Annotations upon the five bookes of Moses, the booke of the Psalmes, and the Song of Songs, or, Canticles VVherein the Hebrevv vvords and sentences, are compared with, and explained by the ancient Greeke and Chaldee versions, and other records and monuments of the Hebrewes: but chiefly by conference with the holy Scriptures, Moses his words, lawes and ordinances, the sacrifices, and other legall ceremonies heretofore commanded by God to the Church of Israel, are explained. With an advertisement touching some objections made against the sinceritie of the Hebrew text, and allegation of the Rabbines in these annotations. As also tables directing unto such principall things as are observed in the annotations upon each severall booke. By Henry Ainsworth.

CHAP. XVII.

A law that all sacrifices must be killed and offred in the Sanctuarie, and no other where, 7, that they might no more sacrifice unto Divels. 8, They that did other∣wise, should be cut off. 10, All eating of blood is forbid∣den upon like penaltie. 13, A law for covering the blood of beasts and birds that were slaine. 15, Against eating the flesh of any carkasse, or of any torne thing; and how they that did it, should cleanse themselves.

ANd Iehovah said unto Moses, saying. [unspec 1] [unspec 2] Speake unto Aaron, and unto his sonnes, and unto all the sonnes of Isra∣el; and say unto them: This is the thing, which Iehovah hath commanded, saying. Every man of the house of Israel; that killeth [unspec 3] an Oxe, or Lamb, or Goat, in the Camp; or that killeth it out of the Camp: And bring∣eth [unspec 4] it not, unto the doore of the Tent of the congregation; to offer an oblation to Ieho∣vah, before the Tabernacle of Iehovah: blood shal be imputed unto that man, he hath shed blood; and that man, shall bee cut off, from a∣mong his people. To the end that the sonnes [unspec 5] of Israel may bring, their sacrifices, which they sacrifice, on the face of the field; even that they may bring them unto Iehovah, un∣to the doore of the Tent of the congregati∣on, unto the Priest; and sacrifice them, for sa∣crifices of Peace-offrings, unto Iehovah. And the Priest shall sprinkle the blood, up∣on [unspec 6] the Altar of Iehovah; at the doore, of the Tent of the congregation: and burn the fat, for a ••avour of rest, unto Iehovah. And they [unspec 7] shall not sacrifice any more, their sacrifices, unto Divels; after whom, they have gone-a∣whoring: This shall be unto them, a statute for ever, throughout their generations. And [unspec 8] thou shalt say unto them; Every man, of the house of Israel; or of the stranger which so∣journeth among you: that shal offer a Burnt∣offring, or a sacrifice: And shal not bring it, [unspec 9] unto the doore of the Tent of the congrega∣tion; to doe it, unto Iehovah: even that man, shall be cut-off, from his peoples.

And every man, of the house of Israel; or [unspec 10] of the stranger, that sojourneth among them; that shall eat, any blood: I will even set my face, against the soule that eateth blood; and will cut it off, from among the [unspec 11] people thereof. For the soule of the flesh, it is in the blood: and I have given it to you, up∣on the Altar; to make-atonement, for your soules: for it is the blood, that maketh-atone∣ment for the soule. Therefore have I said, un∣to [unspec 12] the sons of Israel; no soule of you, shal eat blood: and the stranger, that sojourneth a∣mong you, shall not eat blood.

And every man, of the sonnes of Israel; [unspec 13] or of the stranger, that sojourneth among them; which shall hunt a hunting of wilde-beast, or of fowle, that may be eaten: he shal even pour-out, the blood thereof; and cover it, with dust. For it is the soule of all flesh; [unspec 14] the blood thereof it is for the soule thereof: and I have said unto the sonnes of Israel; ye shall not eat, the blood of any flesh: for the soule of all flesh, it is the blood therof; who-soever eateth it, shall be cut-off.

And every soule, that shall eat a carkasse, [unspec 15] and a torne-thing; whether it be an home-borne person, or a stranger: hee shall both wash his clothes, and bathe (his flesh) in wa∣ter, and be uncleane untill the evening, and then hee shall be cleane. And if hee wash [unspec 16] them not, and bathe not his flesh: then hee shall beare, his iniquitie.

