Bible Commentaries

Leviticus 17:2 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 commanded, saying,

Ver. 2. This is the thing which the Lord.] Who must be readily obeyed without evasion, or questioning.

Leviticus 17:3 What man soever [there be] of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth [it] out of the camp,

Ver. 3. What man soever.] Whether Israelite or proselyte, [Leviticus 17:8] unless by special dispensation from the lawgiver, as 1 Samuel 7:9; 1 Samuel 11:15, 2 Samuel 24:18, 1 Kings 18:22; and then they were to offer upon altars of earth, or rough stone, that might be soon and easily thrown down. [Exodus 20:24-25]

Leviticus 17:4 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 blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:

Ver. 4. And bringeth it not unto the door.] To teach, that in the Church alone, and by Christ alone, that is, by faith in him, acceptable service can be performed to God. Christ is the door of the sheep, [John 10:7; John 10:9] by whom we come to the Father, [John 14:6] and may everywhere lift up pure hands, without wrath, without doubting.

Leviticus 17:5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the 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.

Ver. 5. Unto the priest.] No man might offer his own sacrifice, though never so good, but must bring it to the priest; and the priest was to offer as well the poor man’s lamb, as the rich man’s ox.

Leviticus 17:6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Ver. 6. Shall sprinkle the blood.] See Leviticus 1:9.

Leviticus 17:7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.

Ver. 7. Unto devils.] ^(a) As they had done in Egypt. [Ezekiel 23:8 Deuteronomy 32:17] And as both Pagans and Papagans do. [1 Corinthians 10:20 Revelation 9:20] The Americans in Canada worship the devil; who, when he is offended with them, flings dust in their eyes. At Calecutta, the chief city of Malabar, they worship Satan with flowers on his altars, and sacrifices of cocks. The Brahmins, or priests, wash his image, sitting in a fiery throne with three crowns and four horns, with sweet water every morning. The king of Calecutta eats no meat till it be first offered by his priests to this idol. When a man lies a dying, they show him the picture of the devil, that he may be the better acquainted with him in the other world. The word here rendered devils signifieth rough ones, satyrs. [Isaiah 34:14] Satan is a rough, rugged, harsh spirit: and such also are his imps, as Esau, Ismael, &c.

Leviticus 17:8 And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man [there be] of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,

Ver. 8. That offereth a burnt offering.] They were strictly tied to one place, that they might be kept all in one uniform way of God’s worship appointed by himself.

Leviticus 17:9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD even that man shall be cut off from among his people.

Ver. 9. Shall be cut off,] i.e., Destroyed; not excommunicated only, as some do sense it.

Leviticus 17:10 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 my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

Ver. 10. That eateth any manner of blood.] {See Trapp on "Genesis 9:4"}

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul.

Ver. 11. And I have given it to you.] I have set it apart for a sacred use: therefore you may not make food of that which is a figure of Christ.

Leviticus 17:12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.

Ver. 12. No soul of you shall eat blood.] Haply because the Magi or wise men of Chaldea did use to eat blood when they conversed with devils; and, by them, foretold things to come. ^(a)

Leviticus 17:13 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 eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.

Ver. 13. Which hunteth.] Though he be as hungry as a hunter. See 1 Samuel 14:32-34.

Leviticus 17:14 For [it is] the life of all flesh; the blood of it [is] for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh [is] the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.

Ver. 14. Is the blood,] i.e., Is in the blood, and goeth out together with it.

Leviticus 17:15 And every soul that eateth that which died [of itself], or that which was torn [with beasts, whether it be] one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.

Ver. 15. And every soul that eateth.] Ignorantly eateth.

Leviticus 17:16 But if he wash [them] not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

Ver. 16. Shall bear his iniquity,] i.e., The punishment of it: they are so near akin, that one name serves for both.