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Annotations.
LEviticus] this name the booke hath from the Greeke translation; because it chiefly treateth of the service and sacrifices, which the Levites used in the Tabernacle. The Hebrew name, is of the first word of the booke Vajikra, that is, And he called. See the like noted upon Genesis & Exodus.
Vers. 1. And he] namely the Lord (whose glory [unspec 1] had filled the Tabernacle, Exod. 40. 35.) called un∣to Moses. So the Greeke also explaineth it: and Thargum Ierusalemy thus, And the word of the Lord called unto Moses. This booke is by the word And, joyned to the former, as a continuance of the hi∣storie. And here beginneth the 24. Section or lecture of the Law, wherof see, Gen. 6. 9. called] The last letter of this word, in Hebrew is written extraordinarily small; where in the Hebrew Doc∣tors suppose some mystery to bee implyed. The manner of calling, was by a voice from the mercy-seat upon the Arke, Numb. 7. 89. Exod. 25. 22. that being a figure of Christ, signified how God by him would teach Israel, how they should serve him in spirit and truth, Ioh. 1. 17. Heb. 1. 1. And God spake not with a lowd thundering voice, as he did on mount Sinai, but with a soft low voice: which the small letter seemeth to intimate. The phrase he called, and Iehovahs name being menti∣oned after, is like that in Exod. 24. 1. he said, come up unto Iehovah. Tent] or as the Chaldee trans∣lateth it Tabernacle, where God and his people met at appointed times, as he promised, Exodus 25. 22. and 30. 36. In Greeke it is, the Tent, (or Tabernacle) of testimonie: by which name Moses also calleth it, in Numb. 1. 53. and Stephen, in Act. 7. 44. As the Tabernacle principally figured Christ, Heb. 9. 11. Ioh. 2. 19 21. so God speaking now from it, who before had spoken on mount Sinai, signified how in the last dayes hee would speake unto us in the Sonne, who by himselfe should purge our sins, Heb. 1. 1. 2. 3.
Vers. 2. offer an oblation] or, an offring, or bring [unspec 2] neere a gift: called in Hebrew Korban, of comming neere unto God thereby: the Greek usually transla∣teth it doron, a gift; and so doth the Holy Ghost in Mark. 7. 11. Mat. 5. 23. and 8. 4. and 23. 18. Hebr. 5 1. And to bring-neere, to weet, unto God, is to offer unto him: for one of these, is used for ano∣ther; as in 1 Chor. 16. 1. they brought neere Burnt∣offrings: for which in 2 Sam. 6. 17. is written, Da∣vid offred Burnt offrings. These offrings under the Law, were figures of Christs offring, who gave himselfe for us, Heb. 10. and by whom wee also present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, Rom. 12. 1. and doe draw nigh unto God, Heb. 7. 19. and offer by him, the sacrifice of praise unto God, continually, Heb. 9. 11. 12. 14. and 13. 15. For the legal sacrifices, could not make him that did the service, perfect as pertaining to the conscience, Heb. 9. 9. And so the wise among the Hebrewes doe acknowledge their ignorance concerning the truth of these mysteries, untill the spirit from above be powred out upon them: yet supposing that they signified the offrings which Michael offreth of the soules of the just; as saith R. Menachem on Levit. 1. But unto us the Apostles have opened these para∣bles, and shewed their full accomplishment by Michael, that is, Christ, Heb. 7. and 8. and 9. and 10. Rev. 12. 7. the herd] or, the Beeves, or Bulls, as the Chaldee expounds them. These cattel of the herd and flock, were the principall sacrifices, both among Iewes and Gentiles: as the law here, and Balaams historie, Numb. 23. 1. 14. 29. and heathen writers manifest. Homer, Iliad. 1. flocke] the word comprehendeth sheepe and goats, as is explai∣ned in verse 10. No beasts might bee sacrificed to God, but these three sorts, beeves, sheepe, or goats: nor any fowles, but turtle-doves and pige∣ons, verse 14. These five kindes of living crea∣tures, (which onely might bee offred to God,) are of the most tame and meeke, profitable and ser∣viceable, harmelesse, sociable, &c. and so were fittest to signifie the like things, in Christ and his people. God appointed not that men should bee killed for sacrifices, (although the heathens and idolatrous Israelites sometimes killed such, Psalme. 106. 37. 38.) because as it was not possible that the blood of Bulls and of Goats should take away sins, Heb. 10. 4 so neither could the blood of men: but God (that is, Christ,) was to purchase his Church with his owne blood, Act. 20. 28.
Verse 3. Burnt-offring] called in Hebrew G〈…〉〈…〉∣lah, [unspec] that is, an Ascension; in Greeke Holocautoma (Hebrewes 10. 6.) that is, an whole-burnt-offring: this was the first and principall sacrifice, where∣with God was served every day by the Church of Israel, Numbers 28. 3. The reason of the name is shewed on Genesis 8. 20. where also it appeareth, that this kinde of sacrifice was not now first insti∣tuted, but observed from the beginning: and kept among the Gentiles, Numbers 23. 1. 2. 3. 2 Kings 3. 27. and 5. 17. The signification was of Christ, that through the eternall spirit offred himselfe, unto God, Hebrewes 9. 14. and 10. 8. 10. and of Christians, that present their bodies a li∣ving sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable service. Romanes 12. 1. There were five sorts of sacrifices ordinary, instituted of God: Burnt-offrings (commanded here,) Meat∣offrings (in Leviticus 2.) Peace-offrings, (in Levi∣ticus 3.) Sinne-offrings, (in Leviticus 4.) and Trespasse-offrings (in Leviticus 5. 15. &c.) a male] so must all burnt offrings of beasts bee, verse 10. but the like is not said of the foules, verse 14. And by the Iewish canons, the fowles might be male or female, Maimony, in Mis. tom. 3. in Maasch hakorbanoth (or treat. of offring the Sacrifices,) Chapt. 1. Sect. 8. perfect] not having any deformitie, want or superfluity of parts without or within; nor other corruption. The Greeke translateth it, without blemish: set the notes on Exodus 12. 5. and Leviticus 22. 21. Thus are we to understand the Prophet, when he saith, Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flocke a male, [that is, a perfect male,] and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing, Malac. 1. 14.