Bible Commentaries

put out of the camp

The camp of Israel being now formed, with the sanctuary of God in the centre, orders were given that the lepers and unclean persons should be excluded from the camp, according to the laws given at different times on these subjects. See the Marginal References.) This expulsion was founded, 1. On a purely physical reason; for the diseases were contagious, and therefore there was a necessity of putting those afflicted with them apart, that the infection might not be communicated. 2. There was also a spiritual reason: the camp was the habitation of God; and therefore, in honour of Him who had thus condescended to dwell with them, nothing impure should be permitted to remain. 3. Further, there was a typical reason; for the camp was the emblem of the church, where nothing that is defiled should enter, and in which nothing that is unholy should be tolerated.

12:14, Leviticus 13:46, Deuteronomy 24:8,9, 2 Kings 7:3

and every

Leviticus 15:2-27

and whosoever

9:6-10, 19:11-16, 31:19, Leviticus 21:1

without

1 Kings 7:3, 1 Corinthians 5:7-13, 2 Corinthians 6:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, Titus 3:10, Hebrews 12:15,16, 2 John 1:10,11, Revelation 21:27

defile not

19:22, Haggai 2:13,14

in the midst

Leviticus 26:11,12, Deuteronomy 23:14, Psalms 68:18, Isaiah 12:6, 2 Corinthians 6:16, Revelation 21:3

When

Leviticus 5:1-4,17, 6:2,3

and that person

This expression does not merely refer to the actual criminality of the person, but to his consciousness of guilt respecting it: for this case must be distinguished from that of a person detected in dishonesty, which he attempted to conceal.

confess

Leviticus 5:5, 26:40, Joshua 7:19, Job 33:27,28, Psalms 32:5, Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:8-10

and he shall

Not only confession, but restitution, in every possible case, is necessary in order to obtain forgiveness.

with the principal

Leviticus 5:15, 6:4-7, 7:7, Luke 19:8

have no

Leviticus 25:25,26

beside the ram

Leviticus 6:6,7, 7:7

offering

or, heave offering.

18:8,9,19, Exodus 29:28, Leviticus 6:17,18,26, 7:6-14, 10:13, 22:2,3, Deuteronomy 18:3,4, Ezekiel 44:29,30, Malachi 3:8-10, 1 Corinthians 9:7-13

hallowed things: 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Peter 2:7, 1 Peter 2:9

19,20, Proverbs 2:16,17

Leviticus 18:20, 20:10, Proverbs 7:18,19, 30:20

30, Proverbs 6:34, Song of Solomon 8:6, Zephaniah 3:8, 1 Corinthians 10:22

her offering for her

This coarse offering, without oil or frankincense, implied the baseness of the crime of which the woman was suspected, and the mournful state of her family. It was not an atoning sacrifice, but an oblation for a memorial, as solemnly referring the decision to God, and calling upon him either to acquit or punish.

Leviticus 5:11, Hosea 3:2

bringing

1 Kings 17:18, Ezekiel 29:16, Hebrews 10:3

bring her near

or, rather, "bring it near;" i.e., her offering. set her. Rather, "set it," i.e., the offering; for the woman is afterwards ordered to be set before the Lord. (ver. 18.)

Leviticus 1:3, Jeremiah 17:10, Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 2:22,23

holy water

That is, water from the laver; called holy, because separated from common to sacred uses. This is the most ancient account of the trial by ordeal, which obtained so generally among various nations; and it was calculated to fortify the minds of the Israelitish women in the hour of temptation, and to render them watchful against all occasions of exciting suspicion in the breasts of their husbands.

19:2-9, Exodus 30:18

of the dust

Job 2:12, Jeremiah 17:13, Lamentations 3:29, John 8:6,8

the priest

Hebrews 13:4, Revelation 2:19-23

uncover

Leviticus 13:45, 1 Corinthians 11:15, Hebrews 4:12,13

and put

15,25,26

the bitter water

So called from the bitter effects which it had upon the guilty.

17,22,24, Deuteronomy 29:18, 1 Samuel 15:32, Proverbs 5:4, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Isaiah 38:17, Jeremiah 2:19, Revelation 10:9,10

charge her

Matthew 26:63

with another

or, being in the power of they husband. Heb. under thy husband.

Romans 7:2; *Gr:

an oath

Joshua 6:26, 1 Samuel 14:24, Nehemiah 10:29, Matthew 26:74

The Lord make

Isaiah 65:15, Jeremiah 29:22

rot

Heb. fall.

2 Chronicles 21:15, Proverbs 10:7

go into

27, Psalms 109:18, Proverbs 1:31, Ezekiel 3:3

the woman

Deuteronomy 27:15-26, Job 31:21,22,39,40, Psalms 7:4,5

Amen

Psalms 41:13, 72:19, 89:52, John 3:3,11, 5:24,25, 6:53; *Gr:

write these

Exodus 17:14, Deuteronomy 31:19, 2 Chronicles 34:24, Job 31:35, Jeremiah 51:60-64, 1 Corinthians 16:21,22, Revelation 20:12

blot

Psalms 51:1,9, Isaiah 43:25, 44:22, Acts 3:19

Zechariah 5:3,4, Malachi 3:5

priest

15,18

wave

Exodus 29:24, Leviticus 8:27

Leviticus 2:2,9, 5:12, 6:15

if she be defiled

20, Proverbs 5:4-11, Ecclesiastes 7:26, Romans 6:21, 2 Corinthians 2:16, Hebrews 10:26-30, 2 Peter 2:10

the woman

Deuteronomy 28:37, Psalms 83:9-11, Isaiah 65:15, Jeremiah 24:9, 29:18,22, 42:18, Zechariah 8:13

And if

19, Micah 7:7-10, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Peter 1:7

and shall

Psalms 113:9

the law

Leviticus 7:11, 11:46, 13:59, 14:54-57, 15:32,33

when a wife goeth

12,15,19, Isaiah 5:7,8

be guiltless

Psalms 37:6

bear

9:13, Leviticus 20:10,17-20, Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 2:8,9