Lev 5:1, 6:2 | Clarke | e4.org | CHAPTER V Concerning witnesses who, being adjured, refuse to tell the truth , 1. Of those who contract defilement by touching unclean things or persons , 2, 3. Of those who bind themselves by vows or oaths, and do not fulfil them , 4, 5. The trespass-offering prescribed in such cases, a lamb or a kid , 6; a turtle-dove or two young pigeons , 7-10; or an ephah of fine flour with oil and frankincense , 11-13. Other laws relative to trespasses, through ignorance in holy things , 14-16. Of trespasses in things unknown , 17-19. NOTES ON CHAP. V Verse 1. If a soul sin ] It is generally supposed that the case referred to here is that of a person who, being demanded by the civil magistrate to answer upon oath, refuses to tell what he knows concerning the subject; such a one shall bear his iniquity -shall be considered as guilty in the sight of God, of the transgression which he has endeavoured to conceal, and must expect to be punished by him for hiding the iniquity to which he was privy, or suppressing the truth which, being discovered, would have led to the exculpation of the innocent, and the punishment of the guilty.

‏ Leviticus 5:1

CHAPTER V

Concerning witnesses who, being adjured, refuse to tell the truth, 1.

Of those who contract defilement by touching unclean things or persons, 2, 3.

Of those who bind themselves by vows or oaths, and do not fulfil them, 4, 5.

The trespass-offering prescribed in such cases, a lamb or a kid, 6;

a turtle-dove or two young pigeons, 7-10;

or an ephah of fine flour with oil and frankincense, 11-13.

Other laws relative to trespasses, through ignorance in holy things, 14-16.

Of trespasses in things unknown, 17-19.

NOTES ON CHAP. V

Verse 1. If a soul sin] It is generally supposed that the case referred to here is that of a person who, being demanded by the civil magistrate to answer upon oath, refuses to tell what he knows concerning the subject; such a one shall bear his iniquity-shall be considered as guilty in the sight of God, of the transgression which he has endeavoured to conceal, and must expect to be punished by him for hiding the iniquity to which he was privy, or suppressing the truth which, being discovered, would have led to the exculpation of the innocent, and the punishment of the guilty.

‏ Leviticus 6:2

Verse 2. Lie unto his neighbour, &c.] This must refer to a case in which a person delivered his property to his neighbour to be preserved for him, and took no witness to attest the delivery of the goods; such a person therefore might deny that he had ever received such goods, for he who had deposited them with him could bring no proof of the delivery. On the other hand, a man might accuse his neighbour of detaining property which had never been confided to him, or, after having been confided, had been restored again; hence the law here is very cautious on these points: and because in many cases it was impossible to come at the whole truth without a direct revelation from God, which should in no common case be expected, the penalties are very moderate; for in such cases, even when guilt was discovered, the man might not be so criminal as appearances might intimate. See the law concerning this laid down and explained, See "Ex 22:7", &c.