Annotations.

HIs sonnes] the Priests; for they were the sacrifi∣cers [unspec 2] for the people; therefore this Law is first directed unto them, then unto all the people. And as the extraordinary sanctification of the Church was appointed in chap. 16. so the ordinary and daily sanctification of all and every one is here taught; and how after their purification from all their sinnes, they should be carefull to serve the Lord in newnesse of life, in that place, and after that manner which he prescribed. the thing] Hebr. the word. Every man] or, Any man, who-soever. Hebrew, man man, of the house of Israel; whereunto the Greeke addeth, or of the Proselytes that are adjoyned unto you: and so Moses addeth in verse 8. Targum Ionathan explaineth it, yong man or old: and so in verse 10. and 13. killeth an Oxe] or a Bull, meaning for sacrifice to God, verse 4. 5. for this law concerneth holy things, sanctifi∣ed, and meet for the Altar, which might not bee killed, nor offred (as v. 8.) but in the Lords Court. This is often and instantly commanded, Deut. 12. 5. 6. 13. 14. 26. 27. & 14. 23. 26. & 15. 19. 20. The Hebrew canons say, He that killeth holy things out of the court (of the Sanctuarie) although he offer them not; if he doe it presumptuously, is guilty of cutting-off, Lev. 17. 3. 4. If he kill in ignorance, hee is to bring the Sin-offring appointed, Maim. in Magnaseh hakorba∣noth, (or treat of offring sacrif.) c. 18. s. 3. Hereby Isra∣el was taught to serve God in Christ only: for he is the true Tabernacle, Heb. 9. 11. in whom God dwelleth amōg men, & by whom al our service and

sacrifices are sanctified and made acceptable unto God in his church: ••o that none can come unto the Father but by him▪ Ioh. 14. 6. and he is the doore of the sheepe, Ioh. 10. 7. 9. The Tabernacle also figu∣red the Church, where God requireth his worship to be performed by all his people: 1 Tim. 3. 15. Rev. 21. 3. Eph. 2. 20. 21. 22. Act. 2. 47. And so it is written, For in mine holy mountaine, in the moun∣taine of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land serve me: there will I accept them; and there will I require your offrings, and the first fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. Ezek. 20. 40. in the Camp] which is described in Numb. 2. answerable wher∣to the city Ierusalem was, in the ages following: as is noted on Exod. 40. 33.

Vers. 4. blood] that is, murder: for such corrupti∣on [unspec 4] of Gods worship, is hatefull unto him as blood-shed. So in Esa. 66. 3. he saith, He that killeth an oxe, is as if he slew a man. So the Hebrewes; as Sol. Iarchi here saith, As if hee shed the blood of man, for which he is guilty of his life. he hath shed blood] Tar∣gum Ionathan explaineth it thus, And it shall be to him, as if he had shed innocent blood. ••ut-off] in Chaldee, destroyed: so the Greeke, that soule shall be destroyed.

Vers. 5. the face of the field] that is, the open field: see the notes on Levit. 14. 7. As the heathens, so [unspec 5] the Israelites (before the making of the Sanctua∣ry,) sacrificed every where in the fields, high pla∣ces and mountaines. The Hebrewes say, Before the Tabernacle was set up, the high places were lawfull; and the service was by the Firstborne: after the Tabernacle was erected, high places were unlawfull, and the service (was performed) by the Priests. Thalmud Bab. in Ze∣bachim, chap. 14. Here Israel is restrained to the Tabernacle, but the other nations were not so, but might sacrifice other where, as did Iob and his friends, Iob 1. 5. and 42. 8. 9. And in the Hebrew canons it is said; He that killeth the holy things of the heathens, without (the Sanctuarie,) is guilty: likewise ••e that offreth them without. But it is lawfull for the heathens to offer burnt offrings unto God, in every place; and he himselfe may offer in an high place which hee hath builded. But it is unlawfull (for a Iew) to helpe him, &c. for loe we are forbidden to offer without (the Court.) And it is lawfull to teach them, and to learne them how they may offer unto the name of the Blessed (God.) Maim. in Maaseh hakorbanoth, chap. 19. sect. 16. The same liberty which the nations had before the Law, wee have now againe spiritually under the Gospell, Iohn 4. 21.—24. which God foretold, saying, My name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offred unto my name, and a pure offring, Mal. 1. 11. unto the doore] that is, into the courtyard: see the notes on Levit. 8. 3. of the congregation] or, of assemblie: in Greeke, of the testimonie: so in verse 9.

