mh_parser/vol_split/3 - Leviticus/Chapter 1.xml

<div2 id="Lev.ii" n="ii" next="Lev.iii" prev="Lev.i" progress="50.99%" title="Chapter I">
<h2 id="Lev.ii-p0.1">L E V I T I C U S</h2>
<h3 id="Lev.ii-p0.2">CHAP. I.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Lev.ii-p1">This book begins with the laws concerning
sacrifices, of which the most ancient were the burnt-offerings,
about which God gives Moses instructions in this chapter. Orders
are here given how that sort of sacrifice must be managed. I. If it
was a bullock out of the herd, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.3-Lev.1.9" parsed="|Lev|1|3|1|9" passage="Le 1:3-9">ver.
3-9</scripRef>. II. If it was a sheep or goat, a lamb or kid, out
of the flock, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.10-Lev.1.13" parsed="|Lev|1|10|1|13" passage="Le 1:10-13">ver. 10-13</scripRef>.
III. If it was a turtle-dove or a young pigeon, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.14-Lev.1.17" parsed="|Lev|1|14|1|17" passage="Le 1:14-17">ver. 14-17</scripRef>. And whether the offering was
more or less valuable in itself, if it was offered with an upright
heart, according to these laws, it was accepted of God.</p>
<scripCom id="Lev.ii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1" parsed="|Lev|1|0|0|0" passage="Le 1" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.ii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.1-Lev.1.2" parsed="|Lev|1|1|1|2" passage="Le 1:1-2" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.1.1-Lev.1.2">
<h4 id="Lev.ii-p1.6">The Law Concerning
Offerings. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.ii-p2">1 And the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p2.1">Lord</span>
called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the
congregation, saying,   2 Speak unto the children of Israel,
and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p2.2">Lord</span>, ye shall bring your offering
of the cattle, <i>even</i> of the herd, and of the flock.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.ii-p3">Observe here, 1. It is taken for granted
that people would be inclined to bring offerings to the Lord. The
very light of nature directs man, some way or other, to do honour
to his Maker, and pay him homage as his Lord. Revealed religion
supposes natural religion to be an ancient and early institution,
since the fall had directed men to glorify God by sacrifice, which
was an implicit acknowledgment of their having received all from
God as creatures, and their having forfeited all to him as sinners.
A conscience thoroughly convinced of dependence and guilt would be
willing to come before God with <i>thousands of rams,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.6.6-Mic.6.7" parsed="|Mic|6|6|6|7" passage="Mic 6:6,7">Mic. vi. 6, 7</scripRef>. 2. Provision is made
that men should not indulge their own fancies, nor become vain in
their imaginations and inventions about their sacrifices, lest,
while they pretended to honour God, they should really dishonour
him, and do that which was unworthy of him. Every thing therefore
is directed to be done with due decorum, by a certain rule, and so
as that the sacrifices might be most significant both of the great
sacrifice of atonement which Christ was to offer in the fulness of
time and of the spiritual sacrifices of acknowledgment which
believers should offer daily. 3. God gave those laws to Israel by
Moses; nothing is more frequently repeated than this, <i>The Lord
spoke unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel.</i>
God could have spoken it to the children of Israel himself, as he
did the ten commandments; but he chose to deliver it to them by
Moses, because they had desired he would no more speak to them
himself, and he had designed that Moses should, above all the
prophets, be a type of Christ, by whom God would in these last days
speak to us, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.1.2" parsed="|Heb|1|2|0|0" passage="Heb 1:2">Heb. i. 2</scripRef>. By
other prophets God sent messages to his people, but by Moses he
gave them laws; and therefore he was fit to typify him to whom the
Father has given all judgment. And, besides, the treasure of divine
revelation was always to be put into earthen vessels, that our
faith might be tried, and that the excellency of the power might be
of God. 4. God spoke to him out of the tabernacle. As soon as ever
the shechinah had taken possession of its new habitation, in token
of the acceptance of what was done, God talked with Moses from the
mercy-seat, while he attended without the veil, or rather at the
door, hearing a voice only; and it is probable that he wrote what
he heard at that time, to prevent any mistake, or a slip of memory,
in the rehearsal of it. The tabernacle was set up to be a place of
communion between God and Israel; there, where they performed their
services to God, God revealed his will to them. Thus, by the word
and by prayer, we now have fellowship with the Father, and with his
Son Jesus Christ, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Acts.6.4" parsed="|Acts|6|4|0|0" passage="Ac 6:4">Acts vi. 4</scripRef>.
