Lev. 22 The priests in their uncleanness must abstain from the holy things, Lev. 22:1–5. How they shall be cleansed, Lev. 22:6–9. Who of the priest’s house may eat of the holy things, Lev. 22:10–16. The sacrifices must be without blemish, Lev. 22:17–25. The age of the sacrifice, Lev. 22:26–28.

That they separate themselves, to wit, when any uncleanness is upon them, as it appears from Lev. 22:3–4. From the holy things, i.e. from eating of those parts of the offerings which belong to them. Only of the tithes they might eat in that case.

Unto the holy things, to eat them or to touch them; for if the touch of one of the people having his uncleanness upon him defiled the thing he touched, much more was it so in the priest.

What man soever, i.e. or woman, of Aaron’s seed; for they were under the same law.

i.e. His portion, the means of his subsistence. This may be added to signify why there was no greater nor longer a penalty put upon the priests than upon the people in the same case, Lev. 11:0; Lev.

Mine ordinance; either this ordinance here treated of concerning abstaining from holy things when they are unclean; or more generally, that great ordinance whereby I have made them the guardians of holy places and things, to keep them from all defilement by themselves or others. Heb. my watch, i.e.

No stranger, i.e. of a strange family, who is not a priest, as Lev. 22:12, Matt. 12:4. But there is an exception to this rule, Lev. 22:11. A sojourner; one that comes to his house and abides there for a season, and eats at his table.

Because they were wholly his, and as such they were circumcised, Gen. 17:0; Ex. 12:0.

Unto a stranger, i.e. to one of another family, who is no priest. Yet the priest’s wife, though of another family, might eat. The reason of which difference is, because the with passeth into the name, state, and privileges of her husband, from whom the family is denominated and esteemed.

The fifth part, over and above the principal, and besides the ram to be offered to God, Lev. 5:15. Shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing; or, and shall give unto the priest the holy thing; i.e.

Either, 1. The people shall not profane them, by eating them. Or, 2. The priests shall not profane them, i.e. suffer the people to profane them, without censure and punishment. Both come to the same thing; the people shall not do it, nor the priests suffer it.

i.e. They, i.e. the priests shall not (the negative particle being understood out of the foregoing clause, as Ps. 1:5, Ps. 9:18 suffer them, i.e. the people, to bear the iniquity of trespass, i.e.

Or of the strangers; such as were proselytes. For all his vows. See on Lev. 7:16.

A male for a burnt-offering, which was always of that kind; but the females were accepted in peace-offerings, Lev. 3:1, and sin-offerings, Lev. 4:32, Lev. 5:6.

To wit, none of the blemishes mentioned Lev. 22:22, Lev. 22:24; for some blemishes did not hinder the acceptance of a free will offering, but only of a vow, Lev. 22:23.

That mayest thou offer; either, 1. To the priest, who might, according to the rules given by God, either convert it to his own use, or sell it, and lay out the price of it upon the temple or sacrifices.

Neither from a stranger’s hand, to wit, from proselytes, from whom less might seem to be expected, and in whom God might bear with some things which he would not bear with in his own people; yet even from those such should not be accepted, much less from the Israelites. The bread, i.e.

From the eighth day. See on Ex. 23:30, Ex. 23:19.

Because it savoured of cruelty. See Poole Deut. 22:6.

i.e. What and when you please, so the rules be observed: or, for your acceptance, as Lev. 1:3, i.e. in such manner that God may accept it, i.e. regularly, cheerfully, &c.

Neither shall ye profane my holy name; either by despising me and my command yourselves, or by giving others occasion to profane them. Hallowed, or sanctified: either by you in keeping my holy commands, or upon you in executing my holy and righteous judgments, Lev. 10:3, Isa. 26:15.