1 And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,
2 Speake vnto Aaron, and to his sonnes, that they separate themselues from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they prophane not my holy Name, in those things which they halow vnto me: I am the Lord.
3 Say vnto them, Whosoeuer he be of all your seed, among your generations, that goeth vnto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow vnto the Lord, hauing his vncleannesse vpon him, that soule shalbe cut off from my presence: I am the Lord.
4 What man soeuer of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue, he shall not eat of the holy things, vntill he be cleane. And who so toucheth any thing that is vncleane by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him:
5 Or whosoeuer toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made vncleane, or a man of whom hee may take vncleannesse, whatsoeuer vncleannesse he hath:
6 The soule which hath touched any such, shalbe vncleane vntill Euen, and shall not eate of the holy things, vnlesse he wash his flesh with water.
7 And when the Sunne is downe, he shall be cleane, and shall afterward eate of the holy things, because it is his food.
8 That which dieth of it selfe, or is torne with beasts, hee shall not eate to defile himselfe therewith: I am the Lord.
9 They shall therefore keepe mine Ordinance, lest they beare sinne for it, and die therefore, if they prophane it: I the Lord doe sanctifie them.
10 There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing; a soiourner of the Priests, or an hired seruant shall not eate of the holy thing.
11 But if the Priest buy any soule with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is borne in his house: they shall eat of his meat.
12 If the Priests daughter also bee married vnto a stranger, she may not eate of an offering of the holy things.
13 But if the Priests daughter be a widow, or diuorced, and haue no childe, and is returned vnto her fathers house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her fathers meat, but there shall no stranger eate thereof.
14 ¶ And if a man eate of the holy thing vnwittingly, then he shall put the fift part thereof vnto it; and shall giue it vnto the Priest, with the holy thing.
15 And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer vnto the Lord:
16 Or suffer them to beare the iniquitie of trespasse, when they eate their holy things: for I the Lord do sanctifie them.
17 ¶ And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,
18 Speake vnto Aaron and to his sonnes, and vnto all the children of Israel, and say vnto them, Whatsoeuer he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vowes, and for all his free will offerings, which they will offer vnto the Lord for a burnt offering:
19 Ye shal offer at your owne wil a male without blemish, of the beeues, of the sheepe, or of the goats.
20 But whatsoeuer hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
21 And whosoeuer offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings vnto the Lord, to accomplish his vow, or a free will offring in beeues or sheepe, it shalbe perfect, to be accepted: there shall be no blemish therein.
22 Blind, or broken, or maimed, or hauing a wenne, or scuruie, or scabbed, ye shal not offer these vnto the Lord, nor make an offring by fire of them vpon the Altar vnto the Lord.
23 Either a bullocke, or a lambe that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a free will offring: but for a vow it shal not be accepted.
24 Ye shal not offer vnto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut, neither shall you make any offering thereof in your land.
25 Neither from a strangers hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes bee in them: they shall not be accepted for you.
26 ¶ And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,
27 When a bullocke, or a sheepe, or a goat is brought forth, then it shall bee seuen dayes vnder the damme, and from the eight day and thencefoorth, it shal be accepted for an offering made by fire vnto the Lord.
28 And whether it be cowe or ewe, ye shall not kill it, and her yong, both in one day.
29 And when yee will offer a sacrifice of thankesgiuing vnto the Lord, offer it at your owne will.
30 On the same day it shall be eaten vp, ye shall leaue none of it vntill the morrow: I am the Lord.
31 Therefore shall ye keepe my Commandements, and doe them: I am the Lord.
32 Neither shal ye profane my holy Name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you,
33 That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.
Laws concerning the priests and sacrifices.
- In this chapter we have divers laws concerning the priests and sacrifices, all for preserving the honour of the sanctuary. Let us recollect with gratitude that our great High Priest cannot be hindered by any thing from the discharge of his office. Let us also remember, that the Lord requires us to reverence his name, his truths, his ordinances, and commandments. Let us beware of hypocrisy, and examine ourselves concerning our sinful defilements, seeking to be purified from them in the blood of Christ, and by his sanctifying Spirit. Whoever attempts to expiate his own sin, or draws near in the pride of self-righteousness, puts as great an affront on Christ, as he who comes to the Lord's table from the gratification of sinful lusts. Nor can the minister who loves the souls of the people, suffer them to continue in this dangerous delusion. He must call upon them, not only to repent of their sins, and forsake them; but to put their whole trust in the atonement of Christ, by faith in his name, for pardon and acceptance with God; thus only will the Lord make them holy, as his own people.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.