When we speak to God we must desire to hear from him, and reckon it
a great favour that he is pleased to speak to us. The Lord called
to Moses, not to come near (under that dispensation, even Moses
must keep his distance), but to attend and hearken to what should
be said. A letter less than ordinary in the Hebrew word for
<i>called,</i> the Jewish critics tell us, intimates that God spoke
in a still small voice. The moral law was given with terror from a
burning mountain in thunder and lightning; but the remedial law of
sacrifice was given more gently from a mercy-seat, because that was
typical of the grace of the gospel, which is the ministration of
life and peace.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.ii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.3-Lev.1.9" parsed="|Lev|1|3|1|9" passage="Le 1:3-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.1.3-Lev.1.9">
<h4 id="Lev.ii-p3.5">Law of the Burnt-Offering. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p3.6">b. c.</span> 1490.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Lev.ii-p4">3 If his offering <i>be</i> a burnt sacrifice of
the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it
of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p4.1">Lord</span>.  
4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering;
and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.  
5 And he shall kill the bullock before the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p4.2">Lord</span>: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring
the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that
<i>is by</i> the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  
6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
  7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the
altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:   8 And the
priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat,
in order upon the wood that <i>is</i> on the fire which <i>is</i>
upon the altar:   9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash
in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, <i>to be</i>
a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p4.3">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.ii-p5">If a man were rich and could afford it, it
is supposed that he would bring his burnt-sacrifice, with which he
designed to honour God, out of his herd of larger cattle. He that
considers that God is the best that is will resolve to give him the
best he has, else he gives him not the glory due unto his name. Now
if a man determined to kill a bullock, not for an entertainment for
his family and friends, but for a sacrifice to his God, these rules
must be religiously observed:—1. The beast to be offered must be
a male, and without blemish, and the best he had in his pasture.
Being designed purely for the honour of him that is infinitely
perfect, it ought to be the most perfect in its kind. This
signified the complete strength and purity that were in Christ the
dying sacrifice, and the sincerity of heart and unblamableness of
life that should be in Christians, who are presented to God as
living sacrifices. But, literally, in Christ Jesus there is neither
male nor female; nor is any natural blemish in the body a bar to
our acceptance with God, but only the moral defects and deformities
introduced by sin into the soul. 2. The owner must offer it
voluntarily. What is done in religion, so as to please God, must be
done by no other constraint than that of love. God accepts the
willing people and the cheerful giver. Ainsworth and others read
it, not as the principle, but as the end of offering: "Let him
offer it <i>for his favourable acceptation before the Lord.</i> Let
him propose this to himself as his end in bringing his sacrifice,
and let his eye be fixed steadily upon that end—that he may be
accepted of the Lord." Those only shall find acceptance who
sincerely desire and design it in all their religious services,
<scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.5.9" parsed="|2Cor|5|9|0|0" passage="2Co 5:9">2 Cor. v. 9</scripRef>. 3. It must be
offered at the door of the tabernacle, where the brazen altar of
burnt-offerings stood, which sanctified the gift, and not
elsewhere. He must offer it at the door, as one unworthy to enter,
and acknowledging that there is no admission for a sinner into
covenant and communion with God, but by sacrifice; but he must
offer it at the tabernacle of the congregation, in token of his
communion with the whole church of Israel even in this personal
service. 4. The offerer must put his hand upon the head of his
offering, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.4" parsed="|Lev|1|4|0|0" passage="Le 1:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. "He
must put both his hands," say the Jewish doctors, "with all his
might, between the horns of the beast," signifying thereby, (1.)
