Lev 11:1 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER XI Laws concerning clean and unclean animals , 1, 2. Of QUADRUPEDS, those are clean which divide the hoof and chew the cud, 3. Those to be reputed unclean which do not divide the hoof , though they chew the cud , 4-6. Those to be reputed unclean also which, though they divide the hoof, do not chew the cud , 7. Whosoever eats their flesh, or touches their carcasses, shall be reputed unclean , 8. Of FISH, those are clean, and may be eaten which have fins and scales, 9. Those which have not fins and scales to be reputed unclean, 10-12. Of FOWLS, those which are unclean , 13-21. Of INSECTS, the following may be eaten: the bald locust, beetle, and grasshopper, 22. All others are unclean and abominable, their flesh not to be eaten, nor their bodies touched , 23-25. Farther directions relative to unclean beasts , 26-28. Of REPTILES, and some small quadrupeds, those which are unclean , 29, 39. All that touch them shall be unclean , 31; and the things touched by their dead carcasses are unclean also , 32-35. Large fountains, or pits of water, are not defiled by their carcasses, provided a part of the water be drawn out , 36. Nor do they defile seed by accidentally touching it, provided the water which has touched their flesh do not touch or moisten the seed , 37, 38. A beast that dieth of itself is unclean, and may not be touched or eaten , 39, 40. All creeping things are abominable , 41-44. The reason given for these laws , 45-47. NOTES ON CHAP. XI Verse 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses ] In the preceding chapter the priests are expressly forbidden to drink wine; and the reason for this law is given also, that they might be able at all times to distinguish between clean and unclean , and be qualified to teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord had spoken, ; for as inebriation unfits a person for the regular performance of every function of life, it must be especially sinful in those who minister in holy things, and to whom the teaching of the ignorant, and the cure of souls in general, are intrusted. Scheuchzer has remarked that no Christian state has made any civil law against drunkenness, (he must only mean the German states, for we have several acts of parliament against it in England,) and that it is only punished by contempt. "Custom," says he, "that tyrant of the human race, not only permits it, but in some sort authorizes the practice, insomuch that we see priests and ministers of the Church ascend the pulpit in a state of intoxication, judges seat themselves upon the benches, physicians attend their patients, and others attempt to perform the different avocations of life, in the same disgraceful state."- Physic. Sacr ., vol. iii., p. 64. This is a horrible picture of German manners; and while we deplore the extensive ravages made by this vice, and the disgrace with which its votaries are overwhelmed, we have reason to thank God that it very rarely has ever appeared in the pulpit , and perhaps was never once seen upon the bench , in our own country. Having delivered the law against drinking wine, Moses proceeds to deliver a series of ordinances, all well calculated to prevent the Israelites from mixing with the surrounding nations, and consequently from being contaminated by their idolatry. In chap. xi. he treats of unclean MEATS. In chap. xii., xiii., xiv., and xv., he treats of unclean PERSONS, GARMENTS, and DWELLINGS. In chap. xvi. he treats of the uncleanness of the PRIESTS and the PEOPLE, and prescribes the proper expiations and sacrifices for both . In chap. xvii. he continues the subject, and gives particular directions concerning the mode of offering , &c. In chap. xviii. he treats of unclean matrimonial connections. In chap. xix. he repeats sundry laws relative to these subjects, and introduces some new ones. In chap. xx. he mentions certain uncleannesses practised among the idolatrous nations, and prohibits them on pain of death. In chap. xxi. he treats of the mourning, marriages , and personal defects of the priests , which rendered them unclean. And in chap. xxii. he speaks of unclean sacrifices , or such as should not be offered to the Lord. After this, to the close of the book, many important and excellent political and domestic regulations are enjoined, the whole forming an eccleslastico-political system superior to any thing the world ever saw. Bishop Wilson very properly observes that, "by these laws of clean and unclean animals, &c., God did keep this people separated from the idolatrous world: and this is a standing proof, even to the present day, of the Divine authority of these Scriptures; for no power or art of man could have obliged so great and turbulent a nation to submit to such troublesome precepts as the Jews always have submitted to, had they not been fully convinced, from the very first, that the command was from God, and that it was to be obeyed at the peril of their souls."

‏ Leviticus 11:1

CHAPTER XI

Laws concerning clean and unclean animals, 1, 2.

