Chapter 11

2
Deut 14:3-8; Ezek 4:14; Dan 1:8; Matt 15:11; Mark 7:15-19; Acts 10:12, Acts 10:14; Rom 14:2-3, Rom 14:14-15; 1Tim 4:4-6; Heb 9:10, Heb 13:9; Of the laws relative to clean and unclean beasts, which are recorded in this chapter and Deut 14:1-29 the following may be found a useful abstract.

1. In regard to quadrupeds, all beasts that have their feet completely cloven, above as well as below, and at the same time chew the cud, are clean. Those which have neither, or indeed want one of these distinguishing marks, are unclean. This is a systematic division of quadrupeds so excellent, as never yet, after all the improvements in natural history, to have become obsolete, but, on the contrary, to be still considered as useful by the greatest masters of the science.

2. With regard to fishes, Moses has in like manner, made a very simple systematic distinction. All that have scales and fins are clean; all others unclean.

3. Of birds, he merely specifies certain sorts as forbidden, thereby permitting all others to be eaten.

4. Insects, serpents, worms, etc., are prohibited; but with regard, however to those winged insects, which besides four walking legs, also have two longer springing legs (Pedes saltatorii), Moses makes an exception, and under the denomination of locusts, declares them clean in all four stages of their existence.

In Palestine, Arabia, and the adjoining countries, locusts are one of the most common articles of food, and people would be very ill of if they durst not eat them: For, when a swarm of them desolates the fields, they prove in some measure themselves an antidote to the famine which they occasion. They are not only eaten fresh, immediately on their appearance, but the people collect them, and know a method of preserving them for a long time for food, after they have dried them in an oven. - Niebuhr's Description of Arabia, pp. 170-175.


3
parteth Ps 1:1; Prov 9:6; 2Cor 6:17

cheweth Deut 6:6-7, Deut 16:3-8; Ps 1:2; Prov 2:1-2, Prov 2:10; Acts 17:11; 1Tim 4:15


4
unclean unto you Gen 7:1-2; Deut 14:1-29; Isa 52:11; 1Cor 8:13; 1Thess 5:22; 1John 3:4


5
the coney Shaphan, most probably an animal resembling the rabbit, called by Dr. Shaw, daman (probably for ganam) Israel, "Israel's lamb," and by Bruce, ashkoko, which name he imagines is "derived from the singularity of these long herenacious hairs, which, like small thorns, grow about his back, and which an Amhara are called ashok." This curious animal abounds in Judea, Palestine, Arabia, and Ethiopia; and is described as being about seventeen inches when sitting. It has no tail; and at first sight gives the idea of a rat. Its colour is grey, mixed with reddish brown; the belly white, the body covered with strong polished hairs, for the most part about two inches in length; the ears round, and not pointed; the feet round, of a soft, pulpy, tender substance; the toes projecting beyond the nails, which are rather broad than sharp; the upper jaw is longer than the other; it lives upon grain, fruit, and roots, and certainly chews the cud; and it does not burrow like the hare and rabbit, but lives in clefts of the rocks. Ps 104:18; Prov 30:26

but divideth Job 36:14; Matt 7:26; Rom 2:18-24; Phil 3:18-19; 2Tim 3:5; Titus 1:16


6
the hare Deut 14:7


7
swine Deut 14:8; Isa 65:4, Isa 66:3, Isa 66:17; Matt 7:6; Luke 8:33, Luke 15:15; 2Pet 2:18-22


8
they are unclean Lev 5:2; Isa 52:11; Hos 9:3; Matt 15:11, Matt 15:20; Mark 7:2, Mark 7:15, Mark 7:18; Acts 10:10-15; Acts 10:28, Acts 15:29; Rom 14:14-17, Rom 14:21; 1Cor 8:8; 2Cor 6:17; Eph 5:7, Eph 5:11; Col 2:16, Col 2:21-23; Heb 9:10


9
Deut 14:9-10; Acts 20:21; Gal 5:6; Jas 2:18; 1John 5:2-5


10
they shall be Lev 7:18; Deut 14:3; Ps 139:21-22; Prov 13:20, Prov 29:27; Rev 21:8


13
the eagle In Hebrew, nesher, Chaldee, neshar, Syriac, neshro, and Arabic, nishr, the eagle, one of the largest, strongest, swiftest, fiercest, and most rapacious of the feathered race. His eye is large, dark, and piercing; his beak powerful and hooked; his legs strong and feathered; his feet yellow and armed with four very long and terrific claws; his wings very large and powerful; his body compact and robust; his bones hard; his flesh firm; his feathers coarse; his attitude fierce and erect; his motions lively; his flight extremely rapid and towering; and his cry the terror of every wing. Deut 14:12-20; Job 28:7, Job 38:41, Job 39:27-30; Jer 4:13, Jer 4:22, Jer 48:40; Lam 4:19; Hos 8:1; Hab 1:8; Matt 24:28; Rom 1:28-32, Rom 3:13-17; Titus 3:3

the ossifrage Peres, from paras to break, probably the species of eagle anciently called ossifraga or bone-breaker (from os, a bone, and frango, to break), because it not only strips off the flesh, but breaks the bone, in order to extract the marrow.

the ospray Hebrew ozniyah, Arabic azan, and Chaldee azyah, (from azaz, to be strong), a species of eagle, probably the black eagle, so remarkable for its strength.


