Lev 15:2-33, Num 19:9-22, Eze 36:17, 29 | TSK | STEP | unto the. when any man.It is not necessary to consider particularly the laws contained in this chapter, the letter of the text being in general sufficiently plain. It may, however, be observed, that from the pains which persons rendered unclean were obliged to take, the ablutions and separations which they must observe, and the privations to which they must in consequence be exposed, in the way of commerce, traffic, etc., these laws were admirably adapted to prevent contagion of every kind, by keeping the whole from the diseased, and to hinder licentious indulgences and excesses of every description. running issue. or, running of the reins.

Leviticus 15:2-33

unto the.

De 4:7,8; Ne 9:13,14; Ps 78:5; 147:19,20; Ro 3:2

when any man.It is not necessary to consider particularly the laws contained in this chapter, the letter of the text being in general sufficiently plain. It may, however, be observed, that from the pains which persons rendered unclean were obliged to take, the ablutions and separations which they must observe, and the privations to which they must in consequence be exposed, in the way of commerce, traffic, etc., these laws were admirably adapted to prevent contagion of every kind, by keeping the whole from the diseased, and to hinder licentious indulgences and excesses of every description.

22:4; Nu 5:2; 2Sa 3:29; Mt 9:20; Mr 5:25; 7:20-23; Lu 8:43

running issue. or, running of the reins.

12:3; Eze 16:26; 23:20

thing. Heb. vessel. be unclean.

1Co 15:33; Eph 5:11; Tit 1:15

11:25,28,32; 13:6,34; 14:8,9,27,46,47; 16:26,28; 17:15

Nu 19:10,22; Ps 26:6; 51:2,7; Isa 1:16; 22:14; Eze 36:25,29

Heb 9:14,26; 10:22; Jas 4:8; Re 7:14

Isa 1:16; Jas 4:8

Isa 1:16; Ga 1:8,9; 1Ti 4:1-3; Tit 1:9,10; 2Pe 2:1-3; Jas 4:8

Jude 1:4

saddle.The word {merchav,} from {rachav,} to ride, here rendered by our translators saddle, and frequently chariot. Mr. Harmer thinks rather means a litter, or {coune,} of which we have already given a description in Ge 31:34.

Ge 31:34

5,8; Ps 26:6; Jas 4:8

whomsoever.It is rather doubtful whether the words hath not rinsed his hands in water refer to him who was diseased, or to him who had his hands touched. Most understand it of the former, that if the person who had the issue rinsed his hands in water, just before he touched any one, he did not communicate any pollution; otherwise, he did. But the Syriac refers it to the person touched by him, though it seems strange that he should be cleansed by washing his hands, when perhaps some other part was touched.

vessel.

6:28; 11:32,33; Pr 1:21,23; 3:21; 2Co 5:1; Php 3:21

shall be broken.

Ps 2:9

seven days.

28; 8:33; 9:1; 14:8,10; Ex 29:35,37; Nu 12:14; 19:11,12

wash.

5,10,11; Jer 33:8; Eze 36:25-29; 2Co 7:1; Jas 4:8; Re 1:5

29,30; 1:14; 12:6,8; 14:22-31; Nu 6:10; 2Co 5:21; Heb 7:26; 10:10,12

Heb 10:14

the one.

5:7-10; 14:19,20,30,31

an atonement.

4:20,26,31,35; 12:7; 14:18; Nu 15:25; 25:13; Mt 3:17; Eph 1:6

Heb 1:3

5; 22:4; De 23:10,11; 2Co 7:1; 1Pe 2:11; 1Jo 1:7

skin.The poorer class of Arabs of our times make use of mats in their tents; and other inhabitants of these countries, who affect ancient simplicity of manners, make use of goat-skins. Dr. R. Chandler, in his Travels in Greece, tells us, that he saw some dervishes at Athens sitting on goat-skins; and that he was afterwards conducted into a room furnished in like manner, with the same kind of carpeting, where he was treated with a pipe and coffee by the chief dervish. Those that are at all acquainted with Oriental manners, in these later times, know that their dervishes (who are a sort of Mohammedan devotees, a good deal resembling the begging friars of the church or Rome) affect great simplicity, and even sometimes austerity, in their dress and way of living. As these dervishes that Dr. Chandler visited sat on goat-skins, and used no other kind of carpet for the accommodation of those who visited them: so it should seem that the Israelites in the wilderness made use of skins for mattresses to lie upon, and consequently, we may equally suppose to sit upon in the day time, instead of a carpet.

the woman.

