the best of beings,
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most perfect and excellent; they were purely expressive of adoration,
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and therefore were wholly burnt. But the peace-offerings had regard to
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God as a benefactor to his creatures, and the giver of all good things
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to us; and therefore these were divided between the altar, the priest,
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and the owner. Peace signifies,
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1. Reconciliation, concord, and communion. And so these were called
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<I>peace-offerings,</I> because in them God and his people did, as it
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were, feast together, in token of friendship. The priest, who was
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ordained for men in things pertaining to God, gave part of this
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peace-offering to God (that part which he required, and it was fit he
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should be first served), burning it upon God's altar; part he gave to
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the offerer, to be eaten by him with his family and friends; and part
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he took to himself, as the days-man that laid his hand upon them both.
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They could not thus eat together unless they were agreed; so that it
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was a symbol of friendship and fellowship between God and man, and a
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confirmation of the covenant of peace.
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2. It signifies prosperity and all happiness: <I>Peace be to you</I>
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was as much as, <I>All good</I> be to you; and so the peace-offerings
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were offered either,
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(1.) By way of supplication or request for some good that was wanted
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and desired. If a man was in the pursuit or expectation of any mercy,
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he would back his prayer for it with a peace-offering, and probably put
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up the prayer when he laid his hand upon the head of his offering.
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Christ is our peace, our peace-offering; for through him alone it is
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that we can expect to obtain mercy, and an answer of peace to our
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prayers; and in him an upright prayer shall be acceptable and
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successful, though we bring not a peace-offering. The less costly our
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devotions are the more lively and serious they should be. Or,
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(2.) By way of thanksgiving for some particular mercy received. It is
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called <I>a peace-offering of thanksgiving,</I> for so it was
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sometimes; as in other cases <I>a vow,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+7:15,16"><I>ch.</I> vii. 15, 16</A>.
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And some make the original word to signify <I>retribution.</I> When
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they had received any special mercy, and were enquiring what they
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should render, this they were directed to render to the God of their
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mercies as a grateful acknowledgment for the benefit done to them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+116:12">Ps. cxvi. 12</A>.
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And we must offer to God the sacrifice of praise continually, by Christ
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our peace; and then this shall please the Lord better than an ox or
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bullock. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. As to the matter of the peace-offering, suppose it was of the herd,
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it must be <I>without blemish;</I> and, if it was so, it was
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indifferent whether it was male or female,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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In our spiritual offerings, it is not the sex, but the heart, that God
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looks at,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+3:28">Gal. iii. 28</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. As to the management of it.
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1. The offerer was, by a solemn manumission, to transfer his interest
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in it to God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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and, with <I>his hand on the head</I> of the sacrifice, to acknowledge
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the particular mercies for which he designed this a thank-offering, or,
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if it was a vow, to make his prayer.
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2. It must be killed; and, although this might be done in any part of
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the court, yet it is said to be <I>at the door of the tabernacle,</I>
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because the mercies received or expected were acknowledged to come from
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God, and the prayers or praises were directed to him, and both, as it
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were, through that door. Our Lord Jesus has said, <I>I am the door,</I>
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for he is indeed the door of the tabernacle.
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3. The priest must <I>sprinkle the blood upon the altar,</I> for it was
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the blood that made atonement for the soul; and, though this was not a
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sin-offering, yet we must be taught that in all our offerings we must
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have an eye to Christ as the propitiation for sin, as those who know
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that the best of their services cannot be accepted unless through him
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their sins be pardoned. Penitent confessions must always go along with
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our thankful acknowledgments; and, whatever mercy we pray for, in order
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to it we must pray for the removal of guilt, as that which keeps good
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things from us. First <I>take away all iniquity,</I> and then
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<I>receive us graciously,</I> or <I>give good,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+14:2">Hos. xiv. 2</A>.
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4. All the fat of the inwards, that which we call the tallow and suet,
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with the caul that encloses it and the kidneys in the midst of it, were
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to be taken away, and burnt upon the altar, as an offering <I>made by
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fire,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:3-5"><I>v.</I> 3-5</A>.
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And this was all that was sacrificed to the Lord out of the
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peace-offering; how the rest was to be disposed of we shall find,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+7:11-34"><I>ch.</I> vii. 11</A>,
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&c. It is ordered to be burnt upon the burnt-sacrifice, that is, the
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daily burnt-offering, the lamb which was offered every morning before
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any other sacrifice was offered; so that the fat of the peace-offerings
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was an addition to that, and a continuation of it. The great sacrifice
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of peace, that of the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the
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world, prepares the altar for our sacrifices of praise, which are not
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accepted till we are reconciled. Now the burning of this fat is
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supposed to signify,
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(1.) The offering up of our good affections to God in all our prayers
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and praises. God must have the inwards; for we must pour out our souls,
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and lift up our hearts, in prayer, and must bless his name with all
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that is within us. It is required that we be inward with God in every
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thing wherein we have to do with him. The fat denotes the best and
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choicest, which must always be devoted to God, who has made for us a
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feast of fat things.