The transfer of all his right to, and interest in, the beast, to
God, actually, and by a manual delivery, resigning it to his
service. (2.) An acknowledgment that he deserved to die, and would
have been willing to die if God had required it, for the serving of
his honour, and the obtaining of his favour. (3.) A dependence upon
the sacrifice, as an instituted type of the great sacrifice on
which the iniquity of us all was to be laid. The mystical
signification of the sacrifices, and especially this rite, some
think the apostle means by the doctrine of <i>laying on of
hands</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.6.2" parsed="|Heb|6|2|0|0" passage="Heb 6:2">Heb. vi. 2</scripRef>),
which typified evangelical faith. The offerer's putting his hand on
the head of the offering was to signify his desire and hope that it
might <i>be accepted from him to make atonement for him.</i> Though
the burnt-offerings had not respect to any particular sin, as the
sin-offering had, yet they were to make atonement for sin in
general; and he that laid his hand on the head of a burnt-offering
was to confess that <i>he had left undone what he ought to have
done and had done that which he ought not to have done,</i> and to
pray that, though he deserved to die himself, the death of his
sacrifice might be accepted for the expiating of his guilt. 5. The
sacrifice was to be killed by the priests of Levites, before the
Lord, that is, in a devout religious manner, and with an eye to God
and his honour. This signified that our Lord Jesus was to make his
soul, or life, an offering for sin. Messiah the prince must be cut
off as a sacrifice, <i>but not for himself,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.26" parsed="|Dan|9|26|0|0" passage="Da 9:26">Dan. ix. 26</scripRef>. It signified also that in
Christians, who are living sacrifices, the brutal part must be
mortified or killed, the flesh crucified with its corrupt
affections and lusts and all the appetites of the mere animal life.
6. The priests were to <i>sprinkle the blood upon the altar</i>
(<scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.5" parsed="|Lev|1|5|0|0" passage="Le 1:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>); for, the blood
being the life, it was this that made atonement for the soul. This
signified the direct and actual regard which our Lord Jesus had to
the satisfaction of his Father's justice, and the securing of his
injured honour, in the shedding of his blood; <i>he offered himself
without spot to God.</i> It also signified the pacifying and
purifying of our consciences by the sprinkling of the blood of
Jesus Christ upon them by faith, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.2 Bible:Heb.10.22" parsed="|1Pet|1|2|0|0;|Heb|10|22|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:2,Heb 10:22">1 Pet. i. 2; Heb. x. 22</scripRef>. 7. The
beast was to be flayed and decently cut up, and divided into its
several joints or pieces, according to the art of the butcher; and
then all the pieces, with the head and the fat (the legs and
inwards being first washed), were to be burnt together upon the
altar, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.6-Lev.1.9" parsed="|Lev|1|6|1|9" passage="Le 1:6-9"><i>v.</i> 6-9</scripRef>.
"<i>But to what purpose,</i>" would some say, "<i>was this
waste?</i> Why should all this good meat, which might have been
given to the poor, and have served their hungry families for food a
great while, be burnt together to ashes?" So was the will of God;
and it is not for us to object or to find fault with it. When it
was burnt for the honour of God, in obedience to his command, and
to signify spiritual blessings, it was really better bestowed, and
better answered the end of its creation, than when it was used as
food for man. We must never reckon that lost which is laid out for
God. The burning of the sacrifice signified the sharp sufferings of
Christ, and the devout affections with which, as a holy fire,
Christians must offer up themselves their whole spirit, soul, and
body, unto God. 8. This is said to be <i>an offering of a sweet
savour,</i> or <i>savour of rest, unto the Lord.</i> The burning of
flesh is unsavoury in itself; but this, as an act of obedience to a
divine command, and a type of Christ, was well pleasing to God: he
was reconciled to the offerer, and did himself take a complacency
in that reconciliation. He rested, and was refreshed with these
institutions of his grace, as, at first, with his works of creation
(<scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.17" parsed="|Exod|31|17|0|0" passage="Ex 31:17">Exod. xxxi. 17</scripRef>), rejoicing
therein, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.104.31" parsed="|Ps|104|31|0|0" passage="Ps 104:31">Ps. civ. 31</scripRef>.
Christ's offering of himself to God is said to be of <i>a
sweet-smelling savour</i> (<scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.10" osisRef="Bible:Eph.5.2" parsed="|Eph|5|2|0|0" passage="Eph 5:2">Eph. v.