Verse 6. a savour of rest] in Greeke, a savour of [unspec 6] sweet smel: which the Chaldee expoundeth, to be ac∣cepted with favour before the Lord. Of these words and rites, see Levit. 1. 9.

Ver••▪ 7. unto divels] as all Iewes and Gentiles [unspec 7] did▪ which sacrificed not by faith in Christ, and in such sort and place, as God approved of. Deut. 32. 17. 1 Cor. 10. 20. and as they had done when they made the golden calfe, Exod. 32. at which time, they sacrificed unto the idol, Act. 7. 41. and so unto the divell; as Ieroboams idols are also called Di∣vels, 2 Chron. 11. 15. and Antichrists likewise. Revel. 9. 20. Divels are in Hebrew named here Seghnirim, that is, rough and rugged as hairy goats; because in such shape they sometime appeared, like Sa••yres: Esa. 34. 14. or of their hortour and terro•••• which they cause unto men▪ for so the word origi∣nally signifieth. The Chaldee calleth them Shedin of their wasting and destroying the creatures: which name Moses after giveth them in Deut. 32. 17. The Greeke translateth, unto Vaine things. gone a-whoring] the Chaldee expoundeth it, erred, or com∣mitted idolatrie: which sinne is often called whore∣dome or fornication: (see the notes on Exodus 20. 5. and 34. 15. Levit. 20. 5. 6. Deut. 31. 16.) because it violateth the covenant betweene God and his people, which is called mariage, Hosea 2. 2. 19, 20. and 3. 1.

Vers. 8. stranger] or sojourner, in Greeke a prose∣lyte: [unspec] meaning a heathen joyned to the Iewes reli∣gion and church: so after in vers. 10. and 13. shall offer] as the sacrifice might not be killed, vers. 3. so neither might it be offred out of the Sanct••ary, though it were killed therein. Whereupon the Hebrewes say, He that killeth the holy things, and of∣freth them out of (the Sanctuarie,) is twise guiltie▪ once for killing, and once for offring. If he kill within, and offer without, he is guilty for offring: likewise if hee kill without, and offer within; he is guilty for killing▪ M••••∣mony in Maaseh hakorbanoth, chap. 18. sect. 5. And Sol. Iarchi (on Levit. 17.) saith, the Law speaketh of offring a Burnt-offring, to shew that a man is guiltie for burning the pieces (of the Sacrifice) without the campe, as is hee that killeth it without: that if one kill, and another offer, both of them are guilty. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sacrifice] to weet, of Peace-offrings; as the Chaldee explaineth it. As by the doctrine of our Saviour, in Matth. 23. 19. the Altar sanctified the gift: so the Hebrewes understand this Law, for sacrifices of∣fred by fire, and upon an altar without; saying: Hee that offreth without, is not guilty, till he offer upon 〈…〉〈…〉∣tar which he hath made without: but if hee offer 〈…〉〈…〉 Rocke or on a stone, he is free, [to weet,] from the judg∣ment of death;] for it is not called Korban (an offring) except it be on an Altar, yea though it be without: as it is written. (in Gen. 8. 20.) And Noe built an 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Maim. in Maas. hakorbanoth, chap. 19. sect. 1.

