Bible Commentaries

God here repeats some of the former laws about sacrifices, not without great reason, partly, because they had been generally discontinued for thirty-eight years together; partly, because the generation to which the former laws had been given about these things was wholly dead, and it was fit the new generation should be instructed about them, as their parents were; partly, to renew the testimonies of God’s grace and mercy, notwithstanding their frequent forfeitures thereof by their horrid apostacies and rebellions; and principally, because they were now ready to enter into that land, in which they were obliged to put these things in practice, Deuteronomy 12:8, &c.

Made by fire. According to this translation the sense is, My offering, i.e. my offering or sacrifices, and my bread, i.e. either my shew-bread, or rather my meat-offering made of bread or meal, for my sacrifices made by fire, i.e. which is to accompany my burnt-offerings. Or thus, My offering, to wit, my bread, i. e. my meat-offering, which was made of bread or meal, which is oft expressed by this very name of corban or offering, as Leviticus 2:1 6:20; but because corban signifies not only a meatoffering, but other offerings also, as Leviticus 7:37,38, therefore he limits that general word by adding my bread with (so the Hebrew lamed is oft used, as Genesis 46:26 Ezra 1:5 2:63, &c.) my sacrifices made by fire, which may be understood either,

1. Generally for all the sacrifices, as that phrase is sometimes taken, as 1 Samuel 2:28, where it must needs be so meant, because the burntofferings properly so called were not given to the priest, but reserved to God himself, and the priest’s portion lay in the other sacrifices only; or,

2. Specially and properly for burnt-offerings; and so under them, as the most eminent kind, are contained all other sacrifices; as under the meat-offering here is contained the drink-offering. And according to this translation and explication these words contain a full and general rule, comprehending all the particulars following in this chapter, as in reason they ought to do, and which otherwise they do not.

A meat-offering, which was an appendix or accessary to the principal sacrifice. See on Leviticus 2:1 Numbers 15:4.

Ordained, or, prescribed, instituted by God. Or, made, i.e. offered at that place, though since omitted for thirty-eight years.

In the holy place, i.e. upon the altar of burnt-offerings, which was in the court of the priests nigh to the entrance into the sanctuary. See Exodus 29:42 2 Chronicles 29:7.

Strong wine, Heb. shecar, which though it signify in the general all kinds of strong drink, yet is here put for the most famous of that kind, to wit, for wine, which alone was used in offerings, as appears below, Numbers 28:14 Exodus 29:40.

Thou shalt offer it, or, thou shalt offer with it. Or, with the meat offering of the morning, and with the drink offering thereof thou shalt offer it; the letter caph being put for beth, which are alike in Hebrew, and the words are said to be read with beth in some copies.

Two lambs, besides that for the daily sacrifice, Numbers 28:10.

In the beginnings of your months, which though not reckoned among the solemn feasts, Le 23, yet were celebrated as such, by the sound of trumpets, Numbers 10:10, by extraordinary sacrifices, by abstinence from servile works, Amos 8:5, and by attendance upon the ministry of God’s word, 2 Kings 4:23. And God ordained it thus, partly that by giving God the first-fruits of every month they should acknowledge him as the Lord of all their time, and own his providence, by which all times and seasons, and all the fruits and blessings of them, and actions done in them, are ordered; and partly that it might be a type of the future renovation of the world by Christ.

i.e. To be offered in the beginning of every month.

One kid of the goats; a he-goat. See Numbers 15:24. Unto the Lord; not unto the moon, to which the Gentiles offered it.

Instituted by him, and to his honour and service. See on Leviticus 23:5.

The feast, to wit, of unleavened bread; of which see on Leviticus 23:6.

And that in the evening too, as is evident from the nature of the thing, and from other scriptures; but the morning sacrifice alone is mentioned, partly because the celebration of the feast began with it, and principally because this alone was doubtful, whether this might not be omitted when so many other sacrifices were offered in that morning, whereas there was no question but the evening sacrifice should be offered, when there were none other besides it to be offered.

i.e. The sacrifice made by fire, which is as it were my meat or food; for as God is said to smell the sacrifices, to wit, metaphorically, i.e. to accept of them; so is he said to eat them, i.e. to devour or consume them, and to be satisfied with them: such things spoken of God after the manner of men are to be understood so as to agree with the majesty of God.

In the day of the first-fruits; in the feast of pentecost, Acts 2:1.

A new meat-offering; new fruits, two loaves made of your new corn, Leviticus 23:16.

Your weeks, i.e. the seven weeks which you are to number from the passover, Leviticus 23:15 Heb. in the weeks, in being put for after, as it is Isaiah 20:1 Luke 9:36 11:37.

The burnt-offering, for the celebration of the feast, over and besides that other offering which was joined with the first-fruits, Leviticus 23:18: so here is a new additional sacrifice prescribed, which doth not destroy the former.