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(2.) The mortifying of our corrupt affections and lusts, and the
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burning up of them by the fire of divine grace,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+3:5">Col. iii. 5</A>.
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Then we are truly thankful for former mercies, and prepared to receive
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further mercy, when we part with our sins, and have our minds cleared
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from all sensuality by the <I>spirit of judgment</I> and the <I>spirit
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of burning,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+4:4">Isa. iv. 4</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Le3_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Le3_17"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>
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6 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>be</I> of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it
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without blemish.
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7 If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it
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before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and
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kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's
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sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.
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9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an
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offering made by fire unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; the fat thereof, <I>and</I> the
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whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the
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fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that <I>is</I> upon the
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inwards,
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10 And the two kidneys, and the fat that <I>is</I> upon them, which
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<I>is</I> by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the
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kidneys, it shall he take away.
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11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: <I>it is</I> the
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food of the offering made by fire unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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12 And if his offering <I>be</I> a goat, then he shall offer it
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before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it
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before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron
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shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.
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14 And he shall offer thereof his offering, <I>even</I> an offering
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made by fire unto the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>; the fat that covereth the inwards,
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and all the fat that <I>is</I> upon the inwards,
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15 And the two kidneys, and the fat that <I>is</I> upon them, which
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<I>is</I> by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the
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kidneys, it shall he take away.
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16 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: <I>it is</I> the
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food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat
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<I>is</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>'s.
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17 <I>It shall be</I> a perpetual statute for your generations
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throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Directions are here given concerning the peace-offering, if it was a
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sheep or a goat. Turtle-doves or young pigeons, which might be brought
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for whole burnt offerings, were not allowed for peace-offerings,
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because they have no fat considerable enough to be burnt upon the
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altar; and they would be next to nothing if they were to be divided
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according to the law of the peace-offerings. The laws concerning a lamb
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or goat offered for a peace offering are much the same with those
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concerning a bullock, and little now occurs here; but,
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1. The rump of the mutton was to be burnt with the fat of the inwards
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upon the altar, the <I>whole rump</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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because in those countries it was very fat and large. Some observe from
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this that, be a thing ever so contemptible, God can make it honourable,
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by applying it to his service. Thus God is said to give more
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<I>abundant honour to that part which lacked,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12"23,24">1 Cor. xii. 23, 24</A>.
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2. That which was burnt upon the altar is called the <I>food of the
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offering,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:11,16"><I>v.</I> 11, 16</A>.
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It fed the holy fire; it was acceptable to God as our food is to us;
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and since in the tabernacle God did, as it were, keep house among them,
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by the offerings on the altar he kept a good table, as Solomon in his
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court,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+4:22-28">1 Kings iv. 22</A>, &c.
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3. Here is a general rule laid down, that <I>all the fat is the
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Lord's</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
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and a law made thereupon, that they <I>should eat neither fat nor
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blood,</I> no, not in their private houses,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+3:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
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(1.) As for the <I>fat,</I> it is not meant of that which is
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interlarded with the meat (that they might eat,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Neh+8:10">Neh. viii. 10</A>),
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but the fat of the inwards, the suet, which was always God's part out
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of the sacrificed beasts; and therefore they must not eat of it, no,
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not out of the beasts that they killed for their common use. Thus would
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God preserve the honour of that which was sacred to himself. They must
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not only not feed upon that fat which was to be the food of the altar,
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but not upon any like it, lest the <I>table of the Lord</I> (as the
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altar is called), if something were not reserved peculiar to it, should
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become contemptible, and <I>the fruit thereof, even its meat,
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contemptible,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+1:7,12">Mal. i. 7, 12</A>.
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(2.) The blood was universally forbidden likewise, for the same reason
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that the fat was, because it was God's part of every sacrifice. The
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heathen drank the blood of their sacrifices; hence we read of their
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<I>drink-offerings of blood,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:4">Ps. xvi. 4</A>.
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But God would not permit the blood, that made atonement, to be used as
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a common thing
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:29">Heb. x. 29</A>),
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nor will he allow us, though we have the comfort of the atonement made,
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to assume to ourselves any share in the honour of making it. He that
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glories, let him glory in the Lord, and to his praise let all the blood
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be poured out.</P>
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