Lev. 15 Uncleanness by issues, and their putrefaction and expiation, Lev. 15:1–15. Of flowing seed, its uncleanness, Lev. 15:16–18. Of women: their courses ordinarily, Lev. 15:19–24; extraordinary, Lev. 15:25–28. Their expiation, Lev. 15:29–30.

His secret parts, called flesh, Lev. 6:10, Lev. 12:3, Ezek. 16:26, Ezek. 23:20.

Or if it have run, and been stopped in great measure, either by the grossness of the humour, or by some obstruction in parts that it cannot run freely, as it did, but only droppeth.

Every thing, Heb. vessel, by which the Hebrews understand all sorts of household stuff.

He that toucheth the flesh, that is, any part of his body; the word flesh being taken otherwise here than Lev. 15:2; as the same word is frequently used in Scripture in differing significations in the same chapter, and sometimes in the same verse, as Matt. 8:22.

This may be understood, either, 1. Of the person touching, if he that hath an issue toucheth another with unwashen hands. Thus most take it. But why then should it be limited to his hands? for if he had touched him by any other part, as suppose by kissing him, he had defiled him, though his hands…

Is cleansed of his issue; when his issue is not only stopped in part, or for a season, but hath wholly ceased. For his cleansing, to wit, for the use of the ceremonies prescribed in such cases. See Num. 19:11–12. Shall be clean, i.e. admitted to converse with men, and with God in public ordinances.

Not as if this was in itself a sin, but only a punishment of sin; though ofttimes it was sinful, as being a fruit of a man’s intemperance and immoderate lust. See Lev. 14:12.

Go out from him; not through weakness of the parts, as that Lev. 15:3; but in his sleep, which is called nightly pollution, which, though involuntary, might arise from some lustful dream or imagination.

Man, or, the man, to wit, that had such an issue, which is plainly to be understood out, of the whole context. For though in some special cases, relating to the worship of God, men were to forbear the use of the marriage-bed, as Ex. 19:15, 1 Sam.

Heb. And a woman, when she shall have an issue of blood, (and because that might be at her nose or other parts, he adds,) and her issue shall be in her flesh, i.e. in her secret parts, as the word flesh is taken Lev. 15:2. So it notes her monthly disease.

He shall be unclean seven days, if he did this unwitingly; but if the man and woman did this knowingly, this was a gross sin, Ezek. 18:6; and they being accused and convicted were punished with death, Lev.

The time of her separation, to wit, the seven days mentioned Lev. 12:2, as suppose she had the emerods, &c.

Seven days from the stopping of her issue, as it is apparent. And this was for trial whether it was only a temporary obstruction, or a real cessation.

When they defile my tabernacle; which they did both ceremonially, by coming into it in their uncleanness, and morally, by the gross neglect and contempt of God’s express and positive command to cleanse themselves.