Vers. 9. doore of Tent] and so in ages following, [unspec] to the doore of the House or Temple, that is, in the courtyard. And if the Tabernacleor Temple should haply bee burnt, (as it was by the Babylonians, 2 King. 25. 9.) yet was it lawfull to offer in the courtyard upon the altar, as Ezra did after their returne, Ezr. 3. 3. 4. 5. 6. So the Hebrewes say, Who so killeth holy things at this time, and offreth th•••• out of the Court, is guilty: because it is meet he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 offer within. For loe it is lawfull to offer, although that be no house. Because the first holinesse sanct••fieth f•• that time present, and for the time to come. Mai〈…〉〈…〉 i•• M••••s. ••akorb. chap. 19. sect. 15. It figured,

that our service unto God, must bee by faith in Christ, and in the communion of his Church; as before is shewed on verse 2. to doe it] that is, to offer it: see the notes on Exod. 10. 25. cut-off] in Greeke, that soule shall be destroyed; as in v. 4.

Vers. 10. every man] Hebr. man man; which Io∣nathan expoundeth yong man or old man: as in vers. [unspec 10] 3. and 13. the stranger] in Greeke, or of the pro∣selytes adjoyned unto you. This Law therefore see∣meth not to binde the heathens, any more then the sonner, of sacrificing, vers. 5. so in v. 12. & 13. any blood] to weet, of fowle or beast, as is ex∣plained in Leviticus 7. 26. and this at his common table: for as the former lawes were for sanctifying the people in their holy things; so these which fol∣low are for their civill conversation. Whereas it is said, it maketh atonement for the soule, (verse 11.) left any should thinke he is not guilty save for the blood of holy things, the scripture saith any blood. Chazkuni on Leviticus 17. will set] Hebr. will give my face, which the Chaldee expoundeth my anger: and so face is often used for anger; which appeareth in the countenance: as, I will appease his face, Gen. 32. 20. and, the face of the Lord hath divided them, Lam. 4. 16, and; I will not cause my face to fall upon you, Ier. 3. 12. and the face of the Lord, is upon them that doe evill, 1 Pet. 3. 12. and many the like. the soule] which the Chaldee expoundeth the man. See the notes on Gen. 12. 5. cut it off] that is, destroy him, as the Chaldee and Greeke translateth. The Hebrewes say, He that eateth so much as an olive of blood, presumptuously, is guilty of cutting-off: if igno∣rantly, he is to bring the Sin-offring appointed. And the thing is plaine by the law, that hee is not guilty, but for all blood of cattell, beasts and birds onely, whether they be uncleane or cleane, Leviticus 7. 26. But the blood of fishes, and of Locusts, and of creeping things, and the blood of man, they are not guilty for them, by the name of blood. The blood therefore of cleane fishes, and lo∣custs, is lawfull to be eaten or drunke. And the blood of uncleane locusts and fishes is unlawfull, because it is the j••yce of their bodies. Mans blood is unlawfull, by the doctrine of the scribes, if it be separated (from the body:) but one may swallow downe the blood of his teeth, without prohibition. Maimony in treat. of Forbidden 〈◊〉〈◊〉, chap. 6. sect. 1. 2.

Verse 11. the soule,] that is, the life: see Gen. 9. 4. So in Targum Ionathan it is expounded here, and in verse 13. the life of the soule. of the flesh] the Gr. addeth, of all flesh; & so Moses speaketh in v. 14. is in the blood] the Greeke saith, is the blood thereof; as in verse 14. which blood is figuratively called the life, because the seat thereof is in the blood, as Moses here sheweth: so that if the blood be gone, the life is gone with it, as daily experi∣ence confirmeth. Hereupon David saith, What pro∣fit is in my blood? Psal. 30. 10. that is, in my life: and the shedding of blood, is the taking away of ones life, Gen. 9. 6. Chazkuni explaineth it thus, For the soule of the flesh, 1. of every creature, it hangeth in the blood; and therefore I have given it to make a∣〈…〉〈…〉nt for the soule of man: the soule commeth and maketh 〈…〉〈…〉ment for the soule. have given it] to weet, the blood, and so the life or soule of the beast, to make atonement for your soules; that is, to be the expiation and ransome for your life or soule: in figure of Christ, whose blood was to be shed for the remission of sinnes, Matth. 26. 28. through which he should make peace, Colos. 1. 20. and men have redemption, Ephes. 1. 7. who was to give his soule (or life) for a ransome for many, Matth. 20. 28. And this is the cause why God forbiddeth all blood, that men might be kept in faith and reverend ex∣spectation of the blood of Christ, which being once shed, should spiritually be given unto his peo∣ple for to drinke by faith, unto the life and salva∣tion of their soules, Ioh. 6. 53. 54. 55. And to teach the people not to ascribe the worke of their salvation unto themselves or their owne workes, but unto Christ onely, was this prohibition of blood: and the like was for the fat of all such beasts, as had the fat burned on the Altar, which there∣fore might not be eaten of men. See the notes on Leviti••us 3. 17. and 7. 25. 26. it is the blood] not of buls and goats, (save onely in shadow,) for it is unpossible that such blood should take away sinnes, Heb. 10. 4. but the blood of Christ is it that maketh atonement, and cleanseth from all sinne: Hebrewes 9. 12. and 10. 19. 1 Iohn 1. 7. And as the Apostle saith, without shedding of blood is no re∣mission, Hebrewes 9. 22. so the Hebrew doctors, from these words of Moses, say, There is no remissi∣on of sins, but by blood; as it is written, For it is blood that maketh-atonement for the soule. Talmud in Ioma c. 1.