Of QUADRUPEDS, those are clean which divide the hoof and

chew the cud, 3.

Those to be reputed unclean which do not divide the hoof,

though they chew the cud, 4-6.

Those to be reputed unclean also which, though they divide the hoof, do not chew the cud, 7.

Whosoever eats their flesh, or touches their carcasses, shall be reputed unclean, 8.

Of FISH, those are clean, and may be eaten which have fins and

scales, 9.

Those which have not fins and scales to be reputed unclean,

10-12.

Of FOWLS, those which are unclean, 13-21.

Of INSECTS, the following may be eaten: the bald locust,

beetle, and grasshopper, 22.

All others are unclean and abominable, their flesh not to be eaten, nor their bodies touched, 23-25.

Farther directions relative to unclean beasts, 26-28.

Of REPTILES, and some small quadrupeds, those which are unclean, 29, 39.

All that touch them shall be unclean, 31;

and the things touched by their dead carcasses are unclean also, 32-35.

Large fountains, or pits of water, are not defiled by their carcasses, provided a part of the water be drawn out, 36.

Nor do they defile seed by accidentally touching it, provided the water which has touched their flesh do not touch or moisten the seed, 37, 38.

A beast that dieth of itself is unclean, and may not be touched or eaten, 39, 40.

All creeping things are abominable, 41-44.

The reason given for these laws, 45-47.

NOTES ON CHAP. XI

Verse 1. And the Lord spake unto Moses] In the preceding chapter the priests are expressly forbidden to drink wine; and the reason for this law is given also, that they might be able at all times to distinguish between clean and unclean, and be qualified to teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord had spoken, Le 10:10, 11; for as inebriation unfits a person for the regular performance of every function of life, it must be especially sinful in those who minister in holy things, and to whom the teaching of the ignorant, and the cure of souls in general, are intrusted.

Scheuchzer has remarked that no Christian state has made any civil law against drunkenness, (he must only mean the German states, for we have several acts of parliament against it in England,) and that it is only punished by contempt. "Custom," says he, "that tyrant of the human race, not only permits it, but in some sort authorizes the practice, insomuch that we see priests and ministers of the Church ascend the pulpit in a state of intoxication, judges seat themselves upon the benches, physicians attend their patients, and others attempt to perform the different avocations of life, in the same disgraceful state."-Physic. Sacr., vol. iii., p. 64.

This is a horrible picture of German manners; and while we deplore the extensive ravages made by this vice, and the disgrace with which its votaries are overwhelmed, we have reason to thank God that it very rarely has ever appeared in the pulpit, and perhaps was never once seen upon the bench, in our own country.

Having delivered the law against drinking wine, Moses proceeds to deliver a series of ordinances, all well calculated to prevent the Israelites from mixing with the surrounding nations, and consequently from being contaminated by their idolatry. In chap. xi. he treats of unclean MEATS. In chap. xii., xiii., xiv., and xv., he treats of unclean PERSONS, GARMENTS, and DWELLINGS. In chap. xvi. he treats of the uncleanness of the PRIESTS and the PEOPLE, and prescribes the proper expiations and sacrifices for both. In chap. xvii. he continues the subject, and gives particular directions concerning the mode of offering, &c. In chap. xviii. he treats of unclean matrimonial connections. In chap. xix. he repeats sundry laws relative to these subjects, and introduces some new ones. In chap. xx. he mentions certain uncleannesses practised among the idolatrous nations, and prohibits them on pain of death. In chap. xxi. he treats of the mourning, marriages, and personal defects of the priests, which rendered them unclean. And in chap. xxii. he speaks of unclean sacrifices, or such as should not be offered to the Lord. After this, to the close of the book, many important and excellent political and domestic regulations are enjoined, the whole forming an eccleslastico-political system superior to any thing the world ever saw.

Bishop Wilson very properly observes that, "by these laws of clean and unclean animals, &c., God did keep this people separated from the idolatrous world: and this is a standing proof, even to the present day, of the Divine authority of these Scriptures; for no power or art of man could have obliged so great and turbulent a nation to submit to such troublesome precepts as the Jews always have submitted to, had they not been fully convinced, from the very first, that the command was from God, and that it was to be obeyed at the peril of their souls."