The works of the Reverend and learned John Lightfoot D. D., late Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge such as were, and such as never before were printed : in two volumes : with the authors life and large and useful tables to each volume : also three maps : one of the temple drawn by the author himself, the others of Jervsalem and the Holy Land drawn according to the author's chorography, with a description collected out of his writings.

VERS. XXIV.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Leave there thy gift before the Altar.

THIS business was altogether unusual in gifts offered at the Altar in such a cause. We read indeed of the drink offering delayed after the sacrifice was offered. m 1.1 For the Wise men say, that a man is not held in his sin, when the drink offering is put off by some delay, because one may offer his sacrifice to day, but his drink offering twenty days hence. We read also, that the oblation of a sacrifice presented even at the Altar, in some cases hath not only been delayed, but the sacrifice it self hath been rejected: that is, if in that instant discovery was made in sacrificing the beast either of a blemish, or of somewhat else, whereby it became an illegal sacrifice: or if some uncleanness, or other cause ap∣peared in the Offerer; whereby he was rendred unfit for the present to offer a gift. Of which things causing the oblation of the sacrifice already presented at the Altar to be de∣ferred, the Hebrew Lawyers speak much. But among those things, we do not meet at all with this, whereof our Saviour is here speaking: so that he seems to enjoyn some new matter, and not new alone, but seemingly impossible. For the offended Brother might per∣haps be absent in the furthest parts of the land of Israel, so that he could not be spoke with, and his pardon asked in very many days after; and what shall become of the beast in the mean time, which is left at the Altar? It is a wonder indeed, that our Saviour, treating of the worship at the Altar, should prescribe such a duty, which was both unu∣sual (in such a case,) and next to impossible. But it is answered:

I. It was a custome and a law among the Jewes, that the sacrifices of particular men, should not presently, as soon as they were due, be brought to the Altar, but that they should be reserved to the Feast next following, whatsoever that were, whether the Pass∣over, or Pentecost, or Tabernacles, to be then offered. Teeming women▪ women that* 1.2 have the Gonorrhea, and men that have the Gonorrhea, reserve their pigeons, until they go up to the feast. o 1.3 The Oblations which were devoted before the Feast, shall be offered at the Feast: for it is said, These things shall ye do in their Solemnities, &c. But now all the Israelites were present at the Feasts, and any Brother, against whom one had sinned, was not then far off from the Altar. Unto which time, and custome of the Nation, it is equal to think Christ alluded.

II. He does silently chastise the curiosity used in deferring of a sacrifice brought about lesser matters, when this, that was greater, was unregarded. And he teacheth, that God is worshipped in vain without true charity to our brother. The same also in effect do the p 1.4 Gemarists confess.

Notes

• m 1.1

  Tosophta ad Corbanoth, cap. 5.
• * 1.2

  n Bab. Sanhedt. fol. 11. 1.
• o 1.3

  Hierof. Rosh hashanah, fol. 56. 2.
• p 1.4

  Bab. Ioma, fol. 87. 1.