Matthew Poole and continuators on Leviticus 11

25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcass of them, shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

Or, taketh away, out of the place where haply it may ly, by which others may be either offended, or polluted.

26 The carcasses of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not cloven footed, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them, shall be unclean.

Which word is easily to be understood out of ver. 24. and 25. where it is expressed.

27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws , among all manner of beasts, that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass, shall be unclean until the even.

Heb. upon his hands; i. e. which hath feet divided into several parts like fingers, as dogs, cats, apes, bears, &c.

34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh , shall be unclean: And all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel, shall be unclean.

The meaning is, that flesh or herbs or other food which is dressed in water, to wit, in a vessel so polluted, shall be unclean, not so, if it be food which is eaten dry, as bread, fruits, &c. the reason of which difference seems to be this, that the water did sooner receive the pollution in it self, and convey it to the food so dressed.

36 Nevertheless, a fountain, or pit, wherein there is plenty of water , shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.

Of which no solid reason can be given, whilest such unclean things remained in them, but onely the will of the lawgiver and his merciful condescension to mens necessities, water being scarce in those countries, and for the same reason God would have the ceremonial law of sacrifices to be offered to God give place to the moral law of mercy towards men.

Marginal references: Heb. a gathering together of [illegible: 1 word].; ‖ Or, [illegible: 1+ letters]e that [illegible: 1 word].

37 And if any part of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown , it shall be clean.

Partly because this was necessary provision for man; and partly because such seed would not be used for mans food till it had received many alterations in the earth, whereby such pollution was taken away. See Ioh. 12. 24. 1 Cor. 15. 36.

38 But if any water be put upon the seed , and any part of their carcass fall thereof, it shall be unclean unto you.

The reason of the difference is, partly because wet seed doth sooner receive and longer retain any pollution; and partly because such seed was not fit to be sown presently, and therefore that necessity which justified the use of the dry seed which was speedily to be sown could not be pretended in this case.

39 And if any beast of which ye may eat, die , he that toucheth the carcass thereof, shall be unclean until the even.

Either of it self, or being killed by some wild beast, in which cases the blood was not poured forth, as it was when they were killed by men either for food or sacrifice.

40 And he that eateth of the carcass of it , shall wash his clothes, and be unclean untill the even: he also that beareth the carcass of it, shall wash his clothes, and be unclean untill the even.

To wit, unwittingly, for if he did it knowingly, it was a presumptuous sin against an express law, Deut. 14. 21. and therefore punished with cutting off, Numb. 15. 30.

Marginal references: chap. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. 1[illegible: 1+ letters]. & 22. 8. Ezek. 4. 14. & 44. 31.

41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, shall be an abomination: it shall not be eaten.

Except those before expresly excepted above, ver. 29, 30.

42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly , and whatsoever goeth upon all four , or whatsoever hath more feet , among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat, for they are an abomination.

As worms and snakes.

As [illegible: 1+ letters]oads and divers serpents.

To wit, more than four, as caterpillars, &c.

Marginal references: Heb. doth [illegible: 1+ letters] tiply feet.

44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctifie your selves, and ye shall be holy for I am holy: neither shall ye defile your selves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

By which he gives them to understand, that all these cautions and prohibitions about the eating or touching of these creatures was not for any real uncleanness in them, all being Gods good creatures, but onely that by the diligent observation of these rules they might learn with greater care to avoid all moral pollutions, and to keep themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and particularly from all familiar and intimate converse with notorious sinners.

Marginal references: chap. 19. 2. and 20. 7. [illegible: 1 word] 1. 15, 16.