2</scripRef>), and the spiritual sacrifices of Christians are said
to be <i>acceptable to God, through Christ,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p5.11" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.5" parsed="|1Pet|2|5|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:5">1 Pet. ii. 5</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Lev.ii-p5.12" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1" parsed="|Lev|1|0|0|0" passage="Le 1" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Lev.ii-p5.13" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.10-Lev.1.17" parsed="|Lev|1|10|1|17" passage="Le 1:10-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Lev.1.10-Lev.1.17">
<p class="passage" id="Lev.ii-p6">10 And if his offering <i>be</i> of the flocks,
<i>namely,</i> of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt
sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.   11 And
he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p6.1">Lord</span>: and the priests, Aaron's sons,
shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.   12 And
he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the
priest shall lay them in order on the wood that <i>is</i> on the
fire which <i>is</i> upon the altar:   13 But he shall wash
the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring
<i>it</i> all, and burn <i>it</i> upon the altar: it <i>is</i> a
burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p6.2">Lord</span>.   14 And if the burnt
sacrifice for his offering to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p6.3">Lord</span> <i>be</i> of fowls, then he shall bring his
offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.   15 And the
priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and
burn <i>it</i> on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung
out at the side of the altar:   16 And he shall pluck away his
crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east
part, by the place of the ashes:   17 And he shall cleave it
with the wings thereof, <i>but</i> shall not divide <i>it</i>
asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood
that <i>is</i> upon the fire: it <i>is</i> a burnt sacrifice, an
offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Lev.ii-p6.4">Lord</span>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Lev.ii-p7">Here we have the laws concerning the
burnt-offerings, which were of the flock or of the fowls. Those of
the middle rank, that could not well afford to offer a bullock,
would bring a sheep or a goat; and those that were not able to do
that should be accepted of God if they brought a turtle-dove or a
pigeon. For God, in his law and in his gospel, as well as in his
providence, considers the poor. It is observable that those
creatures were chosen for sacrifice which were most mild and
gentle, harmless and inoffensive, to typify the innocence and
meekness that were in Christ, and to teach the innocence and
meekness that should be in Christians. Directions are here given,
1. Concerning the burnt-offerings of the flock, <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.1.10" parsed="|Lev|1|10|0|0" passage="Le 1:10">v. 10</scripRef>. The method of managing these is much
the same with that of the bullocks; only it is ordered here that
the sacrifice should be killed <i>on the side of the altar
northward,</i> which, though mentioned here only, was probably to
be observed concerning the former, and other sacrifices. Perhaps on
that side of the altar there was the largest vacant space, and room
for the priests to turn them in. It was of old observed that
<i>fair weather comes out of the north,</i> and that <i>the north
wind drives away rain;</i> and by these sacrifices the storms of
God's wrath are scattered, and the light of God's countenance is
obtained, which is more pleasant than the brightest fairest
weather. 2. Concerning those of the fowls. They must be either
turtle-doves (and, if so, "they must be <i>old</i> turtles," say
the Jews), or <i>pigeons,</i> and, if so, they must be <i>young</i>
pigeons. What was most acceptable at men's tables must be brought
to God's altar. In the offering of these fowls, (1.) The head must
be wrung off, "quite off," say some; others think only pinched, so
as to kill the bird, and yet leave the head hanging to the body.
But it seems more likely that it was to be quite separated, for it
was to be burnt first. (2.) The blood was to be <i>wrung out at the
side of the altar.</i> (3.) The garbages with the feathers were to
be thrown by upon the dunghill. (4.) The body was to be opened,
sprinkled with salt, and then burnt upon the altar. "This sacrifice
of birds," the Jews say, "was one of the most difficult services
the priests had to do," to teach those that minister in holy things
to be as solicitous for the salvation of the poor as for that of
the rich, and that the services of the poor are as acceptable to
God, if they come from an upright heart, as the services of the
rich, for he accepts <i>according to what a man hath,</i> and not
<i>according to what he hath not,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.8.12" parsed="|2Cor|8|12|0|0" passage="2Co 8:12">2 Cor. viii. 12</scripRef>. The poor man's turtle-doves,
or young pigeons, are here said to be <i>an offering of a
sweet-smelling savour,</i> as much as that of an ox or bullock that
hath horns or hoofs. Yet, after all, to <i>love God with all our
heart, and to love our neighbour as ourselves, is better than all
burnt-offerings and sacrifices,</i> <scripRef id="Lev.ii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Mark.12.33" parsed="|Mark|12|33|0|0" passage="Mk 12:33">Mark xii. 33</scripRef>.</p>
</div></div2>