Vers. 12. Therefore] in Greeke, For this cause. [unspec 12] Although other reasons may be rendred of the for∣bidding of blood, as to restraine men from cruel∣tie, or from communion with idolaters, (for the Magi, or wise men of Chaldea, used to eat blood, when they conve••sed with Divels, and by them foretold things to come, whereas otherwise the Chaldaeans eschewed blood as an uncleane thing, as Maimony sheweth in Moreh nebuchim:) yet the maine, if not the onely cause is here given of God, to be the use of blood upon the Altar, for their a∣tonement; which was meerely figurative, and which had the end and accomplishment in Christ. Colos. 2. 16. 17. And besides the former signifi∣cation; as the not eating of the flesh of such sacri∣fices as had their blood caried into the holy place, signified that they which cleaved to the rudiments of Moses Law, should have no portion in Christ, (as is shewed on Levit. 6. 30. from Heb. 13. 10.—13.) so the not eating of blood, which made stonement for the soules of men, seemeth also to signifie, that they which cleaved unto the legall sacrifices, should not eat, that is, not have communion, bene∣fit or nourishment to their soules: but they which come unto Christ by faith, doe eat the flesh and drinke the blood (in spirit and truth,) by which their atonement is made with God. Ioh. 6. Matth. 26. compared with Heb. 13. 10. &c. And as the way into the Holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing, Heb. 9. 8. so the communion with that blood whereby atone∣ment for sins was made, was not yet fully manife∣sted, while as the outward Tabernacle and figura∣tive sacrifices therein, were in use.

