Bible Commentaries

Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This [is] the thing which the LORD hath ^a commanded, saying,

(a) Lest they should practice the idolatry they had learned among the Egyptians.

What man soever [there be] of the house of Israel, that ^b killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth [it] out of the camp,

(b) To make a sacrifice of offering of it.

And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; ^c blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:

(c) I abhor it as much as if he had killed a man as in (Isaiah 66:3).

To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the ^d open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them [for] peace offerings unto the LORD.

(d) In that they were moved with foolish devotion to offer it.

And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto ^e devils, after whom they have gone a ^f whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.

(e) Meaning, whatever is not the true God, (1 Corinthians 10:10) ; (Psalm 95:5).

(f) For idolatry is spiritual whoredom, because faith toward God is broken.

And whatsoever man [there be] of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set ^g my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

(g) I will declare my wrath by taking vengeance on him as in (Leviticus 20:3).

And whatsoever man [there be] of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be ^h eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.

(h) Which the law permits to be eaten, because it is clean.