Leviticus 11

Leviticus 11:1

AMong the beasts] The Italian hath it, Among the foure sooted beasts] These differences are upon no other ground but Gods meere will, who would have the first order of the creation observed in some kinds, by which order all beasts were not created to be eaten, but to do man other services, and to adorne the world; in other some, there is a misticall and a mysticall and a morall sense, drawn from the naturall properties and inclinations of those beasts and that for two ends: First, to bring him absolutely to the obedience of Gods will: Secondly, to teach him and fram him by these rudiments to spirituall and internall holinesse Cloven footed] These two marks were to be joyned, for it was not enough if the foot were cloven, if the hooe were not parted also; as in oxen, sheep, goats, bucks, and fawnes, nor was the parting of the paw sufficient, as in dogs, cats, beares and wolfes; but there must be a cleft.

Leviticus 11:4

Be it uncleane unto you] Not for any defect or naturall blemish, for every creature is good and pure in its own kind, but only concerning the use of food, or touching of them against Gods command, who only sanctifieth to man what he pleaseth, 1 Tim. 4. 455.

Leviticus 11:13

The Ossifrge] Because we could have no certainty of the Hebrew names for these birds, we have for the most part held with Saint Hierome his translation.

Leviticus 11:20

Upon all foure] As all creeping things do, that fly.

Leviticus 11:21

Legges] The Italian hath it, Knees] that is to say, that under the knee have no other thing but their leg, which serveth them to rest upon, and to skip with like your locusts.

Leviticus 11:22

Os Locusts] The Italian hath it, Are] unknown names of locusts or other insects of the like kind and nature, which anciently and in these dayes have beene used for food by many Southerne and Easterne people, who salt them up, See Matthew 3:4.

Leviticus 11:24

Uncleane] Ceremonially, not fitting to touch or take part of any sacred thing; no not so much as come neer them, but must be sequestred from conversin, with the members thereof: A figure of excommunication for vices which may infect others.

Leviticus 11:26

Divided the hooe] Either before or behind, as the horse, the asse and the camell That toucheth them] when they are dead, the reason is, because of the resemblance of what hath been spoken concerning other beasts, requires that this also should be understood so.

Leviticus 11:27

Goeth upon his paws] As wolves, lions, beares, dogs, cats, apes, &c.

Leviticus 11:32

It shall be unclean] The livelesse things were uncleane, when by them man was made uncleane in the manner spoken of, v. 24.

Leviticus 11:34

That on which] The flesh, herbs, seeds, or graine which is made in pottage and other food which is dressed in water, being touched by the carion of these beasts, shal be unclean, but not those things that are eaten dry, as fruite, graine, &c. See v 37, 38.

Leviticus 11:35

Oven] They were little ovens to bake bread, and other meats, which ovens were made of two Pieces of burnt earth or ile, the one lat and the other hollow: Now in these legal uncleannesses, such earth could not be purified with washing, but was to bee broken; Ranges] They were a flat kind of tile wheron they baked somethings, putting ire under them.

Leviticus 11:36

Or it] Though no living spring, but some cisterne or other kind of dead water, Shall be cleane] though such dead flesh be fallen into it, so it be taken out, But that] though the water be not uncleane, yet that person which taketh the carrion out of it, shall be unclean.

Leviticus 11:37

Which is to be sown] Which shall be used for feed, or for food, so it be not steeped in water, verse 34.

Leviticus 11:44

For I am holy] Now there can be no true friendship nor union, but between those that are alike, and not between contraries: And all this sanctification consisteth in nothing but in obedience, even in those things which of themselves could not staine the conscience; and were not ordained but only for a signe of spirituall nolinesse, and for to binde one to it.