5; Eph 4:17-19; 5:3-11; 2Ti 2:22; 1Pe 2:11

unclean.

Ex 19:15; 1Sa 21:4,5; Ps 51:5; 1Co 6:12,18; 1Th 4:3-5; Heb 13:4

and her issue.

12:2,4; 20:18; La 1:8,9,17; Eze 36:17; Mt 15:19; Mr 5:25

put apart. Heb. in her separation.

4-9; Pr 2:16-19; 5:3-13; 6:24,35; 7:10-27; 9:13-18; 22:27; Ec 7:26

1Co 15:33

5,6; Isa 22:14; 2Co 7:1; Heb 9:26; Re 7:14

33; 20:18; Eze 18:6; 22:10; 1Th 5:22; Heb 13:4; 1Pe 2:11

19-24; Mt 9:20; Mr 5:25; 7:20-23; Lu 8:43

5-8,13,21; 17:15,16; Eze 36:25,29; Zec 13:1; Heb 9:14; 10:22

1Pe 1:18,19; 1Jo 1:7

13-15; Mt 1:21; 1Co 1:30; 6:11; Ga 3:13; 4:4; Eph 1:6,7

Thus shall.

11:47; 13:59; Nu 5:3; De 24:8; Ps 66:18; Eze 44:23; Heb 10:29

Heb 12:14,15; Jude 1:4

that they.

19:30; 21:23; Nu 5:3; 19:13,20; Eze 5:11; 23:38; 44:5-7; Da 9:27

1Co 3:17These laws were principally intended to impress the minds of the Israelites with reverence for the sanctuary; and, on the one hand, to shew them what need they had of circumspection, and purity of heart and life, in order to worship the holy God with acceptance; and, on the other hand, that being sinners in a world full of temptations and defilements, they would continually need forgiveness, through the great atonement typified by all the sacrifices, and the sanctification of the Spirit, showed forth by all the purifications. While they were encamped in the desert, it would not be very burdensome to bring the prescribed oblations; but after they were settled in Canaan, many of them at a great distance from the tabernacle, this would become much more difficult. We may, however, observe, continues Mr. Scott, that many of the cases stated only required such washings as might any where be performed, and that those, respecting which sacrifices were appointed, would more rarely occur. We may also suppose, that provided these were brought, when the person who had been unclean first came to the sanctuary, it would suffice: though distance or other hindrances prevented its being done immediately, at the expiration of the seven days.

1-18; 11:46; 13:59; 14:2,32,54-57; Nu 5:29; 6:13; 19:14; Eze 43:12

of her.

19-30

and of him.

24; 20:18

Numbers 19:9-22

clean.

18; 9:13; 2Co 5:21; Heb 7:26; 9:13

lay them up.

a water of separation.That is, water prepared by being mixed with the ashes of the heifer, and set apart for the special purpose of being sprinkled on those who had contracted any legal defilement. To this rite the apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews. (ch. 9:13, 14,) pointedly alludes: "For if," says he, "the blood of bulls and of goats," alluding, probably, to the sin-offerings and the scape-goat, "and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more shall the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot unto God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

13,20,21; 6:12; 31:23,24; Le 15:20; Zec 13:1; 2Co 7:1

wash his.

7,8,19

it shall be.

15:15,16; Ex 12:49; Ro 3:29,30; Col 3:11

toucheth the dead.He who touched a dead beast was only unclean for one day, (Le 11:12, 27, 39;) but he who touches a dead man is unclean for seven days. This was certainly designed to show the peculiar impurity and sinfulness of man, and the hatefulness of sin, seven times worse than the vilest animal!

16; 5:2; 9:6,10; 31:19; Le 11:31; 21:1,11; La 4:14; Hag 2:13

Ro 5:12; 2Co 6:17; Eph 2:1; Heb 9:14

man. Heb. soul of man.

He shall purify."Yithchatta," literally, "he shall sin himself," i.e., not add sin, but take it away, purify. So we say to fleece, and to skin, which do not signify to add a fleece, or a skin, but to take one away.

17,18; Ps 51:7; Eze 36:25; Ac 15:9; Re 7:14

third day.

31:19; Ex 19:11,15; Le 7:17; Ho 6:2; 1Co 15:3,4

purifieth.

15:30; Le 5:3,6,17; 15:31; Heb 2:2,3; 10:29; Re 21:8; 22:11,15

the water.

9,18; 8:7

his uncleanness.

Le 7:20; 22:3; Pr 14:32; Joh 8:24

31:20; Le 11:32; 14:36

toucheth.

11; 31:19