15
Gen 8:7; 1Kgs 17:4, 1Kgs 17:6; Prov 30:17; Luke 12:24


16
Deut 14:15-18; Ps 102:6; Isa 13:21-22, Isa 34:11-15; John 3:19-21; Eph 2:2-3, Eph 4:18-19, Eph 5:7-11; Phil 3:18-19; 1Thess 5:5-7; Rev 18:2


19
bat Isa 2:20, Isa 66:17


20
Lev 11:23, Lev 11:27; Deut 14:19; 2Kgs 17:28-41; Ps 17:14; Matt 6:24; Phil 3:18-19; 2Tim 4:10; 1John 2:15-17; Jude 1:10, Jude 1:19


22
Exod 10:4-5; Isa 35:3; Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6; Rom 14:1, Rom 15:1; Heb 5:11; Heb 12:12-13


24
Lev 11:8, Lev 11:27-28, Lev 11:31, Lev 11:38-40, Lev 17:15-16; Isa 22:14; 1Cor 15:33; 2Cor 6:17; Eph 2:1-3, Eph 5:11; Col 2:16-17, Col 2:20; Heb 9:26; 1John 1:7


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and be unclean Lev 11:28, Lev 11:40, Lev 14:8, Lev 15:5, Lev 15:7-11, Lev 15:13, Lev 16:28; Exod 19:10, Exod 19:14; Num 19:8, Num 19:10, Num 19:19, Num 19:21-22; Num 31:24; Ps 51:2, Ps 51:7; Zech 13:1; John 13:8; Acts 22:16; Heb 9:10, Heb 10:22; 1Pet 3:21; 1John 1:7; Rev 7:14


27
Lev 11:20, Lev 11:23


28
beareth Lev 11:24-25

shall wash Lev 11:14


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creeping things that creep Lev 11:20-21, Lev 11:41-42; Ps 10:3, Ps 17:13-14; Hag 2:6; Luke 12:15, Luke 16:14; John 6:26; John 6:66; Eph 4:14; Phil 3:19; Col 3:5; 2Tim 3:2-5; Heb 13:5


31
Lev 11:8, Lev 11:24-25


32
it must be put into water Lev 6:28, Lev 15:12; Titus 2:14, Titus 3:5


33
ye shall break it Lev 11:35, Lev 14:45; Jer 48:38; 2Cor 5:1-8; Phil 3:21


34
Prov 15:8, Prov 21:4, Prov 21:27, Prov 28:8; Titus 1:15


35
they shall be Lev 11:33, Lev 6:28, Lev 15:12; 2Cor 5:1-7


36
a fountain Zech 13:1; John 4:14

wherein there is plenty of water Heb. a gathering together of waters


37
sowing seed 1Cor 15:37; 1Pet 1:23; 1John 3:9, 1John 5:18


39
Lev 11:24, Lev 11:28, Lev 11:31, Lev 11:40, Lev 15:5, Lev 15:7; Num 19:11, Num 19:16


40
eateth Lev 11:25, Lev 17:15-16, Lev 22:8; Exod 22:31; Deut 14:21; Isa 1:16; Ezek 4:14, Ezek 36:25; Ezek 44:31; Zech 13:1; 1Cor 6:11, 1Cor 10:21; 1John 1:7

shall wash Lev 11:28, Lev 14:8-9, Lev 15:5-10, Lev 15:27, Lev 16:26, Lev 16:28; Num 19:7-8, Num 19:19


41
Lev 11:20, Lev 11:23, Lev 11:29


42
goeth upon the belly Gen 3:14-15; Isa 65:25; Mic 7:17; Matt 3:7, Matt 23:23; John 8:44; 2Cor 11:3, 2Cor 11:13; Titus 1:12

hath more feet Heb. doth multiply feet


43
Ye shall Lev 11:41-42, Lev 20:25

yourselves Heb. your souls


44
I am the Exod 20:2

ye shall Lev 10:3, Lev 19:2, Lev 20:7, Lev 20:26; Exod 19:6; Deut 14:2; 1Sam 6:20; Ps 99:5, Ps 99:9; Isa 6:3-5; Amos 3:3; Matt 5:48; 1Thess 4:7; 1Pet 1:15-16, 1Pet 2:9; Rev 22:11


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that bringeth Exod 6:7; Ps 105:43-45

be holy Lev 11:44; Exod 6:7, Exod 20:2; Ps 105:43-45; Hos 11:1; 1Thess 4:7


46
This The distinction of clean and unclean animals (see note on Lev 11:2) existed even before the flood, though it probably then only related to sacrifices; but at this time we find there were very particular laws enacted respecting the diet of the people, and the ceremonial uncleanness contracted by touching the carcases of unclean animals. The reasons for the enactment of these laws seem to be:

1. As a test of obedience, and to teach the Israelites habits of self-denial, and the government of their appetites.

2. To keep them distinct from other nations, and consequently from their idolatrous usages, by throwing hindrances in the way of their social intercourse; for these distinctions were applicable both to persons and things. The Canaanites not only ate the animals prohibited by Moses, which we usually eat, but others also, among which dogs were one. Besides, many of those declared unclean were sacred among the heathen, and sacrificed to their gods.

3. Because those prohibited were innutritive and unwholesome; as the swine, the flesh of which being strong and difficult to digest, affords a very gross aliment, and produces, especially in hot climates, cutaneous, scrophulous, and scorbutic disorders, as the itch, leprosy, etc.

Lev 7:37, Lev 14:54, Lev 15:32; Ezek 43:12


47
Lev 10:10; Ezek 44:23; Mal 3:18; Rom 14:2-3, Rom 14:13-23


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