Matthew Poole and continuators on Leviticus 15

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, when any man hath a running issue out of his flesh , because of his issue he is unclean.

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

Marginal references: Num. 5. 2.; Or, running of the reins.

3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue , it is his uncleanness.

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 onely droppeth.

4 Every bed whereon he lieth, that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.

Heb. vessel, by which the Hebrews understand all sorts of houshold-stuffe.

Marginal references: Heb. vessel.

7 And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue, shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

That is, any part of his body: the word flesh being taken otherwise here than, v. 2. As the same word is frequently used in Scripture in differing significations in the same chapter, and sometimes in the same verse, as Matth. 8. 22.

11 And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, (and hath not rinsed his hands in water) , he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

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 had been washed. Or rather 2. Of the person touched, to whom the washing of his hands is prescribed as an easier way of cleansing himself, if speedily used, but if that was neglected or delayed, a more laborious course was enjoyned him. And thus the Syriack interpreter understands it.

13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue , then he shall number to himself seven dayes for his cleansing , and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean .

When his issue is not onely stopped in part or for a season, but hath wholly ceased.

To wit, for the use of the ceremonies prescribed in such cases. See Numb. 19. 11, 12.

i. e. Admitted to converse with men and with God in publick ordinances.

Marginal references: chap. 14. 10.

15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, and the priests shall make an atonement for him before the LORD, for his issue.

Not as if this was in it self a sin, but onely a punishment of sin, though oft-times it was sinful as being a fruit of a mans intemperance, and immoderate lust. See Levit. 14. 12.

16 And if any mans seed of copulation go out from him , then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.

Not through weakness of the parts, as that ver. 3. but in his sleep, which is called nightly pollution, which though involuntary, might arise from some lustful dream or imagination. But if it was voluntary and by a mans own procurement when awake, it was esteemed abhominable and a degree of murder. See Gen. 38. 9.

Marginal references: Deut. 23. [illegible: 1 word]

18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.

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 Exod. 19. 15. and 1 Sam. 21. 4. yet to affirm that the use of it in other cases did generally defile the persons and made them unclean till even is contrary to the whole current of Scripture, which affirm, the marriage-bed to be undefiled, Heb. 13. 4. to the practise of the Jews, which is a good comment upon their own laws, and to the light of nature and reason.

19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood , she shall be put apart seven dayes : and whosoever toucheth her, shall be unclean until the even.

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

Not out of the camp, as the lepers and some others, but from converse with her▪ husband and others, and from access to the house of God.

For sometimes it continues so long, and it was but decent to allow some time for purification after the ceasing of her issue.

To wit, of grown persons. For the infant, to whom in that case she might give suck, was exempted from this pollution by the greater law of necessity, and by that antecedent law which required women to give suck to their own children.

Marginal references: chap. 12. [illegible: 1+ letters].; Heb. in her separation.

24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven dayes : and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.

If he did this unwittingly; 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, Levit. 20. 18. for as there was a turpitude in the action, so it was very prejudicial to the children then begotten, who were commonly weak, or leprous or otherwise disordered, which was also an injury to the Commonwealth of Israel, and redounded to the dishonour of God and of the true Religion, that the professours thereof gave such publick evidence of their intemperance.

25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many dayes out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation ; all the dayes of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the dayes of her separation: she shall be unclean.

To wit, the seven dayes mentioned, Levit. 12. 2. as suppose she had the Emerods, &c.

28 But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to her self seven dayes , and after that she shall be clean.

From the stopping of her issue, as it is apparent. And this was for trial, whether it was onely a temporary obstruction, or a real cessation.

31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle , that is among them.

Which they did both ceremonially, by coming into it in their uncleanness, and morally by the gross neglect and contempt of Gods express and positive command to cleanse themselves.