Verse 13. hunt a hunting,] and so take it by hun∣ting. [unspec 13] This law for wild-beasts caught by hunting, concerneth tame beasts also, as touching the slay∣ing of them: as is said in Deut. 12. 21. thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flocke, &c. and thou shalt eat. And as it is said in Deut. 15. 22. of the blemished firstlings, which were to be eaten in their cities, as the Roe-bucke, and as the Hart, From which words the Hebrewes say, Here thou art taught, that the wilde beast and the tame, are alike in this businesse of killing, &c. Maimony in Shechitah (or treat. of Kil∣ling beasts:) chap. 1. sect. 1. that may be ea∣ten] or which is usually eaten: which Targum Io∣nathan expoundeth. that is lawfull to be eaten. he shall even poure-out] or, then shall hee shed the blood thereof: so that no flesh of beast or bird might bee eaten in Israel, unlesse the blood were orderly let out, and the flesh cleansed of it. And when the people in a warre, flying upon the spoile, slew cat∣tell on the ground, and did eat the flesh not puri fied from the blood, they sinned against the Lord; till Saul tooke order for the more lawfull killing of them, 1 Sam. 14. 32. 33. 34. Of this point, the Hebrewes have these rules. It is commanded, that who so will eat the flesh of any cattell, wild beast, or fowle; it be slaine, and afterward eaten. He that slayeth, blesseth God first, who sanctifieth us by his commande∣ments, and hath given a charge concerning the slaying. And it is unlawfull to eat of that which is slaine, all the while that it doth tremble. And who so eateth thereof, before the soule (the life) bee gone out, transgresseth. Fishes and Locusts, there is no need to slay them: but the catching of them, maketh them lawfull. Behold hee saith (in Numb. 11. 22.) Shall the flockes and the herds be slaine for them to suffice them? or shall all the fishes of the sea be gathered for them? The gathering of the fish, is as the fleying of the beasts. So of the Locusts, there is mentioned their gathering onely, Esa. 33. 4. that if any of them dye in the water, they may be eaten, yea it is lawfull to eat them alive. The place where the beast must be slaine, is the necke. The instrument to slay it with, may be any knife of metall, or of stone, or of glasse and the like cutting things, which are sharpe, and have no gap in them. It is lawfull to slay in all places without the court (of the Sanctuarie,) for within the court, they slay but the holy things of the altar onely: common beasts or fowles, may not bee slaine within the court: Deut. 12. 14. 15. So that which is slaine out of the place (which God hath chosen) is lawfull to be eaten in any of the gates: but hee that slayeth common things within the court, that flesh is unlawfull to bee used; but they bury it. Any man may slay, as the deafe, or the foole, or the childe, &c. if others looke that it bee slaine lawfully: but if a knife fall of it selfe, and slay, though it be after the manner of slaying, yet it is unlawfull; for it is said THOV SHALT KILL. (Deut. 12. 21.) so it must be slaine by mankinde. Hee that slayeth a beast in the name of a sacrifice for a vow, or a sin-offring which he oweth; it is unlawfull to be eaten: &c. Maim. in She∣cbitah, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1. and 2. &c. The taking of beasts and birds by hunting, may signifie the converting of sinners by the preaching of the Gospell; as the catching of fishes, is applied to the catching of men, Luk. 5. 9. 10. And as Peter when hee was called to preach the word unto, and communicate with the Gentiles, was bidden in a vision to kill beasts, and eat, Act. 10. 12. 13. 28. so this Law for killing of beasts and burying their blood, seemeth to figure out the mortifying of sinners by the word of God, and burying of the old man & naturall sinfull life; after which, communion with them is lawfull. Rom. 6. 2. 3. 4. cover it with dust] the Greeke translateth, earth shall cover it. The covering of blood is in use (they say) both within the land of Is∣rael, and without the land: of common beasts, but not of the sanctified. Thalmud in Cholin, c. 6. This taught a reverend regard which they should have of the soule or life of the beast, which was in the blood: that it should bee buried with a kinde of honour; for buriall is honourable, Eccles. 6. 3. It also shew∣ed the lawfulnesse of killing these creatures for food; that their blood being covered, should not be imputed unto them of God: as appeareth by the contrary, Iob 16. 18. O earth, cover not thou my blood; and Ezek. 24. 7. 8. Her blood is in the midst of her; see set it upon the top of a Rocke, shee poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust: that it might cause hot-wrath to come up to take vengeance, &c. where blood not covered, signifieth a crying to God for vengeance. The Hebrewes performed this charge carefully; for in their canons it is said; Wee are commanded to cover the blood of the cleane beast or cleane fowle that is slaine, Leviticus 17. 13. There∣fore wee are bound to blesse before the covering of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Blessed art thou O Lord our God, King eternall, which hath sanctified us by his commandements, and give us a charge to cover the blood. Hee that killeth fowle and many sorts of wilde beasts in one place: blesse•• with one blessing for them all, and maketh one cov〈…〉〈…〉 of all (their blood.) If the blood bee mixt with water, if there be in it the appearance of blood, it ought to bee covered: otherwise, it is free: &c. If the blood for suncke into the ground, yet if the signe (or marke) th〈…〉〈…〉 of may be discerned; it ought to be covered. Wee are not found to cover any blood, but of the slaine beast which is lawfull to be eaten; as is said (in Levit. 17. 13.) THAT MAY BE EATEN: &c. Wherewith must it be〈…〉〈…〉∣red? With any kinde of dust, as earth, lime, chalke, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or other like rubbish that is small as powder: but not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a basket, or a stone, or thicke dung &c which are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kinde of dust. It may be covered with embers, or 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 any sort. Hee that slayeth must lay dust unde〈…〉〈…〉 and after that slay, and after that cover it with 〈◊〉〈◊〉: and he that slayeth, he must cover it. And if bee haue not couered it, and seeth it afterward, hee is bound to co∣ver it: for this is a commandement by it selfe, and de∣pendeth not upon the slaying onely. And hee may not cover it with his foot, but with his hand, or with the knife, or with an instrument (or vessel,) lest this rite gro•• into a contempt, and so the commandement concer〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be contemned. For the honour is not to the command∣ment it selfe, but to the blessed (God) which comman∣ded it; who hath delivered us from groping in dark〈…〉〈…〉 and hath ordained us a Lampe, to make straight the things that are crooked, and a Light to teach the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of righteousnes: and so it is said, (in Psal. 129. 105.) Thy word is a Lamp unto my foot, and a light unto 〈◊〉〈◊〉 path. Maimony in Shechitah, chap. 14. sect. 1. &c.

