Deuteronomy 14

Deuteronomy 14:1

CƲt your selves] See Annot. on Levit. 19. 27, 28.

betweene your eyes] That is, in that part of the forehead which is above the partition betweene the eyes.

for the dead] That is, by occasion of the dead, as by way of lamentation for their death, Leviticus 19:28. & Leviticus 21:5. Jeremiah 16:6. & Jeremiah 41:5.

Deuteronomy 14:2

an holy people] That is, in respect they were consecrate, separate, or set apart from other nations as the peculiar people of God, not in respect of inherent holinesse, or of Saint-like life: for they are justly charged with many great rebellions, Chap. 9. throughout. Yet that relation to God did binde them to more holinesse then other people to take his example for a patterne of holinesse, and was to keepe them at a further distance from conformitie with the corruptions of uncircumcised nations.

Deuteronomy 14:3

abominable thing] That is, not onely what mans nature abhorreth, but what Gods law forbiddeth: for when it is forbidden by God, it should be abominable to man.

Deuteronomy 14:4

these are the beasts] This ceremoniall law instructeth the Jews to seeke a spirituall purenesse even in meats and drinkes.

sheepe, and] The Hebrew word [Sch] signifieth the lesser cattell; not lesser for age, as the lambe in respect of the sheepe, but in their kinde, and is commonly taken for a sheepe, or a goat.

Deuteronomy 14:5

wild goat] In other languages this creature is called by a name signifying a Goat, and a Deere or Hart, in short a Goat-bart, resembling a Goat in his hornes and haire, especially his beard, and a Hart, or Deere in the rest of his body: of which see Phin. 50: 8. 3.

Pygard] So called after the Greeks Translation: the Hebrew word [Dishou] used onely in this place is variously understood: some take it for a wild beast, whose horne turnes inward toward his head: some for a kind of Eagle: some for an Unicorne: some for a wild beast like to a Fallow-deere, or Roe-buck: but though to us it be not perfectly understood (as the names of many living creatures, herbes and stones are not) yet those to whom the precept or prohibition of such things was given, had the right understanding of them, (with the rule, whether it were a command or a caveat) if not in particular, yet by the generall notes.

wild oxe] Such as doe not sort with tame cattell, but haunt desert places, and are hurtfull to man, and no way serviceable, but when they are hunted to death. And as there are wild oxen, and wild goats, so of all sorts of domesticall creatures that are tame, there are of like kind which are wilde. Plin. hist. lib. 8. cap. 53.

Chamois] Wild one: the Hebrew word Zemer, is rendered in the best English Translations by a French word, Chamois, which signifieth a wild goat, a goat that haunts the rocks, and other places out of ordinary accesse: many Authours give it the name of Camelo-pard, which is a creature resembling a Camell in his head, and a Libard or Panther in spots, for the body of it hath white sports upon a red ground, Plin. 50: 8. 100: 18.

Deuteronomy 14:6

parteth the boofe] See Annot. on Leviticus 11:3. 5.

Deuteronomy 14:10

nor fins] See Annot. on Leviticus 11:9.

Deuteronomy 14:19

that flyeth] See Annot. on Leviticus 11:20.

Deuteronomy 14:21

dieth of it selfe] This also is to be understood of such a creature as dieth by any mishap, as falling, drowning, or any other way, so that the bloud was not let out of it, but remained in it: and it is to be understood of a cleane beast: for the uncleane were not to be eaten at all. See Leviticus 11:39.

unto the stranger] Which is not of thy Religion: for the Converts of other Nations were bound to the same rule with the Hebrews, Leviticus 17:15.

that he may eat it] Though for the most part such creatures as die of themselves, be not wholesome food: yet sometimes the disease affecting but one principall part, as the Vertigo, or turne in the head, the rest of the body may be of use for diet.

his mothers milke] See Annot. on Exodus 23:19.

for thou art] Thy profession of holinesse, as the holy Lord God his peculiar people, engageth thee to discreet and decent observances in thy diet, that it be not disgraced by the uncleannesse or loosenesse thereof.

Deuteronomy 14:22

truly tythe] Chap. 12. 6. 17.

Deuteronomy 14:23

before the Lord] See Annot. on Chap. 12. vers. 7.

tythe of] See Annot on Chap. 26. 12.

that thou maist learne] In the place where these tythes were eaten, the feare of the Lord was especially taught, and to be learned the better by the solemne service there performed, and by dieting themselves with especiall reference to the Lords portion of tythe, and his ordinance in the use of a tenth to themselves, called the second tenth: whereof see Annot, on Chap. 12. 5: 7.

Deuteronomy 14:26

bestow that money] Matthew 21:12.

Deuteronomy 14:27

within thy gates] Living in the same Citie with thee, Chap. 10. 9. & 12. 12. 19. & 18. 1, 2. & 26. Numbers 18:20. 24.

Deuteronomy 14:28

at the end of three yeares] When the tenths are gathered in the last of the three yeares, besides the yeerely tythes that were given to the Levites, and a second tythe which the owners set apart for their journey-sacrifice and feasting, (when they appeared, where the Tabernacle or Temple stood) thrice a yeare. There was a third tythe, viz. that here mentioned, which every third yeare (not reckoning the Sabbaticall yeare when all was common, Exod. 23. 10, 11.) was laid up in store for the specified in the next verse, where the giver himselfe is not mentioned; nor was he to have his part in these tythes as in those oblations which were brought for publique feasts.

Deuteronomy 14:29

may blesse thee] By blessing and beneficence to others, men may derive blessings upon themselves. Bounty is the way to plenty, and a godly liberality a prevention of poverty. See Prov. 11. 24, 25.