Lev. 17 Sacrifices to be offered only in the temple, Lev. 17:1–6, and not to devils, Lev. 17:7, on pain of death, Lev. 17:8–9. Blood not to be eat, on the same pain; the life being in the blood, and it given for an atonement, Lev.

That killeth, not for common use or eating, for such beasts might be killed by any person or in any place, but for sacrifice, as manifestly appears both from Lev. 17:4, where that is expressed, and from the reason of this law, which is peculiar to sacrifices, Lev. 17:5, and from Deut. 12:5, Deut.

This was appointed, partly, in opposition to the heathens, who sacrificed in all places; partly, to cut off occasions of idolatry; partly, to prevent the people’s usurpation of the priest’s office; and partly, to signify that God would accept of no sacrifices but through Christ and in the church,…

Which they offer; either, 1. The Egyptians and other idolatrous nations, which commonly sacrificed to idols or devils in fields or any places; who are not here named, but may be designed by the particle they, in way of contempt, as if they were not worthy to be named, as that particle is used, Luke…

This verse contains a reason of the foregoing law, because of God’s propriety in the blood and fat, wherewith also God was well pleased, and the people reconciled. And these two parts only are mentioned, as the most eminent, and peculiar, though other parts also were reserved for God.

Unto devils; so they did, not directly or intentionally, but by construction and consequence, because the devil is the author of idolatry, and is eminently served, pleased, and honoured by it.

i.e. I will be an enemy to him, and execute vengeance upon him immediately; because such persons probably would do this in private, so as the magistrate could not know nor punish it. See this or the like phrase Lev. 20:3, Lev. 26:17, Jer. 3:12, Ezek. 14:8.

Of the flesh, i.e. of living creatures. Is in the blood, i.e. it depends upon the blood, is preserved and nourished by it, and is extinguished when the blood is gone.

Any beast; he instanceth in this kind, either because persons much given to that exercise are commonly too licentious, and being in haste might easily transgress; or because some might think the former prohibition did reach only to the blood of such creatures as were offered to God in sacrifice.

Every soul that eateth, to wit, through ignorance or inadvertency, as appears by the slightness of the punishment; for if it was done knowingly, it was a presumptuous sin against an express law here, and Deut. 14:21, and therefore more severely punished.

i.e. The punishment of it, and therefore must offer a sacrifice for it. Lev. 5:1–2, Lev. 7:18