Vers. 14. the soule] that is, the life: as Ionathan ex∣pounds it, the life of the soule. for the soule] Heb. [unspec 14] in the soule. In is often in stead of For: but some here keepe the usuall signification, and change the or∣der; as Chazkuni interprets it, in the blood thereof is the soule thereof. But Iarchi thus, the blood is to it in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the soule, for the soule hangeth in it. the blood of any flesh] to weet, of beasts or birds, not any of their blood, Lev. 7. 26. So not onely that which commeth out in the slaying of the beast, but that remaineth within in the heart or other parts, is un∣lawfull to be eaten. The blood which is the juyce (of of the beast) and the blood of the members, as the blood of the milt, and the blood of the kidneyes, and the blood of the stones, and the blood that is gathered in the heart, and the blood that is found in the liver; who so eateth of them is not to be cut off, but is beaten: for it is said, yee shall not eat, any blood. Of that for which a man is to bee cut off, he saith, FOR THE SOVLE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD: he is not guilty of cutting off, but for the blood wherein the soule (or life) goeth out. Maimony in treat. of Forbidden meates, chap. 6. sect. 4. is the blood] figuratively spo∣ken, for is in the blood, as verse 11.

Vers. 15. every soule] that is, as the Chaldee trans∣lateth, every man: as verse 10. a carkasse] to weet, [unspec 15] that which died of it selfe, or is killed by an o∣ther thing, and is not orderly slaine: see Lev. 7. 24. Of this the Hebrewes say, Hee that eateth (presump∣tuously) so much as an olive of the flesh of any cattell that is dead, or wilde beast that is dead, or fowle that is dead, is to be beaten. And whatsoever is not killed so as is meet, loe that is a dead-carkasse. Nothing is forbidden by the name of a carkasse, but the sorts of cleane things onely; because they are fit to be slaine, and if they bee slaine, after a lawfull manner, they are lawfull to be ea∣ten. But uncleane things, whose slaying availeth them not, whether they be duely slaine, or dye alone, or the flesh be cut off from them alive; who so eateth of them is not beaten as for a carkasse, or a torne thing; but as for ea∣ting of uncleane flesh. Who so eateth a cleane bird alive all of it; is beaten as for eating a carkasse. Who so ea∣teth of the flesh of an untimely birth of a cleane beast, is beaten as for eating of a carkasse. And it is unlawfull to eat of any beast that is borne, untill the eight night (after,) Exodus 22. 30. for who so tarieth not eight daies for a beast, it is as an untimely-birth; though he is not beaten for that. The law forbiddeth a dead thing, and that is a carkasse: and forbiddeth that which inclineth to dye, though it be not already dead, and that is the torne thing. There is no difference in the death, whether it dye of it selfe alone, or whether it fall and dye, or whether it be strangled untill it dye, or that a wilde beast hath rent and killed it. Maimony in treat. of Forbidden meats, chap. 4. sect. 1. 2. 3. 4. 8. As the for∣bidding of uncleane meats, Levit. 11. spiritually forbid communion with wicked persons, Acts 10. 12. 28. so this prohibition of things not duely slaine, forbiddeth in mysterie, to have religious communion with such as are dead in their trespas∣ses and sinnes; and which are not mortified by the worke of Gods word and spirit, Ephes. 2. 1. 2. 3. 2 Cor. 6. 16. 17. Colos. 2. 13. and 3. 5. By the former explanation out of Maimony it appeareth that the strangled thing forbidden by the Apostles unto the Gentiles together with blood, in Acts 15. 20. 29. was the carkasse or dead thing here spoken of, for the Law otherwise mentioneth not the strangled. And this compared with Deuteronomie 14. 21. where the Gentiles are permitted to eate such things; giveth light to the true meaning of that decree in Acts 15. and a torne thing] and is here for or, distinguishing and disjoyning it from the carkasse aforesaid. Any cleane beast or bird, which by other beast or fowle, or any other way, was torne or maimed, but not fully dead, is here meant: as is noted upon Exodus 22. 31. where this law is first given, and shewed to tend also unto sanctification. If it bee torne and dead, it is a carkasse (forementioned,) but this is a diffe∣rent precept, and so meaneth torne things yet living; as the Hebrewes observe. Maimony in Forbidden meats, chap. 4. sect. 6. Againe, The torne thing spoken of in the Law, is that which is inclining to die. And it is not called torne, but that the scripture speaketh by an instance; as that a Lion or the like, hath torne it and broken it, and it is not yet dead. And there are other sicknesses (or diseases) which if they hap∣pen unto it, it is accounted torne. Maimony in Shechi∣tah, chap. 5. sect. 1. 2. These beasts torne, or incli∣ning to death; figured such persons as the Apostle likeneth unto naturall bruit beasts made to bee taken [for a prey] and destroyed, which shall bee corrupted (or utterly-perish) in their own corruption: 2 Pet. 2. 12. Where the Greeke words eis halosin, that is, for a prey, or to be taken: seeme to expresse the Hebrew terephah, the torne thing here mentioned: as in Iob 24. 5. the Hebrew latareph, for a prey; is turned in Greeke eis halosin, by Aquila an ancient interpre∣ter. So that the eating of such, that is the commu∣nion with them, is by this law forbidden: such flesh was to be cast unto the dogge: Exodus 22. 31. home borne] the naturall Israelite. or a stranger] of the Proselytes, as the Greeke translateth: that is, heathens converted to the faith the Church of Israel. For if they were not joyned Proselytes, the strangers in Israel might eat these things; as Moses sheweth in Deuteronomie 14. 21. saying of the dead thing (or carkasse,) thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, (which the Chaldee there expoundeth the uncircumcised inhabitant,) that hee may eat it. For the scripture mentioneth three sorts of strangers, open Idolaters, which might not dwell in the land of Israel: others that practised not Idolatrie, but yeelded to some chiefe grounds of true religion, and such might dwell in the gates or cities of Israel: and the third sort converts or proselytes, which were bound to all the Law, as the Iewes themselves; and such are spoken of throughout this chapter. Of all these three sorts, see the annotations on Exo∣dus 12. 43. 45. 48. his flesh] or, as the Greeke translateth, his body: which supply is here added from the next verse, where Moses expres∣seth it. the evening] the end of the day, and beginning of a new. This washing and bathing, figured a renewing by repentance and faith in Christ to remission of sinnes, with sanctification

by the spirit, 1 Cor. 6. 11. Rev. 1. 5. Heb. 10. 22. See the notes on Levit. 15.

Vers. 16. his flesh] his body with water, saith the [unspec 16] Grecke version: so Paul speaketh of our bodies wa∣shed with pure water, Heb. 10. 22. It figured their cleansing by repentance, as Iohn said, I baptise you with water unto repentance, Matth. 3. 11. his iniquitie] that is, his guiltinesse, and his punish∣ment. See the notes on Gen. 19. 15.